Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T05:13:53.943Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Radical Neglect? The “War on Terror” and Latin America

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

R. Guy Emerson
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The rise of leftist governments in the Americas and the adoption of policy initiatives contrary to U.S. interests highlight a disconnect in interamerican relations, which cannot be understood simply as U.S. “neglect” of Latin America. In contrast to arguments that attribute the deteriorating relations to U.S. preoccupation with the Middle East, the article examines whether the “War on Terror” acted as a guiding paradigm for the George W. Bush administration in Latin America. Opposition to this “War on Terror” paradigm was evident following Colombia's 2008 air strike in Ecuador. Justified as a preemptive strike against a terrorist threat, Colombia's action met regional condemnation. The article argues that this Colombia-Latin America division reflects a larger geostrategic disconnect, whereby the “War on Terror” is challenged, causing the increasing marginalization of Washington and resistance to U.S. policy.

Type
Research Article
Information
Latin American Politics and Society , Volume 52 , Issue 1 , Spring 2010 , pp. 33 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © University of Miami 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acosta, Luis Jaime. 2008. Colombia niega violación de la soberanía de Ecuador. Reuters—Noticias Latinoamericanas, March 3.Google Scholar
France-Presse, Agence. 2008a. Brazil to Try to Calm Colombia-Ecuador Tensions. March 4.Google Scholar
France-Presse, Agence. 2008b. Uruguay pide diálogo Colombia-Ecuador-Venezuela y reunión del Mercosur. March 4.Google Scholar
France-Presse, Agence. 2008c. Bolivia llama al diálogo pero advierte que crisis podría alcanzar a la Can. March 4.Google Scholar
France-Presse, Agence. 2008d. Eeuu: Oea es lugar indicado para resolver crisis Colombia-Ecuador. March 4.Google Scholar
France-Presse, Agence. 2008e. Rice minimiza propuesta de Correa de crear una “Oea sin Eeuu.” March 15.Google Scholar
Agencia EFE. Servicio General. 2008a. Venezuela considera “aberrante” que Eeuu quiera incluirla en lista terrorista. March 12. <http://terranoticias.terra.es/nacional/articulo/venezuela_eeuu_considera_aberrante_quiera_2316681.htm>..>Google Scholar
Agencia EFE. Servicio General. 2008b. Insulza defiende ante Congreso Eeuu gestión Oea en la crisis Colombia-Ecuador. April 11. <http://www.emol.com/noticias/internacional/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=299967>..>Google Scholar
Amin, Samir. 1990. Maldevelopment: Anatomy of a Global Failure. London : Zed Books.Google Scholar
Angrisani, Luisa. 2005. Regional Markets in Latin America. Perspectives 3, 1:129–33.Google Scholar
Associated Press. 2006. Rumsfeld Likens Venezuela's Chávez to Hitler: Defense Chief Expresses Concern at “Populist Leadership” in Latin America. February 3. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11159503>..' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Associated+Press.+2006.+Rumsfeld+Likens+Venezuela's+Chávez+to+Hitler:+Defense+Chief+Expresses+Concern+at+“Populist+Leadership”+in+Latin+America.+February+3.+.>Google Scholar
Associated Press. Spanish Worldstream. 2008a. Presidentes llaman a evitar conflicto Colombia-Ecuador. March 4. <http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/internacionales/9800>>Google Scholar
Associated Press. Spanish Worldstream. 2008b. Venezuelan Troops Move to Colombian Border as Tensions between Two Countries Mount. March 4. <http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,334756,00.html> BBC News. 2008. Bolivia Tells US Envoy to Leave. September 11. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7609487.stm>.+BBC+News.+2008.+Bolivia+Tells+US+Envoy+to+Leave.+September+11.+.>Google Scholar
Birns, Larry, and Kellberg, Joen. 2007. Thomas Shannon Inherits the Wreckage of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Council on Hemispheric Affairs, August 26. <http://www.coha.org>.Google Scholar
Bush, George W. 2002. Remarks by President Bush at 2002 Graduation Exercise of the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. Office of the Press Secretary, June 1. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/06/20020601-3.html>.Google Scholar
Buzan, Barry. 1998. System Versus Units in Theorizing About the Third World. In International Relations Theory and the Third World, ed. Neuman, Stephanie. New York : St. Martin's Press. 213–34.Google Scholar
