THE PERSISTENT INSTABILITY AND DISORDER OF SPANISH AMERICAN POLITIES IN THE POST-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD WAS UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE MOST PERPLEXING CONCERNS OF SPANISH AMERICAN ELITES IN THE 19TH CENTURY, AND IT HAS REMAINED A SUBJECT OF DEBATE AMONG 20TH-CENTURY SCHOLARS. THIS PAPER OUTLINES SEVERAL GENERAL APPROACHES TO THE PROBLEM AMONG 20TH-CENTURY INTERPRETERS, COMPARES CONTEMPORARY 19TH-CENTURY ANALYSES WITH THE SALIENT 20TH-CENTURY VIEWS, AND OFFERS A CRITICAL COMMENTARY ON THE VARIOUS 20TH-CENTURY ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORKS.