Political and Agrarian Development in Guatemala

An examination of the political nature of agrarian development in Guatemala, this book argues that agrarian policies, once implemented, often altered future political development. Dr Berger demonstrates that throughout the period, the Guatemalan leadership initiated major agrarian policy shifts without consideration for the demands of prominent political groups, pursued their own economic ideologies and built political coalitions. She contends, however, that state policies were often not successfully implemented because of weak bureaucratic organization, budget constraints and exclusionary practices. In addition, the author analyzes the repercussions of agrarian policies on political development, especially on the growth of the elite class and the increase in opposition from subordinate classes. She concludes that these factors ultimately led to the militarization of the state after 1963.