Latin America and the Caribbean in the Global Context

Betty Horwitz was a lecturer in the department of international studies at the University of Miami, where she received her PhD.Bruce Bagley is professor in the department of international studies at the University of Miami. His research interests are in U.S.-Latin American relations, with an emphasis on drug trafficking and security issues.

'Latin America and the Caribbean in Global Context provides state-of-the art analysis interpreting the transformations of the region’s place in world politics and the global economy through the lenses of contemporary theories of international relations. Fundamental issues such as the quality of democratic governance and transnational drug trafficking, the region’s quest for greater autonomy in a world scene marked by the war against terrorism, China’s rise as a global power and challenges to US hegemony receive particularly acute treatment.' - William C. Smith, Professor of Political Science, University of Miami, Editor, Latin American Politics and Society'It is extremely fortunate that this book brings to the forefront a core argument that is seldom considered by mainstream IR studies and comparative policy: the relevance and contribution of Latin America and the Caribbean to both world politics and democratic dynamics. The authors combine theory and practice, a historical and contemporary perspective covering multiple key issues across the whole area, with a singular purpose that they have been able to achieve: to thoroughly demonstrate why the post Cold war changing reality of LAC is significant; first to itself, to the Inter-american system, and to global affairs. In the end, Bagley and Horwitz show that the study and understanding of the region can be academically rigorous and intellectually empathetic.' - Juan Gabriel Tokatlian, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Part I: Why Latin America and the Caribbean Matter? Chapter 1: Why Care about what Happens in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC?) Chapter 2: The Insertion of Latin America and the Caribbean in World History: Chapter 3: A Theoretical Framework to Understand World Affairs: Part II: Latin America and the Caribbean: Power and Political Economy: Chapter 4: Economic Power: Commodity Booms and Busts: Chapter 5: Latin America and the Caribbean: Political Economy in the Twenty First Century: Part III: Security and Democracy: Chapter 6: Power: Political Institutions and Democracy: Chapter 7: Electoral Democracies in Latin America and the Caribbean: Chapter 8: Challenges to Democracy: Drug trafficking, Organized Crime and Terrorist Networks in LAC Part IV: Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Stage: Chapter 9: Latin America and the Caribbean and the Development of the Inter-American System: Chapter 10: We Should Care about Latin America and the Caribbean: Index