Decline of the U.S. Hegemony?: A Challenge of Alba and a New Latin American Integration of the Twenty-First Century(Security in the Americas in the Twenty-First Century)

This book analyzes ALBA’s structure and dynamics, its practicality, its medium and long-term sustainability, and its capacity to influence regional and international affairs. The work examines ALBA’s possible economic and security consequences for neighboring non-member states in the region, particularly the United States, as well as other key actors such as China, Russia, and Iran. The volume analyzes the origins, ideological orientation, structure, internal dynamics, and evolution of the ALBA initiative and its regional and international implications during its first decade of existence. It is the first comprehensive work on the subject with a multi-disciplinary perspective and it provides an analysis of the new regional, Bolivarian Alliance initiative in Latin America and its relation to the international system. The volume includes studies on the Bolivarian Alliance and Chavismo under Hugo Chávez Frías’ leadership. As a whole, this volume weaves together such crucial issues as oil politics, drug-trafficking, hemispheric security, and trade.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: A Guide to ALBA: What is the Bolivarian Alternative to the Americas and What Does It Do? Joel D. Hirst and Chistopher Sabatini Chapter 2: New Philosophy and Socialism of the 21st Century John W. Murphy Chapter 3: Chávez and ALBA David Adams and Phil Gunson Chapter 4: Political And Ideological Aspects Of The Alianza Bolivariana Para Los Pueblos De Nuestra América - Tratado De Comercio De Los Pueblos (ALBA - TCP): Viability and Sustainability? Chapter 5: ALBA: Ideology overcomes integration? Josette Altmann Borbón Chapter 6: Neo-Bolivarian Challenges: Cuba and Venezuela and Their Foreign Policies Magdalena Defort Chapter 7: Morales’ Bolivia and ALBA Marten W. Brienen Chapter 8: ALBA and Petro-Caribe: Successes and a Paradoxical Failure of Venezuelan Soft Power in the Caribbean Anthony P. Maingot Chapter 9: ALBA and Central America: Nicaraguan Integration and Sub-Regional Mistrust Cristina Eguizábal Chapter 10: The Post- Washington Consensus Regional Integration in South America Convergence and Divergence in ALBA and UNASUR: A Comparative Perspective Khatchik DerGhougassian Chapter 11: Military Geometry of ALBA: Venezuela’s Armed Forces, Terrorism, and Revolutionary Islam Magdalena Defort Chapter 12: UNASUR: Constructing the South American Identity Marcela Ganem Chapter 13: The South American Defense Council vis a vis ALBA: Dilemmas and Contradictions of the New Security Diplomacy Raúl Benítez Manaut and Rut Diamint Chapter 14: ALBA and Economic Regionalization in Latin America Roberto Domínguez Chapter 15: ALBA-TCP: A Viable and Sustainable Alternative? Marcela Anzola-Gil Chapter 16: The Bolivarian Alliance and the United States of America – Incompatible Ideas Joel D. Hirst Chapter 17: Russia and ALBA: A Marriage of Convenience Vladimir Rouvinski Chapter 18: Europe and the New Latin America. Spanish Perception of New Trends in South American Security and Integration: Focus on ALBA Joaquín Roy Chapter 19: Chinese Engagement with the ALBA Countries: A Relationship of Mutual Convenience? R. Evan Ellis

About the Author :
Bruce M. Bagley is professor of international studies at the University of Miami. Magdalena Defort is a scholar and researcher of international studies at the University of Miami.

Review :
The book edited by M.Defort and B.Bagley is the first comprehensive integral analysis of ALBA and its results are exhaustive and excellent. The editors have assembled an impressive array of international scholars to examine thoroughly ALBA’s national and geopolitical dimensions. This regional alliance is seen within the context of regional and global challenges. The authors managed splendidly to trace historical and ideological roots of ALBA and to present a whole picture of its successes and failures. It is a well written, well-organized and highly detailed vision of different aspects of ALBA’s history and contemporaneity, and it would be an invaluable source for readers interested in international relations, the development of the New Left in Latin America and integration issues.