An imbalance of power and a sense of unresolved tension have long plagued relations between the United States and Latin America. This book offers an important new synthesis of that complex relationship by studying how actions and policies of the United States have been interpreted and played out in Latin America.

Beginning with the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, the United States unilaterally asserted its right to protect the hemisphere against foreign intervention. But what began as a policy boldly proclaiming hemispheric security soon led to direct intervention by the United States in...

From NAFTA to narcotics, from immigration to energy, the ties that bind our nation and Mexico are varied and strong. "Mexico" uncovers the real Mexico that lies behind the stereotypes of tacos, tequila, and tourist hotels. Compiled by leading scholars of Mexican history and society, its more than 150 entries examine the nation in all its fascinating contradictions and complexity. This concise yet thorough study, covering the last 100 years of Mexican history, is the only one volume, A-Z reference work available to students, scholars, and readers curious about one of the world's most...

During the second half of the 19th century several forces in the United States, Latin America, and Europe converged to set the stage for the establishment of a more permanent relationship between the United States and Latin America. The key factors--security, economics, and modernization--created both commonalities and conflicts between and among regions. In this volume, scholars examine not only the domestic but also the geopolitical forces that encouraged and guided development of diplomatic relations in this rapidly changing period.
As the contributors note, by the end of the...