Latin American Foreign Policy: Toward Fragmentation and Pragmatic Accomodation?

Abstract

For several years, Latin American foreign policy has shifted between autonomy and subordination, observing a conjunctural pragmatic accommodation by decision makers. This article examines this topic, based on a conceptual framework that links internal, external and personal elements of authors such as James Rosenau, Valerie Hudson, Robert Russell and Juan Tokatlian. The analysis takes into account regional differences, the role of powers of different rank such as Brazil, Mexico and Colombia to demonstrate the importance of presidentialist emphases and preferences, although some of them are more rhetorical than real. The changes and continuities of Latin American foreign policy are considered, taking into account various sub-regions, and domestic agendas of interaction with the international. The United States continues to be the main reference for the foreign policy of the region. However, this power has been losing space that has been filled by countries such as China, India, Japan and Russia. The article concludes that Latin American changes are more political, conjunctural and pragmatic, and there is a tendency towards the construction of a New Right that is articulated with US hegemonic interests.