Using the cases of Columbia, Costa Rica, and Venezuela, Peeler compares the evolution and maintenance of liberal democratic regimes in the Latin American context. These regimes are shown to be products of the normal Latin American political processes, under particular conditions that have permitted accommodation between rival political and economic elites. The author argues that these liberal democracies are fundamentally similar to those in other parts of the world.|Using the cases of Columbia, Costa Rica, and Venezuela, Peeler compares the evolution and maintenance of liberal democratic regimes in the Latin American context. These regimes are shown to be products of the normal Latin American political processes, under particular conditions that have permitted accommodation between rival political and economic elites. The author argues that these liberal democracies are fundamentally similar to those in other parts of the world.