Suchergebnisse

One of the most frequent justifications for the United States' participation in the space race is that, for better or for worse, the nation's prestige is hanging in the balance. Aside from the military, paramilitary, and scientific aspects of the question, it is argued that the Soviet and American space teams are locked in a political struggle whose outcome will be regarded as incontrovertible proof of the relative cultural and economic merits of Communism and democracy: Sputnik I, for instance, was regarded more as a blow to our national honor than as a threat to the national security. While the basis of this outlook is undeniably valid, the attempt to elevate the United States' prestige through its efforts in space is greatly complicated by the necessity for understanding the criteria upon which other nations of the world—particularly the unaligned and less developed ones —are liable to compare East vs. West. Even so, there have been virtually no systematic analyses of the impact of the space race on the "target" countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

This book examines two opposing interpretations of NAFTAs potential expansion into a Western Hemisphere Free Trade Association (WHFTA)one fearing the creation of a deliberately exclusionary Fortress America, the other welcoming the prospect of substantial economic opportunities for Asia and the countries of the Pacific Rim. Contributors evaluate the commercial, financial, cultural, and political linkages between the Americas and the Pacific Rim, assessing the magnitude of interests that might be affected by NAFTA or FTAA. }Authorities and experts in Japan and other Asian countries have expressed considerable fear that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) will create a Fortress America that will deliberately exclude nations of the Pacific Rim. Others argue that economic integration will provide substantial opportunity for Asia/Pacific countries and thus contribute to the dynamism of the Pacific Century ahead. This book explores the varying interpretations and looks at their implications for countries of the Pacific Rim. Might NAFTA provoke the formation of an economic bloc in the Asia/Pacific area? Or will economic liberalization occur on a global and multilateral scale? What are the political dimensions of these possible options and processes? Examining the interconnections such policy alternatives may have for both the Pacific Rim and Latin America, the contributors evaluate the commercial, financial, cultural, and political linkages between the regions to assess the magnitude of interests that might be affected by NAFTA or FTAA. Assessing the range of policy options available to countries involved, they seek to make an original contribution to the debate about the formation and structure of the post Cold War world order

Introduction: Global Politics and U.S.-Latin American Relations -- The European Game -- The Gospel of Democracy -- Latin America: Responses to Imperialism -- Mr. Roosevelt's Neighborhood -- Closing Ranks -- Making Friends -- Crushing Enemies -- Latin America: Fighting the Cold War Globalization and War -- Hegemony and Geoeconomics -- Latin America: Playing the Geoeconomic Game -- Post 9/11: The War on Terror -- Latin America: Seizing Opportunities -- Dilemmas of Immigration -- Drug Trafficking, Drug Wars -- Tales of Two Presidents.