The book examines in depth the problematic effects of state intervention in agricultural markets of developing countries against the background of the current transition from interventionism to neo-liberalism. The fascinating case of Nicaragua is explored, focusing on the 1979-1990 interventionist period under Sandinista rule, followed by an analysis of the post-1990 laissez-faire period. The limits of state intervention are shown by analyzing in detail the unintended effects of certain policies such as those on land reform, price, credit, and technology. Finally, the book draws comparisons between the Nicaraguan case, in which two transitions took place in a relatively short time span, and the recent dramatic transformations of Eastern Europe. It provides arguments for a different role for the state in this process, which is directed toward market development, rather than the current one.