El Salvador: Testament of terror

El Salvador has been characterized by a repressive oligarchy exploiting the impoverished majority, but when Duarte took office in 1984, Americans had hopes of democratic rule. His failure has been due in part to a U.S. attempt to maintain the status quo in the face of a perceived Soviet threat. Our $2 million per day subsidy has resulted in massive human rights abuses, no progress in democracy, a land in shambles, and an impasse in a war that has killed or displaced one-third of the population. While authoritative and informative, this book should not take precedence over such books as Walter LaFeber's Inevitable Revolutions ( LJ 12/1/83) ; or, for an opposing view, R. Bruce McColm's El Salvador, Peaceful Revolution or Armed Struggle? (Freedom House, 1982) . Louise Leonard, Univ. of Florida Lib., GainesvilleCopyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.