Cardoso, Fernando Henrique, and Faletto, Enzo. 1979. Dependency and Development in Latin America. Berkeley : University of California Press.Google Scholar
Carothers, Thomas. 1990. The United States and Latin America after the Cold War. Latin American Program Working Paper no. 184. Washington: Woodrow Wilson Center Press.Google Scholar
Ciponline. 2004. Blurring the Lines: Trends in U.S. Military Programs with Latin America. Center for International Policy, October. <http://www.ciponline.org/facts>..>Google Scholar
Ciponline. 2008. Ready, Aim, Foreign Policy: How the Pentagon's Role in Foreign Policy Is Growing, and Why Congress—and the American Public—Should Be Worried. Center for International Policy, March 1. <http://www.ciponline.org/facts>..>Google Scholar
Clarín (Buenos Aires). 2008. Reunión de emergencia de la Oea en Washington; La Argentina se sumó al resto de la región en su condena a Colombia. March 5. <http://www.clarin.com/diario/2008/03/05/elmundo/i-02401.htm>..>Google Scholar
Collins, Sheila D. 2005. Breaking the Mold? Venezuela's Defiance of the Neoliberal Agenda. New Political Science 27, 3: 367–95.Google Scholar
Democracy Now. 2004. Dems Ignore Negroponte's Death Squad past, Look to Confirm Iraq Appointment. April 28. <http://www.democracynow.org>..' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Democracy+Now.+2004.+Dems+Ignore+Negroponte's+Death+Squad+past,+Look+to+Confirm+Iraq+Appointment.+April+28.+.>Google Scholar
Diamint, Rut. 2004. Security Challenges in Latin America. Bulletin of Latin American Research 23, 1: 43–62.Google Scholar
Domínguez, Jorge I. 2007. Electoral Intervention in the Americas: Uneven and Unanticipated Results. NACLA Report on the Americas 40, 1: 26–31.Google Scholar
Doyle, Kate, and Isacson, Adam. 2001. A New New World Order? U.S. Military Mission Grows in Latin America. NACLA Report on the Americas 35, 3: 14–22.Google Scholar
EFE News Service. 2008. Lula Praises Chávez's Role in Colombia-Ecuador Spat. March 27.Google Scholar
Escudé, Carlos. 1997. Foreign Policy Theory in Menem's Argentina. Gainesville : University Press of Florida.Google Scholar
Fernandes, Ridauto Lúcio. 2008. Colombia, Ecuador y Venezuela: enseñanzas estratégicas de la crisis fronteriza. In Seguridad y defensa/América Latina, Report No. 66/2008. Madrid: Real Instituto Elcano. 1–7.Google Scholar
Fettweis, Christopher J. 2006. A Revolution in International Relations Theory; Or, What If Mueller Is Right International Studies Review 8, 1: 677–97.Google Scholar
Forero, Juan. 2008. Latin American Crisis Resolved: Colombia Apologizes at Regional Summit. Washington times, March 8.Google Scholar
Foster, John Bellamy. 2007. The Latin American Revolt: an Introduction. Monthly Review: An Independent Socialist Magazine 59, 3 (July–August): 1–7.Google Scholar
García, Adriana. 2008. Oea llega a acuerdo resolución sobre crisis andinos. Reuters - Noticias Latinoamericanas, March 6.Google Scholar
Goldberg, Jonathan. 2002. Blind Eye: Are South American Countries Downplaying the Threat of Islamic Terrorism American Prospect, December 20. <http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=blind_eye>..>Google Scholar
Golinger, Eva. 2006. The Chávez Code: Cracking U.S. Intervention in Venezuela. Northampton , MA : Olive Branch Press.Google Scholar
Hakim, Peter. 2006. Is Washington Losing Latin America Foreign Affairs 85, 1: 39–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hill, James. 2003. Building Regional Security Cooperation in the Western Hemisphere. U.S. Department of State, Southern Command, March 3. <http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=6>.Google Scholar
Hobson, John M. 2000. The State and International Relations. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Hobson, John M. 2001. The “Second State Debate” in International Relations: Theory Turned Upside-down. Review of International Studies 27: 395–414.Google Scholar
Infobae. 2008. Los Eeuu dicen que el ataque de Colombia en Ecuador fue “justificable.” March 18. <http://www.infobae.com>..>Google Scholar
Isacson, Adam. 2001. Militarizing Latin America Policy. Foreign Policy in Focus 6, 21: 1–4.Google Scholar
Isacson, Adam. 2005. Closing the “Seams”: U.S. Security Policy in the Americas. NACLA Report on the Americas 38, 6: 13–18.Google Scholar
Jones, Bart. 2004. U.S. Funds Aid Venezuela Opposition. Venezuela Analysis, November 14. <http://www.venezuelaanalysis.com>..>Google Scholar
Just The Facts. 2007. Below the Radar: U.S. Military Programs with Latin America, 1997–2007. April 13. <http://www.justf.org>..>Google Scholar
