U.S.-LATIN AMERICAN RELATIONS

Political Science 146A

Peter H. Smith

Why This Course?

• Convenience or program requirements

• Economic opportunities, emerging markets

• Presence in southern California

• Insights on American society

• Perspectives on U.S. foreign policy:

How do strong countries treat weaker ones?

Key Questions

• What is the current state of U.S. relations with Latin America?

• What (if anything) is unique or “new” about the present situation? How much have we seen before?

• Where is the relationship headed? What might the future hold?

Design of the Course

• Course Structure and Conceptual Approaches

• Historical Trends

1. The Imperial Era

2. The Cold War

3. Age of Uncertainty: The 1990s

The Post-Cold War Era

1.The New Economic Agenda2.Drugs and Drug Trafficking3.Illegal Immigration

9/11 and U.S.-Latin American Relations

George Bush and Latin America

What Can Latin America Do?

Required Readings

• Smith, Talons of the Eagle

• Tulchin and Espach, eds., Latin America in the New International System

• Holden and Zolov, eds., Latin America and the United States

• 146A Course Reader

Course Requirements

• Mid-term exam: Tuesday, February 10

(33 percent of grade)

• Final exam: Friday, March 19 (67 percent)

• Optional paper: Tuesday, March 2 (30 percent of grade, so mid-term = 20 percent and final = 50 percent)

Teaching Assistants

• Lindsay Lavelle

• Heather Smith

• Lydia Tiede

Overview: Conceptual Approaches

1. Idealist (transnationalist)

• Role of institutions• Democracy and peace• Construction of system• Interdependence and economic interests• Implications for U.S.-Latin American

relations

2. Realist

• Quest for power• Emphasis on nation-state• State as rational, unitary actor• Anarchy rather than coordination• Implications for U.S.-Latin American

relations

3.Radical

• Preeminence of social classes• State as tool of dominant class• Hierarchy (dependencia) rather than anarchy • Ideology rather than rationality• Implications for U.S.-Latin American relations

Postscript: Globalization as framework or ideology

Popular Culture and U.S. Policy

• Question: Does popular culture matter? Or public opinion?

• Selected propositions:

1. Public opinion has significant effects

2. Public opinion has little if any effect

3. State apparatus can mold and mobilize public opinion, which in turn provides legitimacy for elite decisions

“The Gringo in Mañanaland”

1. The hero discovers paradise2. The hero has a dream about bananas3. The hero has a problem with women4. And with bandits5. The hero calls in the Marines (who save

the day)6. The bandits cooperate (from prison)7. The Good Neighbors are happy