teoria, accion social y desarrollo en america latina - redcliff

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Teoria, Accion Social y Desarrollo en America Latina by Aldo Solari; Rolando Franco; JoelJutkowitzReview by: Michael RedcliftJournal of Latin American Studies, Vol. 10, No. 1 (May, 1978), pp. 190-191Published by: Cambridge University PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/155877 .

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9go Journal of Latin American StudiesBennett H. Wall and George S. Gibb: Teagle of Jersey Standard (NewOrleans: Tulane University Press, I974, $I2.00). Pp. xxii + 386.

Bennett H. Wall is a professor of history; George S. Gibb a former editor ofthe Business History Review and co-author (with E. H. Knowlton) of animportant volume on the history of Jersey Standard. Walter Teagle was one ofthe most important oilmen in the world in the inter-war period.This is a surprisingly superficial book to be written by professional historiansof such standing on such a subject. It is inaccurate in detail (e.g. the discussion ofthe origin of the 'red-line agreement' on p. 2II), and the uncritical adulationof the subject (and his company) expressed in painful cliches is hard to take.(Handclasps are ' crushing ', jaws are 'jutting ', or 'firm ', eyes are 'watchful '.)The numerous photographs include Teagle's desk, his 'famous briefcase' posedbeside his fishing tackle box, even his special fishing fly. We are informed thatthe public would not have been so critical of Jersey Standard had 'it beenprivileged to witness the Company's principal administrator sitting in stockingfeet and wreathed in cigar smoke intently endeavouring to fill a flush' (p. 56).Not recommended for serious students.School of Oriental and African Studies, London EDITH PENROSE

Aldo Solari, Rolando Franco and Joel Jutkowitz: Teoria, Accion Social yDesarrollo en America Latina (Mexico: Siglo XXI, 1976, n.p.s.). Pp. 636.Fifteen years ago one commentator on Latin American sociology described thestate of the discipline in that continent in the following terms: 'teaching isspeculative, content eclectic, subject matter poorly defined, teachers are largelyuntrained and unspecialized, little research is undertaken, and what there iscontinues the tradition of the pensadores, for very few investigators have beentrained in modern methods of research' (Hopper in C. Wagley, ed., SocialScience Research on Latin America, Columbia U.P., 1964). Reading Solari,Franco and Jutkowitz's formidable synthesis of Latin American sociologicalwriting one is left in no doubt that Hopper's comments have much less forcetoday than they had a decade and a half ago.Solari et al. have written a long, thoughtful and intellectually engaging book,encyclopaedic in content and ambitious in intent. Their aim has been to donothing less than analyse the development of 'sociological writing' (in thebroadest sense) in Latin America, review its principal theoretical and substantiveconcerns, and relate these concerns to the developing Latin American perspectiveon underdevelopment and development. This is a review and interpretation ofwhat has happened rather than an original contribution to intellectual debate.At its best, for example in the section on the 'dual economy' and 'internalcolonialism', it is an incisive and illuminating book. At its worst it descendsinto sociological bathos of the 'what should be the true object of sociologicalinquiry?' variety. On the whole high standards are maintained and the clearexposition of functionalist (' neo-positivist') and 'critical' (marxist-influenced)perspectives enables the reader to appreciate just how much theoretical progresshas been made in Latin American sociology. As a synthesis of opinion, con-

9go Journal of Latin American StudiesBennett H. Wall and George S. Gibb: Teagle of Jersey Standard (NewOrleans: Tulane University Press, I974, $I2.00). Pp. xxii + 386.

