Talons of the Eagle: Dynamics of U.S.-Latin American Relations

by Peter H. Smith

Contrary to widespread expectation, the ending of the Cold War has not produced continuous harmony and cooperation in U.S.-Latin American relations. Instead, NAFTA seems to threaten as much as it promises; economic prospects have been shaken by the Mexican currency crisis; the "war on drugs"
continues to escalate; and xenophobic reactions to the migration of Latin Americans into the United States, typified by California's Proposition 187, seize headlines and editorial pages.
Spanning almost two hundred years, Talons of the Eagle tells the turbulent story of U.S.-Latin American relations from the birth of the United States and the new Latin American nations through the Cold War to the present day. Focusing not on U.S. policy alone, but on the intricate network of
relationships between the United States and its neighbors, Peter H. Smith sheds penetrating new light on trends and events in the Americas. Beginning with the balance-of-power politics of the nineteenth century and efforts by the United States to establish its own sphere of influence in the New
World, Smith describes the complex interplay between U.S. expansionism and Latin American reactions, which varied from lofty visions of continental unity to vigorous expressions of nationalistic and cultural resistance. Later, during the Cold War, Washington waged unremitting campaigns to eradicate
perceived Soviet influence in Latin America, often allying itself with dictators and despots. Covert and overt American operations ranged from numerous attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro to armed intervention in the Dominican Republic and the invasion of Grenada; faced by stark alternatives, many
Latin Americans turned toward socialist revolution and/or the pursuit of Third World solidarity. In the aftermath of the Cold War, U.S.-Latin American relations have now become dominated by economic and social questions, from drug trafficking and drug wars to illegal immigration from countries such
as Haiti and Mexico. What happens next will depend on the same factors that have shaped inter-American relations in the U.S. policy remains heavily influenced by global concerns and the international climate, while Latin American responses tend to reflect the unequal distribution pf power that
prevails within the Western Hemisphere.
Blending analytical rigor with illuminating anecdote, Talons of the Eagle provides a highly readable and up-to-date account of U.S.-Latin American relations over the past two centuries and offers provocative insight into the future.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, American History, International Relations, Latin American History, Political Science

392 pages, Hardcover

First published April 18, 1996

Reviews

[Eren Buğlalılar]

Half of the book is a good summary of historical relations between the US imperialism and the South American nations starting from the 19th century, but nothing original. Smith's analysis blends various approaches from World Systems Theory, great powers competition, a pinch of class analysis. I found the general analytical framework of the book to be quite similar to LaFeber's Inevitable Revolutions: The United States in Central America. Narrative is very similar too: Cold War ended and finally democratic and independent regimes could be established.

The second half of the book is dedicated to a boring analysis of the US policy in South America after 1990 with various left-liberal recommendations, and it is already outdated.

[Kelsi]

An approachable primer on the politics and history of US and Latin American relations throughout the last century, this is a must-read. This book lends a deeper context to the distrust Latin America has for the US and the connotations of present day US involvement.

[Kelsey]

I don't normally rate textbooks. Very straightforward and informative.

[Hannah (Klein) Rockwood]

Instrumental in understanding US imperialism and interferences in Latin America.

[Cole]

I read (most of) this book for my International Relations of Latin America class this last semester. It gives an in-depth account of the history of Latin America, especially with their relations with the United States. The talons of the eagle represents the US's hold on Latin American affairs. This book is very insightful for people interested in why Latin America is the way it is, and the US's role in the region!

[Taire Cuevas]

A history of Latin America- US relation.A comprehensive book that explains the many issues that Latin America faced and is facing right now due to US imperialism. Furthermore, this book also analyzes Latin America's responses to the United States.

Very good. I find it depressing the way Latin America has been manipulated, violated and misunderstood over and over.

[Edward]

It was OK. The premise was alright but the book consisted of listing off meetings, accords, panels, think groups, accords, etc. Pretty dry stuff, particularly if this is your first time being exposed to this. Was considering using it for a class but won't work after all.

[Naeem]

An analysis limited to some of the things done by the US to other peoples and societies in the Americas.

[Matt]

Certainly learned a lot

[Jon-David]

Incredibly biased and actually has inaccurate data. Other than that it was a decent read.

[Roger Green]

This is an excellent and informative history of the U.S. influence and imposition on the region. Smith makes a broad but defensible argument that U.S. policy toward Latin America has been based on imperialist tendencies from the beginning. It is an important corrective to ideological assumptions about U.S. commitment to democracy around the world.