An unrivalled survey on the countries and territories of this immense region. * Over 900 pages of in-depth analysis, up-to-date statistics and invalauble directory details * Includes contributions from acknowledged authorities who examine topics of regional importance. General Survey * Issues of regional importance are examined by acknowledged authorities of the area, subjects covered include: General Issues in Latin American Economies; Combating Money-Laundering in the Caribbean; Building New Relations in North America; Terrorism and the War Against Drugs and Indigenous People in Latin America in the 21st Century. Country Surveys * Individual chapters on each country containing: articles on geography, recent history and economy; an economic and demographic survey using all the latest available statistics on population, agriculture, industry, finance, trade, transport, tourism, and education; directory sections with names, addresses and contact numbers covering the constitution, government, legislature, judiciary, political organizations, diplomatic representation, religious groups, the media, finance, trade and industry, and tourism * New for this edition: expanded coverage of The Caribbean Islands. Regional Information * Detailed information on the following: regional organizations; major commodities; research institutes; a select periodicals bibliography and a select books bibliography.