This twelve country comparative volume examines the impact of economic structural adjustment programmes upon grassroots civil association and the implications for political liberalisation and democratization in the developing countries of Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The authors take an in-depth look at the impact of economic reform upon women's groups, human rights organisations, social-welfare non-governmental organisations, unions and business associations. They challenge the prevailing assumption that economic reform will automatically lead to greater democratization.

REMONDA BENSABAT-KLEINBERG is an Assistant Professor at University of North Carolina at Wilmington where she teaches Latin American politics and international relations. She has published on state-business relations in Mexico under Nafta and economic liberalisation. Her books include Strategic Alliances and Other Deals: State-Business Relations and Economic Reform in Mexico, (1999).

JANINE A. CLARK Department of Political Science, University of Guelph, Canada