Neighborly Adversaries: Readings in U.S.–Latin American Relations

The history of U.S.–Latin American relations has been characterized by a complex fusion of tensions, collaboration, misperceptions, and intervention. Offering a balanced and interdisciplinary interpretation, this comprehensive reader traces the often-troubled relationship from the beginnings of the nineteenth century to the presidency of Barack Obama. Completely revised and updated, this third edition includes original essays on critically important issues such as immigration, the environment, and the Obama administration’s policy toward the region. In addition to this added policy section, another new section explores cultural issues such as tourism, soccer, and the media. The readings are framed by the editors’ opening chapter on the history of the relationship, introductory essays for each of the seven parts, and abstracts for each selection. Students who use this book will learn that U.S.–Latin American relations have been deeply influenced by dynamic, continuously evolving scholarly interpretations in both hemispheres. Sixteen years after the first edition was published, the editors are more optimistic as the hemisphere unites around trade, culture, tourism and an evolving mutual appreciation. Methodologically interdisciplinary, yet comparative and historical in organization and structure, this text will benefit all readers interested in the rich historical, social, and political “American” relationship.

Table of Contents:
Preface and Acknowledgments 1. Introduction: Contentious Neighbors in the Western Hemisphere Michael La Rosa and Frank O. Mora Part I: Disparate Perceptions: Expansionism Versus Arielism 2.The Ango-Saxon and the World’s Future Josiah Strong 3. Our America José Martí 4. Mark Twain Philip Foner 5. Ariel José Enrique Rodó Part II: The Monroe Doctrine and Origins of U.S. Expansionism 6. The Monroe Doctrine, 1823-1826 Dexter Perkins 7. The Platt Amendment of 1901 8. The Real Monroe Doctrine Elihu Root 9. Autopsy of the Monroe Doctrine: The Strange Story of Inter-American Relations Gaston Nerval Part III: From TR to FDR: Interventionism and the Good Neighbor Policy 10. Leonard Wood and the White Man’s Burden Lester D. Langley 11. Development of the Panama Policy in the Caribbean and Central America (1902-1936) Samuel Flagg Bemis 12. An Address to Congress on the Mexican Crisis (April 20, 1914) Woodrow Wilson 13. The Making of the Good Neighbor Policy Bryce Wood Part IV: Cold War Arrives in Latin America 14. The Impact of the Cold War on U.S.-Latin American Relations, 1945-1949 Roger R. Trask 15. Latin America as a Problem in U.S. Foreign Policy George Kennan 16.The Hovering Giant: U.S. Responses to Revolutionary Change in Latin America Cole Blasier 17.Did Eisenhower Push Castro into the Arms of the Soviets? Alan Luxenberg Part V: Conflicting Aims in U.S.-Latin American Relations: The Late 20th Century 18.The Alliance That Lost Its Way: A Critical Report on the Alliance for Progress Jerome Levinson and Juan de Onis 19.U.S.-Latin America Trade: Recent Trends and Policy Issues J. F. Hornbeck 20. Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime in the Americas: Major Trends in the 21st Century Bruce Bagley Part VI: Contemporary Policy Trends in U.S.-Latin American Relations 21. Post-Cold War U.S. Latin American Policy: The Clinton, Bush, and Obama Administrations Frank O. Mora 22. Environmental Concerns Facing the U.S. and Mexico: An International Perspective Matthew C. LaFevor 23. Waiting on Reform: A Brief History of U.S.-Latin American Immigration Lance R. Ingwersen and Michael J. La Rosa Part VII: Contemporary Cultural Trends: U.S.- Latin American Relations Enter the 21st Century 24. Unfulfilled Promises: Mexico’s Complicated Century of Soccer Joshua H. Nadel 25. No Mere Backyard: Latin American Television from Dictatorship to Democracy Andrew Paxman 26. Safe Travels: Tourism and Security in Post-Insurgency Peru Teresa E. P. Delfin 27. By Way of Conclusion: Neither Neighborly Nor Adversarial: An Evolving American Relationship Michael J. LaRosa and Frank O.Mora Selected Bibliography Credits Index About the Contributors

About the Author :
Michael J. LaRosa is associate professor of history at Rhodes College. Frank O. Mora is director of the Latin American and Caribbean Center and professor of politics and international relations at Florida International University.

Review :
Neighborly Adversaries: Readings in U.S.-Latin American Relations is recommended for college-level students of Latin America political issues, and appears in a newly updated third edition to gather works reviewing the nature of, challenges to, and emergence of major issues in U.S-Latin American policies. Students receive a wide range of analytical surveys and perspectives on attitudes in both nations, presenting a blend of historical background and political analysis designed to lend perspective on current events. The first edition appeared in 1999: this third updated edition adds new sections, reflects the latest scholarship in the field, and is a 'must' for any college-level political science student reviewing Latin American politics. [A] useful classroom supplement to any of the general surveys. Its excerpts from both primary and secondary sources reflect different disciplines and include texts by Latin American authors. LaRosa and Mora introduce and contextualize these excerpts to orient the reader. The book also includes an excellent bibliography for students looking to research and write about U.S.–Latin American relations. An engaging collection of historical and contemporary writings, interdisciplinary analysis, and primary political documents. The juxtaposition of contrasting historical time frames and divergent opinions provides the reader with a more complex analysis than many other volumes of its kind. . . . The book does an excellent job of presenting insightful historical and contemporary perspectives on mainstream topics. . . . A useful text for generating debates in courses on U.S.–Latin American relations. Two established scholars of U.S.–Latin American relations offer a new and updated edition of their useful, multidisciplinary review of major issues and perspectives in Western Hemisphere relations from the Monroe Doctrine of the early nineteenth century to the policies of the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations in the early twenty-first century. Students will be able to discern from these well-selected contributions how many of the underlying premises and policies of the United States toward Latin America have endured, even as the region, the international environment, the United States itself, and the major issues on the agenda of U.S.–Latin American relations have fundamentally changed.