9781422283882

I NTRODUCTION S OCIAL P ROGRESS IN C ENTRAL A MERICA AND THE C ARIBBEAN

T he tropical countries of Central America and the Caribbean are probably best known as world-class tourist destinations for their white beaches, wide biodiversity, colorful cultures, Maya ruins, and friendly people. Besides being top vacation spots, these countries share the scars of colonization, slavery, and corrupt leadership. Today most Central American and Caribbean countries have high rates of poverty. Between 30 and 50 percent of the people living in Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic and more than half the people in Haiti, Guatemala, and Honduras live in poverty. In some cases international aid and money sent home from family members working in other countries are the only way governments can make progress and families can survive. With such high poverty rates and few jobs, many join criminal organizations that move illegal drugs through Central America and the Caribbean. Ruthless street gangs have also attracted unemployed young men and are inflicting brutal violence across both regions. This volume explores the level of social progress in the seven countries of Central America (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama) and the five most populated countries of the Caribbean (Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and

11

S OCIAL P ROGRESS IN C ENTRAL A MERICA AND THE C ARIBBEAN

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs