Decline of the U.S. Hegemony: A Challenge of ALBA and a New Latin American Integration of the Twenty-First Century
By (Author) Bruce M. Bagley
Edited by Magdalena Defort
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Lexington Books
1st July 2015
United States
Professional and Scholarly
Non Fiction
327.8
Hardback
460
Width 162mm, Height 236mm, Spine 34mm
776g
This book analyzes ALBAs structure and dynamics, its practicality, its medium and long-term sustainability, and its capacity to influence regional and international affairs. The work examines ALBAs possible economic and security consequences for neighboring non-member states in the region, particularly the United States, as well as other key actors such as China, Russia, and Iran. The volume analyzes the origins, ideological orientation, structure, internal dynamics, and evolution of the ALBA initiative and its regional and international implications during its first decade of existence. It is the first comprehensive work on the subject with a multi-disciplinary perspective and it provides an analysis of the new regional, Bolivarian Alliance initiative in Latin America and its relation to the international system. The volume includes studies on the Bolivarian Alliance and Chavismo under Hugo Chvez Fras leadership. As a whole, this volume weaves together such crucial issues as oil politics, drug-trafficking, hemispheric security, and trade.
The book edited by M.Defort and B.Bagley is the first comprehensive integral analysis of ALBA and its results are exhaustive and excellent. The editors have assembled an impressive array of international scholars to examine thoroughly ALBAs national and geopolitical dimensions. This regional alliance is seen within the context of regional and global challenges. The authors managed splendidly to trace historical and ideological roots of ALBA and to present a whole picture of its successes and failures. It is a well written, well-organized and highly detailed vision of different aspects of ALBAs history and contemporaneity, and it would be an invaluable source for readers interested in international relations, the development of the New Left in Latin America and integration issues. -- Victor Jeifets
Bruce M. Bagley is professor of international studies at the University of Miami. Magdalena Defort is a scholar and researcher of international studies at the University of Miami.