Just The Facts. 2009. Total U.S. Military and Police Aid to Latin America, All Programs. July 7. <http://www.justf.org>..>Google Scholar
Kozloff, Nikolas. 2008. U.S. Fourth Fleet in Venezuelan Waters. CounterPunch, May 27. <http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3496>..>Google Scholar
Krasner, Stephen D. 1996. Compromising Westphalia. International Security 20, 3: 115–51.Google Scholar
Kraul, Chris. 2008. Colombia, Ecuador End Their Standoff. Los Angeles times, March 8.Google Scholar
LeoGrande, William M. 2007. A Poverty of Imagination: George W. Bush's Policy in Latin America. Journal of Latin American Studies 39, 2 (May): 355–85.Google Scholar
Lettieri, Mike. 2007. Posada Carriles, Child of Scorn: Yet Another Example of the White House's Denigration of Its War on Terrorism, Which Woefully Lacks Integrity, Coherence or Consistency. Council on Hemispheric Affairs, May 16. <http://www.coha.org>.Google Scholar
Levitt, Matthew A. 2002. The Political Economy of Middle East Terrorism. Middle East Review of International Affairs 6, 4: 49–65.Google Scholar
Lobe, Jim. 2004. U.S. Militarizing Latin America. http://OneWorld.net, October 6. <http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/headlines04/1006-04.htm>..>Google Scholar
Lobe, Jim. 2008. U.S. Diplomacy Sidelined by Loyalty to Uribe. Inter Press News Service, March 5.Google Scholar
López, Mayolo. 2008. Reprueba Calderón incursión. Reforma (Mexico City), March 5. <http://www.reforma.com/>..>Google Scholar
Marcella, Gabriel. 2008. War Without Borders: The Colombia-Ecuador Crisis of 2008. Strategic Studies Institute. December. <http://www.StrategicStudiesInstitute.army.mil>.Google Scholar
Miiller, Andrew. 2008. The Threat from Latin America. theTrumpet.com, June 16. <http://www.thetrumpet.com>..>Google Scholar
Military Balance. 2008. Caribbean and Latin America. 108, 1: 55–100. London : International Institute for Strategic Studies.Google Scholar
Muñoz, Heraldo. 2001. Goodbye U.S.A. In Latin America in the New International System, ed. Tulchin, Joseph and Espach, Ralph. Boulder : Lynne Rienner. 73–90.Google Scholar
La Nación (Buenos Aires). 2008. Colombia y Ecuador, satisfechos con el acuerdo. March 18. <http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=996817>..>Google Scholar
Nagle, Luz E. 2008. Colombia's Incursion into Ecuadorian Territory: Justified Hot Pursuit or Pugnacious Error? March 10. <http://www.ssrn.com/abstract=1105393>..' href=https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1105393>CrossRef.' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Nagle,+Luz+E.+2008.+Colombia's+Incursion+into+Ecuadorian+Territory:+Justified+Hot+Pursuit+or+Pugnacious+Error?+March+10.+.>Google Scholar
Niman, Michael I. 2002. Bushistas and Venezuela: the Coup that Went South. ArtVoice, May 9. <http://www.mediastudy.com/articles/av5-9-02.html>..>Google Scholar
Perfil. 2008. Uribe admitió que violó soberanía territorial, pero no se disculpó y acusó a Ecuador de cómplice de las Farc. March 7. <http://www.perfil.com/contenidos/2008/03/07/noticia_0046.html>..>Google Scholar
Phillips, Tony. 2008. The Bolivian Crisis, the Oas, and Unasur. Discussion Paper. Washington, DC: Americas Policy Program. September 30. <http://www.americaspolicy.org>..>Google Scholar
Potter, Brian. 2007. Constricting Contestation, Coalitions, and Purpose: the Causes of Neoliberal Restructuring and Its Failures. Latin American Perspectives 34, 3: 3–24.Google Scholar
Prevost, Gary. 2007. Introduction: The Bush Doctrine and Latin America. In The Bush Doctrine and Latin America, ed. Prevost, and Oliva Campos, Carlos. New York : Palgrave Macmillan. 1–27.Google Scholar
Reuters, . 2008. Mexico Criticizes Colombia's Ecuador Raid. March 5. <http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0454853320080305>..' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Reuters,+.+2008.+Mexico+Criticizes+Colombia's+Ecuador+Raid.+March+5.+.>Google Scholar
Ross, John. 2008. Fourth Fleet Steams South: Return of Gunboat Diplomacy. Information Clearing House, August 11. <http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20389.htm>..>Google Scholar
Russell, Roberto. 2006. América Latina para Estados Unidos: ¿especial, desdeñable, codiciada o perdida Nueva Sociedad 206: 48–62.Google Scholar
Sánchez, Alex. 2008. The South American Defense Council, UNASUR, the Latin American Military and the Region's Political Process. Council on Hemispheric Affairs, October 1. <http://www.coha.org>.Google Scholar
Schweller, Randall L. 1994. Bandwagoning for Profit: Bringing the Revisionist State Back in. International Security 19, 1: 72–107.Google Scholar
