US-Latin American Relations Weeks, C1

A Central Theme “all too often, U.S. Policy makers and the general public do not understand why Latin Americans routinely demonstrate indifferent or even hostile reactions to U.S. Actions, and Latin Americans themselves often see ulterior motives in U.S. actions” (Weeks 2008:1).

Theoretical Foundations Realism States as main actors (although for Weeks, not unitary ones—see 4). An anarchical international system Power: “an actor is powerful to the extent that he or she affects others more than they affect him or her” (Weeks 2008:2). Military Economic

Theoretical Foundations Dependency Dominance by outside forces Benefits local elites and outside powers, but not the country as a whole Dependent development Liberal Institutionalism Focuses on harmony of interest Rules, norms and values “there is no perfect theory” (5).

Terms and Issues Hegemony Intermestic Role of leaders