US and Latin America US - Latin America Relations Historical overviews of the complex relations between the United States and its southern neighbors. US presidents progressively more powerful and progressively more involved in the affairs of the rest of the continent: the idea of the ‘backyard.’ The role of lobby and interest groups in US foreign policy-making towards Latin America.

Contemporary Issues US - Latin American Relations and their contemporary relevance Historic animosity? There is certainly no love lost, but the relations are much more complex. Free trade. This has been the most significant issue since the end of the Cold War and the most contentious one as well. The export of narcotics and violence along the border. This has now probably replaced free trade at the top of US foreign policy agenda at the moment. Migration. Hispanic voters in the US. Regional alternatives to Western influence? –The arrival of China…

US-Latin American Relations US aspired to regional dominance with Monroe Doctrine in 1823: ‘We should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and security.’ Attempts to implement this in 19th century very limited: Mexican-American war of Emergence of the US as a global power in Spanish-American war of 1898: Puerto Rico and the Philippines from Spain and allows Cuban independence but under strong US dominance. Britain in 1901 (Venezuela and Guiana).

The US as Regional Hegemon Early 20th century and expansion of US power in Central America and Caribbean: 34 military interventions from 1888 to 1932: –Nicaragua ( , ). –Haiti ( ). –Dominican Republic ( ). –Cuba ( , , 1912, ). Shorter military interventions in: –Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica. Roosevelt Corollary (1904) to the Monroe Doctrine: Formally declared the right of the United States, as a ‘civilized nation’ to end ‘chronic wrongdoing’ in the region. Sowing the seends of animosity. Legitimacy for intervening?

Good Neighbour Policy 1930: US declared it would no longer intervene in the internal affairs of Latin American countries: Led to ‘good neighbour’ policy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, –Withdrew troops from Haiti, Nicaragua. US sought closer economic ties with the region: –Signed trade agreements with 15 countries between 1934 and Ties strengthened during World War II as US relied on Latin America for supplies and markets. It empowered a right-wing and socially conservative Latin American business community that will be the favoured social group for the US during the Cold War.

Inter-American system ( ) Emerged during WWII: 1947: mutual defence pact and 1948 Organisation of American States (OAS). Realist driven: US opposes establishment of CEPAL: –founded with the purpose of contributing to the economic development of Latin America, coordinating actions directed towards this end, and reinforcing economic ties among countries and with other nations of the world. Alliance for Progress: –President Kennedy’s development plan for the region. –Counteract the influence of the Cuban Revolution (1959) but large security elements.

Inter-American system ( ) And of course, Cold War deepens and danger of Communist subversion: Guatemala in Bay of Pigs, Cuba in Support of Brazilian military coup in Dominican Republic in Involvement in overthrow of Allende government in Chile in Involvement in Central America (El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua) in 1980s. Invasion of Grenada in Invasion of Panama in 1989.

After the Cold War? Economic imperatives: New forms of integration: FTAA, CAFTA, NAFTA. »Import of low-cost products. »Import of primary commodities, but domestic producers protected. Latin American response: Open regionalism – NAFTA, CAFTA, FTAA. Defensive regionalism – MERCOSUR, UNASUR, ALBA, Banco del Sur. China: by 2015 will overtake EU as 2nd largest trading partner. »FDI: US$15 billion in Brazil alone in 2010.