Regional International Systems

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Regional International Systems

• LATIN AMERICA

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What is a regional system?

• Consists of a set of geographically proximate and
  regularly interacting states that share to some
  degree a sense of regional identify and are so
  perceived by external actors
• These same criteria also identify further
  subsystems within the region

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Critical Dimensions of any Regional International
System

• Boundaries and Actors
• Perceptions
• Interactions

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Geographical Demarcation Latin America

• Northern Mexico to Cape Horn
• 605 million people (estimate, 2010)
• 8.5 of total population
• 33 sovereign states
• Natal only 1,900 miles from Africa
• Small remainder British, Dutch, French and U. S.
  dependencies

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Characteristics of states in the region that
reflect age as independent states culture)

• Ibero-America (eighteen states with varying
  international capabilities)
• Luso America refers to Brazil
• Haiti - broke from France in 1804
• New states
• 12 former British colonies
• Suriname (independent 1975)

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External Sector of Latin American Regional System
(Two Dimensions)

• States outside the regional boundaries that have
  significant relations with actors of the region
• Political dependencies located within the
  regional boundary controlled by external states
  (United Kingdom, France the Netherlands, and the
  United States

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Important External Powers

• Great Britain pivotal in 19th century
• United States important in 19th century, been
  most significant external actor in 20th century,
  remains highly influetial
• Russia/Soviet Union intrusive during the Cold
  War, sales of military equipment
• France strong cultural influence, military
  equipment
• Japan economic force since 1970s
• China recently surpassed Japan as economic
  force in region

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Important Non-state Actors

• Holy See and the institutional structure of the
  Roman Catholic Church
• Multi-national corporations
• Trans-national political parties
• Most originate in Europe
• Some influence by Republicans and Democrats
• Drug/Criminal cartels
• Labor organizations

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Perceptions Influencing Regional Behavior of
Latin American Actors

• Regional self-consciousness (push-pull)
• Economic integration projects related to
  perceptions of global weakness
• Regional international organizations also seen as
  useful in belling the cat

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Regularity of Interaction

• Regional economic organizations
• LAFTA (1963), reorganized as LAIA)
• SELA (1975)
• Mercosur
• Latin American parliament
• Created in 1963
• Resurrected in the 1990s
• Rio Group (90 of regions population)
• UNASUR

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Latin American Regional Subsystem I Mexico

• Part of North America so close to the United
  States
• Inward turn following 19th century diminution and
  1917 revolution
• NAFTA seals turn to the north
• Exercises significant influence in Central
  America

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Caribbean Basin
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Latin American Regional Sub-system II The Circum
Caribbean

• Local and external states participate in
  subsystem
• Components
• Central America Yucatan peninsula
• Islands of Caribbean
• Northern coast of South America
• U.S. presence close to hegemonic
• Commonwealth Caribbean sometimes functions as its
  own subsystem

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Regional Sub-system III The Southern Cone

• Members Argentina, Brazil, Chile Uruguay,
  Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and sometimes Ecuador
• Relatively isolated from mainstream of
  international politics
• Rivalry between Brazil Argentina
• United States only one of several influential
  external powers
• Concern with Antarctica

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Regional Sub-system IV Brazil

• An actor separate from the Southern Cone as well
  as part of it
• Interest in regional economic integration
• Amazon Basin (Amazon Pact 1978)
• MERCOSUR
• UNASUR
• Global power pretensions
• Nuclear programs
• Weapons production industries
• Heavy industry and high technology