Bennett H. Wall is a professor of history; George S. Gibb a former editor ofthe Business History Review and co-author (with E. H. Knowlton) of animportant volume on the history of Jersey Standard. Walter Teagle was one ofthe most important oilmen in the world in the inter-war period.This is a surprisingly superficial book to be written by professional historiansof such standing on such a subject. It is inaccurate in detail (e.g. the discussion ofthe origin of the 'red-line agreement' on p. 2II), and the uncritical adulationof the subject (and his company) expressed in painful cliches is hard to take.(Handclasps are ' crushing ', jaws are 'jutting ', or 'firm ', eyes are 'watchful '.)The numerous photographs include Teagle's desk, his 'famous briefcase' posedbeside his fishing tackle box, even his special fishing fly. We are informed thatthe public would not have been so critical of Jersey Standard had 'it beenprivileged to witness the Company's principal administrator sitting in stockingfeet and wreathed in cigar smoke intently endeavouring to fill a flush' (p. 56).Not recommended for serious students.School of Oriental and African Studies, London EDITH PENROSE

Aldo Solari, Rolando Franco and Joel Jutkowitz: Teoria, Accion Social yDesarrollo en America Latina (Mexico: Siglo XXI, 1976, n.p.s.). Pp. 636.Fifteen years ago one commentator on Latin American sociology described thestate of the discipline in that continent in the following terms: 'teaching isspeculative, content eclectic, subject matter poorly defined, teachers are largelyuntrained and unspecialized, little research is undertaken, and what there iscontinues the tradition of the pensadores, for very few investigators have beentrained in modern methods of research' (Hopper in C. Wagley, ed., SocialScience Research on Latin America, Columbia U.P., 1964). Reading Solari,Franco and Jutkowitz's formidable synthesis of Latin American sociologicalwriting one is left in no doubt that Hopper's comments have much less forcetoday than they had a decade and a half ago.Solari et al. have written a long, thoughtful and intellectually engaging book,encyclopaedic in content and ambitious in intent. Their aim has been to donothing less than analyse the development of 'sociological writing' (in thebroadest sense) in Latin America, review its principal theoretical and substantiveconcerns, and relate these concerns to the developing Latin American perspectiveon underdevelopment and development. This is a review and interpretation ofwhat has happened rather than an original contribution to intellectual debate.At its best, for example in the section on the 'dual economy' and 'internalcolonialism', it is an incisive and illuminating book. At its worst it descendsinto sociological bathos of the 'what should be the true object of sociologicalinquiry?' variety. On the whole high standards are maintained and the clearexposition of functionalist (' neo-positivist') and 'critical' (marxist-influenced)perspectives enables the reader to appreciate just how much theoretical progresshas been made in Latin American sociology. As a synthesis of opinion, con-


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Book Notices 19Isideredcriticallybut sympathetically,Solari and colleagueshave achieved whatat first seems almost impossible.They have shown how consciousness f under-development, n its many manifestations,has been reflected hrough intellectualinquiry,until intellectual abour itself has becomereinvigorated.Although theydo not say so explicitly,the proof of this fertile intellectualactivity is obvious.Twenty years ago Latin Americans looked to Europe or North America forguidancein the socialsciences.Today, those of us Europeanand North Ameri-can socialscientistswho are interested n theoreticalwork on development andthis observationmight be extended to African and Asian scholars, oo) look toLatinAmericans o provideit. One'sonlyreservation s that interest n empiricalresearchand methodologyhas not matched the progressthat has been madein other directions.Wye College and Institute of Latin American Studies, MICHAEL REDCLIFTLondon

Victor Andrade, My Missions for RevolutionaryBolivia, 1944-62, editedand with an introductionby Cole Blasier (PittsburghUniversity Press,1976, $11.95). Pp. 200.Victor Andrade'spoliticalcareer extendsbeyondthe limits set by this fragmentof autobiography,and the omissions are significant.In Bolivia's most recentpresidentialelection(that of 1966)Andradecame third with almost Io per centof the vote. The electoralcourt had authorizedhim to use the precious nitials'MNR ', although there was little else of that party to which he could layclaim. By the time of his first election campaign in 1940 he had alreadyexperienced en yearsof politicalactivism,first as a student leaderin the I930revolutionand then as one of the cliques competingfor the favourof PresidentBusch. He was electeddeputy for his home province(Sud Yungas) in I940 asa candidate for Estrella de Hierro, an organizationof Chaco veterans ofreputedly fascistic tendencies, which borrowed at least its name from theRumanianIron Guard. In this volume, however,he appearsunder a differentlabel - progressivedemocratand friend of the United States.The book is aimed

