This diagnostic history of Argentina's economic prostration is full of timely lessons for readers in the United States about how an irresponsible capitalist elite and cynical politicians can lead a wealthy nation to throw it all away.They say those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.

Preface Abbreviations CHAPTER ONE: The Rise to Power The Young Político Governor Menem Governor Again: The Menem Model The Renovationist CHAPTER TWO: The Crisis of Argentine Capitalism The Roots of Stagflation The Business Elites CHAPTER THREE: Trials and Errors Plan B&B The Crony Cabinet Family Scandals and Military Threats Corruption Scandals Government Shakeup CHAPTER FOUR: Free Markets and Convertibility The Convertibility Plan Foreign Influence Labor's Travails CHAPTER FIVE: The Underside of the System The Syrian Connection: "Yomagate" The Syrian Connection: Gun-Running The Syrian Connection: Terrorism "Junior's Accident" Intimidation of the Press CHAPTER SIX: Triumphs and Troubles Convertibility's Potential Problems Menem's Re-Election The "Tequila Effect" Economic Damage Control The Dysfunctional Provinces The Demands of Clientelism CHAPTER SEVEN: The Downward Slide Cavallo versus Yabrán The Rout of Domestic Capitalism The Raiders Summary CHAPTER EIGHT: Challenges Murder's Red Trail The October 1997 Elections The Peronists Split The Alliance Rolls Forward CHAPTER NINE: The Crash The Alliance Breaks Up Troubles and Turmoil Return of the "Wizard" Free Fall CHAPTER TEN: The Retreat to Populism The Conflict with the Courts Economic Agony Three-Sided Stalemate Menem Redux CHAPTER ELEVEN: The Illusions of Progress The Kirchner Coalition The Debt "Haircut" Toward a Closed Economy The Contradictions of a Closed Economy From Néstor to Cristina, With Love CHAPTER TWELVE: Defiance Tactical Maneuvers The Struggle for Public Opinion The Congressional Struggle The Aftermath Facing the Future: The Three Argentinas Notes Selected Bibliography Index

Lewis presents the third in a trilogy that includes The Crisis of Argentine Capitalism, which explored the political economy of Argentina from the late 19th century through the rule of Juan Peron, and Guerillas and Generals: The 'Dirty War' in Argentina, which concentrated on the causes and effects of political violence in the 1970s. In this volume, he returns to the political economy focus of the first volume, discussing the efforts of President Menem and President De la Rua to push through free trade policies and criticizing the populist policies of the later governments of Cristina and Néstor Kirchner, who he argues seek to 'extend state control to all aspects of the economy and to redistribute income derived from the most efficient sector, agriculture,' and threaten to repeat the mistakes of Peron, who Lewis blames for the chronic 'stagflation' (stagnant production and persistent inflation) that plagued the Argentine economy through the 1980s.

"Professor Lewis, a talented political scientist cum pathologist, has written an account of a country in dire peril. Argentina’s disastrously mismanaged economy has plunged its people into poverty and insecurity in a land of plenty. Its self- inflicted agony is portrayed unflinchingly. Whether the damage can be reversed remains in doubt. Argentina’s dark shadow on the wall should be a warning to all of us."

This diagnostic history of Argentina's economic prostration is full of timely lessons for readers in the United States about how an irresponsible capitalist elite and cynical politicians can lead a wealthy nation to throw it all away.