Resource Update

September 25, 2007

BRAZIL, CHILE, COLOMBIA Neuma Aguiar, ed., The Structure of Brazilian Develop- ment (Transaction Books, 1979). $14.95 cloth, 258 pgs. A series of essays by Brazilian social scientists. The majority examine the role of the peasantry in Brazil, both in rural areas and as they become integrated into urban zones. Very extensive bibliography of works by Brazilian authors. (Transaction Books, Rutgers Univer- sity, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.) Peter Evans, Dependent Development: The Alliance of Multinational, State and Local Capital In Brazil (Princeton University Press, 1979). $20 cloth, $5.95 paper, 362 pgs. In order to understand modern Brazil, Evans argues, one must look at the relationship between private Brazilian capitalists, state-owned enterprises and multinational corporations. The book provides this examination and places it within the framework of an analysis of imperialism and dependent development along lines suggested by Fernando Henrique Cardoso. (Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ 08540.) Federico Gil, Ricardo Lagos, Henry Landsberger, eds., Chile: 1970-1973. Lecclones de una experiencia (Madrid: Editorial Tecnos, 1977). Write for price, paper, 470 pgs. Published findings of a 1975 conference on Chile held at the University of North Carolina. The major articles were written by active participants in Chilean politics and examine the Popular Unity period, the causes for its defeat, and the effects of military rule. (Available from Libros Florencia, PO Box 451, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.) Gabriel Smirnow, The Revolution Disarmed: Chile, 1970-1973 (Monthly Review Press, 1979). $14 cloth, 170 pgs. Another analysis of the Popular Unity years written by someone who actively participated in the events. Smirnow presents a fairly biting examination of the Chilean Left, from the Communist Party and his own Socialist Party to the MIR. He offers an institutional analysis of Chile, how the UP government tried to mold bourgeois institutions to socialist ends, and what new structures arose as the capitalist state was increasing- ly challenged. (Monthly Review Press, 62 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011.) Colombia Report. A trimestral news and analysis publication about political, economic and social developments in Colombia and Latin America. Special focus on popular struggles, the Left and imperialism in Colombia. Subscriptions: $4 individuals, $10 sup- 46 porters, $15 libraries. Available from: Colombia Report, c/o Program in Comparative Culture, School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92717. LATIN AMERICA John Eagleson and Philip Scharper, eds., Puebla and Beyond: Documentation and Commentary (Orbis Books, 1979). $7.95 paper, 370 pgs. This book reprints the en- tire final document accepted by the Third General Con- ference of the Latin American Episcopate held in Puebla, Mexico, in 1979. It also includes particularly good articles by Penny Lernoux ("The Long Path to Puebla") and Robert McAffe Brown ("The Significance of Puebla for the Protestant Churches in North America"). (Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY 10545.) Hugo Latorre Cabal, The Revolution of the Latin American Church (University of Oklahoma Press, 1978). $9.95 cloth, 192 pgs. Evolution and revolution in the Latin American Church as written by a proponent of the "theology of liberation." (University of Oklahoma Press, 1005 Asp Avenue, Norman, OK 73019.) .Carlos Lenkersdorf, Diccionario tojolabal-espaflol: idioma mayance do los Altos de Chiapas (Editorial Nuestro Tiempo, 1979). $42.50, 425 pgs, first of 2 vol. work. While we do not normally use "Resource Update" to note the publication of dictionaries, this is a good one. The dic- tionary was written at the request of the Tojolabal In- dians and was designed specifically as a tool for the op- pressed to better understand the language of the dominating society in which they live. The high price reflects a subsidy so that the Tojolabal people can ob- tain it at a symbolic price. (Available from Editorial Nuestro Tiempo, Av. Copilco 300, Local 6-7, Mexico 20, DF, Mexico.) Richard L. Jackson, Black Writers in Latin America (University of New Mexico Press, 1979). $12.50 cloth, 224 pgs. Jackson traces the relationship between the Black experience and its literary expression in Latin America from 1821 to the present. Of particular in- terest is his discussion of the pivotal role played by Cuban poet Nicolas Guill6n. (University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM 87131.) IMPERIALISM AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman, The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism, Vol. I of "The Political Economy of Human Rights," and, After the Cataclysm: Post-War Indochina, Vol. II (South End Press, 1979). Vol. I, $5.50 paper, $15 cloth, 458 pgs; Vol. II, $5.50 paper, $15 cloth, 410 pgs. The Washington Connec- tion analyzes the role of the U.S. government, corporate and media establishments in the affairs of Third World countries. The study examines the effects of what the authors call the "Pentagon-CIA Archipelago" on the countries of Indochina and Latin America. After the Cataclysm focuses on post-1975 Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and the particular role of the U.S. media in report- NACLA Reportupdate * update * update * update ing events in these countries. (Available from South End Press, Box 68 Astor Station, Boston, MA 02123. It is ex- tremely rare that a new publisher appears with a highly worthwhile book list. South End Press is such a publisher. We have noted some of their publications in previous "Resource Updates" and recommend that people write for their entire list.) Thomas Franck and Edward Weisband, Foreign Policy by Congress (Oxford University Press, 1979). $15.95 cloth, 357 pgs. The authors argue that Vietnam and Watergate have led Congress to assert forcefully its role in foreign policy matters, thus challenging what was the "Imperial Presidency." Rather than a study of ideology, this book examines the details of how foreign policy is formulated and adopted. (Oxford University Press, 200 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016.) Armand Mattelart, Multinational Corporations and the Control of Culture. The Ideological Apparatuses of Imperialism (Humanities Press, 1979). Write for price, cloth, 304 pgs. Another excellent study of the ideological ap- paratuses of imperialism. This book focuses on the electronics industry, space technology and militariza- tion, high-technology education, movies, the press and advertising agencies. (Humanities Press, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716.) Fernando Velasco Abad, La dependencia, el im- perialismo y las empresas transnacionales (Quito: Editorial El Conejo, 1979). Write for price, paper, 66 pgs. A syn- thetic, historical and political analysis of imperialism and dependency in Latin America. Velasco attempts to answer the basic question, what are the fundamental laws of capitalism which give rise to the tremendous concentration of economic power in a few multinational corporations? (Editorial El Conejo, Apartado 4629-A, Quito, Ecuador.) UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS AND LABOR STUDIES Alan JP Dalton, Asbestos: Killer Dust. A Worker/Com- munity Guide: How to Fight the Hazards of Asbestos and its Substitutes. (London: BSSRS Publications, 1979.) L2 plus 25p postage, paper, 288 pgs. The U.S. government of- ficially estimates that two million American workers can be expected to die of cancer due to asbestos exposure in the next 30 years. The equivalent for Britain is 500,000- more than were killed in the armed forces during the Second World War! This extremely useful book does just what its title claims: examines the hazards of asbestos and how people can fight for better protection from its dangers. Available from: Trade Union Bookservice, 265 Seven Sisters Road, London N4 2DE, England.) Sasha G. Lewis, Slave Trade Today: American Exploitation of Illegal Alient (Beacon Press, 1979). $10.95 cloth, 239 pgs. While this study does not provide a new analysis of labor migration, it pulls together a wealth of information JanlFeb 1980 on the topic as well as an extensive bibliography. (Beacon Press, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108.) New Mexico People and Energy, El otro lade: Un guia por los indocumentados (NMPE, 1979). 25c booklet, 34 pgs. A clearly-written, Spanish-language booklet for use by undocumented workers. Includes information on the documented, finding medical services and legal help, etc. Also includes a list of supportive labor unions, legal services and other agencies. (NMPE, Box 4726, Albu- querque, NM 87196.) Newsletter of international Labour Studies. NILS con- tinues its highly useful publication with #4 (September 1979) containing information on on-going and com- pleted studies of the labor movement, reviews and comments on labor studies, and a new bibliography of publications on labor. For sample copy and information, write NILS, Galileistraat 130, 2561 TK, The Hague, Netherlands. Dick J. Reavis, Without Documents (Condor Publishing Co., Inc., 1978). $2.50 paper, 274 pgs. Useful popular study on undocumented migration from Mexico to the United States. Reavis concludes that "the ultimate solution can only be one which grants Mexico an economic independence. Capital and the power to deploy it inside Mexico must be put in Mexican hands, for the benefit of the Mexican people, and not for transnational profit." (Condor Publishing Co., 521 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017.) OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS Frances Moore Lappe and Joseph Collins, Food First, Beyond the Myth of Scarcity (Ballantine, 1979). $2.75 paper, 619 pgs. Update and revision of the 1977 edition, finally in a mass paperback! Should be at your local bookstore. Harold Freeman, Toward Socialism in America (Schenkman Publishing Co., 1979). Price not given, paper, 242 pgs. A collage of facts on the decline of capitalism and a non-dogmatic approach to the issues of socialism. The book presents a compelling view of the disasters of capitalism on a human level, but is often marred by superficial analysis. (Schenkman Publishing Co., 3 Mt. Auburn PI., Cambridge, MA 02138.) Periodicals-by-Mall is a project designed to give wider accessibility to worthwhile periodicals not distributed through many newsstands. For a free list of over 70 alternative and small press periodicals which can be ordered by mail, send your name, address and a 154 stamp to: Periodicals-by-Mail, A Periodical Retreat, PO Box 1246, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.

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