This essay analyzes the conduct of US foreign policy towards Latin America under President Obama from three perspectives. First, the ideologic dimensions will be covered through an analysis of Cuba policy under the Obama administration. Secondly, security policy will be analyzed with an investigation of relations with Mexico and Colombia. Lastly, the essay will cover the Obama administration's position vis-a-vis neoliberal economic policies in Latin America.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Obama and the Americas: An Overview
3. Ideology and Cuba: Empty Rhetoric?
4. Securing the Americas: Mexico and Colombia
5. The Obama Administration and Neoliberalism
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Topics
The essay aims to provide a critical overview of US foreign policy towards Latin America under the Obama administration, assessing whether the administration fulfilled its campaign promises of a less coercive and more multilateral approach. The core research question examines the track record of Barack Obama's foreign policy in the region since 2009, specifically investigating the extent to which substantive policy changes occurred versus continuity with previous strategies.
- The persistence of ideological foundations in US policy towards Cuba.
- The evolution of the War on Drugs as the primary security paradigm in Mexico and Colombia.
- The administration's commitment to neoliberal economic hegemony in the region.
- The role of domestic political constraints and the ranking of Latin America in US foreign policy priorities.
Excerpt from the Book
Securing the Americas: Mexico and Colombia
During the Bush era, the War on Terror extended to large parts of Latin America. The following sections will provide an account of how the War on Terror has now firmly evolved into the War on Drugs. Both Mexico as well as Colombia have been areas of significant emphasis for both previous administrations and the current US government. In fact, it could be argued that drug violence in Mexico has been the only instance where the Obama administration has made Latin America a priority (Crandall, 2011: 93), while Colombia has constituted an increasingly important regional ally.
Delgado-Ramos and Romano argue that ‘ [the Obama administration’s] diplomatic agenda is still linked to security and military power’ (2011: 95). Over the last decade, the dominant paradigm in US policy towards Mexico has been the War on Drugs. As with Cuba policy, the Obama administration has largely continued with the strategy laid out during the Bush administration, while changing a number of details. Hence, the US under Obama’s leadership has acted in Mexico to implement a security strategy commensurate with its domestic War on Drugs.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the paper, identifying ideology, security, and economic hegemony as the three primary dimensions of US-Latin American relations to be examined under the Obama administration.
Obama and the Americas: An Overview: This section contextualizes the expectations raised by the Obama election against the backdrop of the preceding, often criticized, George W. Bush presidency.
Ideology and Cuba: Empty Rhetoric?: This chapter analyzes US-Cuba relations, arguing that despite initial rhetoric suggesting a shift, substantive policy changes remain hindered by the ongoing economic embargo and ideological domestic pressures.
Securing the Americas: Mexico and Colombia: This section discusses how the "War on Terror" evolved into the "War on Drugs," highlighting significant continuity in military-focused security strategies under the Obama administration.
The Obama Administration and Neoliberalism: This chapter explores the administration's economic policy, concluding that it remains committed to neoliberal positions and that little meaningful change has occurred despite evolving diplomatic rhetoric.
Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that Obama's policy toward Latin America represents a disappointment as it largely continues the previous administration's strategies, constrained by both political obstacles and a lack of regional priority.
Keywords
Barack Obama, Latin America, US foreign policy, Ideology, Cuba, War on Drugs, Mexico, Colombia, Neoliberalism, Economic hegemony, Multilateralism, Security strategy, Political constraints, Diplomatic discourse, Hemispheric relations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper examines US foreign policy towards Latin America during the Obama administration, evaluating the consistency between campaign promises of a "soft security agenda" and the actual policy implementation.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in the analysis?
The research is structured around three key dimensions: the ideological foundations of policy towards Cuba, the security dimension involving Mexico and Colombia, and the maintenance of neoliberal economic hegemony.
What is the central research question?
The core inquiry is to determine the track record of Barack Obama's foreign policy towards Latin America, specifically looking at whether his administration successfully moved away from the coercive strategies of the Bush era.
Which methodology is employed in this work?
The work employs a qualitative policy analysis, utilizing academic literature, governmental reports, and news commentary to assess foreign policy trends across specific dimensions of US-Latin American interaction.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the text?
The main body investigates the persistence of the Cuban embargo, the evolution of the "War on Drugs" in Mexico and Colombia, and the continued promotion of free trade agreements despite local opposition to neoliberalism.
Which keywords best characterize this academic work?
Key terms include US foreign policy, Barack Obama, Latin America, War on Drugs, Neoliberalism, Cuba, Hegemony, and Diplomatic Continuity.
How does the author characterize the shift in policy towards Cuba?
The author argues that while the rhetoric shifted towards more open diplomacy, the core of the policy remains unchanged, as the economic embargo persists due to ideological pressures and domestic political obstacles.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the Mérida Initiative?
The author concludes that the Obama administration largely maintained the status quo, with the initiative focusing heavily on military solutions and state-sponsored security, which potentially exacerbates instability rather than resolving it.
- Quote paper
- Tim Pfefferle (Author), 2014, US Foreign Policy in Latin America Under the Obama Administration, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/272174