at the Washingtondiplomaticcommunityand most spaceis devoted to explain-ing and commenting on United States policies towards Bolivia, whereas therepublic'sdomestic politics receive only sketchy and somewhat unsatisfactorytreatment.As Ambassadorto Washington 1944-6 and 1952-8 Andrade was a leadingparticipant n two major episodes: he played a key part in the unsuccessfuldefence of the Villarroel administration,and returned more successfullyafterthe 1952revolutionto neutralize the hostility arousedin the United Statesbythe nationalizationof the tin mines. He was evidently a skilful and highlyregardeddiplomat, who was entrustedby the internationalcommunity withan importantchairmanshipduring the draftingof the United Nations Charter.It would seem that muchof the influencehe was able to exercise n Washingtoncame from the reputationand contactshe acquired hroughthe foundingof theUnited Nations. Hence his diplomaticmemoirs are of interest not only toaddicts of Bolivianpolitics. They are perhapsmost useful to studentsof inter-

Book Notices 19Isideredcriticallybut sympathetically,Solari and colleagueshave achieved whatat first seems almost impossible.They have shown how consciousness f under-development, n its many manifestations,has been reflected hrough intellectualinquiry,until intellectual abour itself has becomereinvigorated.Although theydo not say so explicitly,the proof of this fertile intellectualactivity is obvious.Twenty years ago Latin Americans looked to Europe or North America forguidancein the socialsciences.Today, those of us Europeanand North Ameri-can socialscientistswho are interested n theoreticalwork on development andthis observationmight be extended to African and Asian scholars, oo) look toLatinAmericans o provideit. One'sonlyreservation s that interest n empiricalresearchand methodologyhas not matched the progressthat has been madein other directions.Wye College and Institute of Latin American Studies, MICHAEL REDCLIFTLondon

Victor Andrade, My Missions for RevolutionaryBolivia, 1944-62, editedand with an introductionby Cole Blasier (PittsburghUniversity Press,1976, $11.95). Pp. 200.Victor Andrade'spoliticalcareer extendsbeyondthe limits set by this fragmentof autobiography,and the omissions are significant.In Bolivia's most recentpresidentialelection(that of 1966)Andradecame third with almost Io per centof the vote. The electoralcourt had authorizedhim to use the precious nitials'MNR ', although there was little else of that party to which he could layclaim. By the time of his first election campaign in 1940 he had alreadyexperienced en yearsof politicalactivism,first as a student leaderin the I930revolutionand then as one of the cliques competingfor the favourof PresidentBusch. He was electeddeputy for his home province(Sud Yungas) in I940 asa candidate for Estrella de Hierro, an organizationof Chaco veterans ofreputedly fascistic tendencies, which borrowed at least its name from theRumanianIron Guard. In this volume, however,he appearsunder a differentlabel - progressivedemocratand friend of the United States.The book is aimed

at the Washingtondiplomaticcommunityand most spaceis devoted to explain-ing and commenting on United States policies towards Bolivia, whereas therepublic'sdomestic politics receive only sketchy and somewhat unsatisfactorytreatment.As Ambassadorto Washington 1944-6 and 1952-8 Andrade was a leadingparticipant n two major episodes: he played a key part in the unsuccessfuldefence of the Villarroel administration,and returned more successfullyafterthe 1952revolutionto neutralize the hostility arousedin the United Statesbythe nationalizationof the tin mines. He was evidently a skilful and highlyregardeddiplomat, who was entrustedby the internationalcommunity withan importantchairmanshipduring the draftingof the United Nations Charter.It would seem that muchof the influencehe was able to exercise n Washingtoncame from the reputationand contactshe acquired hroughthe foundingof theUnited Nations. Hence his diplomaticmemoirs are of interest not only toaddicts of Bolivianpolitics. They are perhapsmost useful to studentsof inter-

teoria, accion social y desarrollo en america latina - redcliff

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