Schweller, Randall L. 1997. Realist Research on Alliances: Refining, Not Refuting, Waltz's Balancing Proposition. American Political Science Review 91, 4: 927–30.Google Scholar
Stein, Arthur A. 1982. Coordination and Collaboration: Regimes in an Anarchic World. International Organization 36, 2: 299–324.Google Scholar
Steinitz, Mark S. 2003. Middle East Terrorist Activity in Latin America. In Policy Papers on the Americas, Report No. 14: 7. Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies.Google Scholar
Taylor, Francis X. 2001. Preventing Terrorism and Organized Crime in the Tri-Border Area. December 19. Brasília : U.S. Embassy. <http://www.embaixada-americana.org.br/index.php?action=materia&id=937&submenu=1&itemmenu=10>.Google Scholar
El Tiempo (Bogotá). 2008. Presidentes de Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador y Nicaragua pasaron de los insultos a los abrazos. March 8. <http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-3992207>..>Google Scholar
Tokatlian, Juan Gabriel. 2008. A New Doctrine of Insecurity? U.S. Military Deployment in South America. NACLA Report on the Americas 41, 5: 6–11.Google Scholar
Trend News Agency. 2008. Bogotá: No Violation of Ecuador's Sovereignty in Rebel's Killing. March 2. <http://en.trend.az/news/world/wnews/1147882.html>..' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Trend+News+Agency.+2008.+Bogotá:+No+Violation+of+Ecuador's+Sovereignty+in+Rebel's+Killing.+March+2.+.>Google Scholar
Tulchin, Joseph, and Espach, Ralph. 2001. Latin America in the New International System: A Call for Strategic Thinking. In Latin America in the New International System, ed. Tulchin, and Espach, . Boulder : Lynne Rienner. 1–34.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Defense. 1992. 1992 Draft Defense Planning Guidance. Right Web Profile, October 25. <http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1571.html>..>Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Defense. 2008. Navy Reestablishes U.S. Fourth Fleet. July 8. <http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11862>..>Google Scholar
U.S. Government. 2002. The National Security Strategy of the United States of America. September. Washington, DC: National Security Council. <http://www.whitehouse.gov>..>Google Scholar
U.S. Southern Command (Southcom). 2018. United States Southern Command: Command Strategy 2018. December. <http://www.southcom.mil/>..>Google Scholar
Vieira, Constanza. 2008. Colombia-Ecuador: OEA rechaza incursión militar. Inter Press Service, March 18. <http://ipsnoticias.net/nota.asp?idnews=87819>.Google Scholar
Vulliamy, , ed. 2002. Venezuela Coup Linked to Bush Team. The Guardian, April 21. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/apr/21/usa.venezuela>..>Google Scholar
Walser, Ray. 2008. The Crisis in the Andes: Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. Heritage Foundation Lecture 1080. Washington , DC : Heritage Foundation. May 2. <http://www.heritage.org/research/LatinAmerica/hl1080.cfm>.Google Scholar
Walt, Stephen M. 1987. The Origins of Alliances. Ithaca : Cornell University Press.Google Scholar
Walter, Matthew, and Murphy, Helen. 2008a. Colombia Pipeline Bombed by FARC After Ecuador Attack. Bloomberg News Service, March 6. <http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aEljU.u2BFGc&refer=latin_america#>.Google Scholar
Walter, Matthew, and Murphy, Helen. 2008b. Colombia's Incursion into Ecuador is Widely Condemned (But Not by Bush, Obama, & Clinton). Bloomberg News Service, March 6. <http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news>.Google Scholar
Waltz, Kenneth N. 1979. Theory of International Politics. Reading : Addison-Wesley.Google Scholar
Waltz, Kenneth N. 1993. The Emerging Structure of International Politics. International Security 18, 2: 44–79.Google Scholar
Wendt, Alexander E. 1987. The Agent-Structure Problem in International Relations Theory. International Organization 41, 3: 335–70.Google Scholar
Wright, Thomas C. 2007. State Terrorism in Latin America: Chile, Argentina, and International Human Rights. Lanham : Rowman and Littlefield.Google Scholar
Xinhua News Agency. 2008a. Roundup: L. American Nations Call for Talks to Solve Three-Nation Row. March 4. <http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-15468128.html>..>Google Scholar
Xinhua News Agency. 2008b. Peru's President Calls for Colombian Apology over Incursion. March 5. <http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/05/content_7720243.htm>..' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Xinhua+News+Agency.+2008b.+Peru's+President+Calls+for+Colombian+Apology+over+Incursion.+March+5.+.>Google Scholar