Talons of the Eagle Latin America, the United States, and the World

by Smith, Peter H.

• ISBN13: 9780195320480
• ISBN10: 0195320484
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-12-07
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a new international regime emerged and profoundly transformed inter-American affairs. In the third edition of Talons of the Eagle: Latin America, the United States, and the World, Peter H. Smith places this devastating event into its full historical context by offering a vivid portrayal of U.S.-Latin American relations from the early nineteenth century to the present. A new section, "The War on Terror," examines the impact of 9/11 on the United States and Latin America, with a focus on George W. Bush's Latin American policy. Smith also analyzes Latin American reactions and responses to the U.S.--and to the rest of the world--in these complex and troubling times. Throughout, this provocative text casts new light on such contemporary issues as economic integration, drug trafficking, undocumented migration, and the rise of Latin America's "new left." Rather than concentrating solely on U.S. policy, Smith addresses the structural relationships between the two regions by focusing on international systems, the distribution of power, and the perception and pursuit of national interests. Designed explicitly for classroom use, this new edition integrates photographs, political cartoons, charts, and tables directly into the text. To further enliven the subject, anecdotal sidebars highlight such incendiary and discussion-worthy topics as the origins of anti-imperialist sentiment in Latin America, Che Guevara's hopes for continental revolution, Ronald Reagan's denunciation of communist threats in Central America, George W. Bush's justifications for the war in Iraq, and Hugo Chávez's anti-Bush remarks at the United Nations. Deftly researched and thoughtfully composed, this text is ideal for general courses in Latin American history and politics as well as courses in U.S. foreign policy and inter-American relations. Timely and topical, Talons of the Eagle, Third Edition, presents an eminent scholar's perspective on the interaction between global trends and inter-American affairs--a subject that has become crucially important in our recent history.

Author Biography

Peter H. Smith is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Sim+¦n Bol+¡var Professor of Latin American Studies at the University of California, San Diego. He is author of Democracy in Latin America: Political Change in Comparative Perspective (2005) and other classic works on the political histories of Mexico and Argentina. Professor Smith is also coauthor of Modern Latin America (Sixth Edition, 2005) and editor or coeditor of more than a dozen anthologies.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction: Global Politics and U.S.-Latin American Relations	p. 1
The Imperial Era
The European Game	p. 13
The Gospel of Democracy	p. 43
Latin America: Responses to Imperialism	p. 81
The Cold War
Closing Ranks and Making Friends	p. 113
Crushing Enemies	p. 148
Latin America: Fighting the Cold War	p. 181
Decade of Uncertainty
Superpower Economics	p. 213
Illicit Flows and Military Force	p. 241
Latin America: In Quest of Alternatives	p. 273
The War on Terror
George Bush and Latin America	p. 307
Latin America: Exploring Unexpected Opportunities	p. 337
Can There Be Policy Alternatives?	p. 369
Conclusion: Structure and Change in U.S.-Latin American Relations	p. 395
A Guide to Further Reading	p. 415
Index	p. 425
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