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This paper analyses Latin America's role in an international system in flux, with high levels of uncertainty and transformations that signal a shift in the geoeconomic and geopolitical landscape across the world. Against this backdrop, the paper examines the challenges (both old and new) the region must face, focusing on the impact of global changes on regional dynamics and the capacity of the different countries to find answers both to the international situation and old and new internal problems. In addition, as an introductory paper to this monograph entitled "Geopolitics from Latin America: a change of cycle and multipolarity", it identifies the fulcrums of these changes, their impact, the main actors involved and the processes underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a world of growing international competition and rivalry between China and the United States, Latin America and the European Union (EU) are caught in the same thorny dilemma. Positioned between these global giants, both regions are facing a retorn to a Westphalian system of nation-states, which undermines their roles as emerging regional players. In view of these new global challenges in Latin America and the EU, this paper uses a qualitative and comparative approach to explore foreign policy discourses on autonomy in both regions. It examines their goals and priorities and assesses the potential regional and interregional consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the Chinese quest for energy resources in Latin America, arguing that the strengthening of relations in this sector can only be explained by a conjunction of interests on both sides. Looking at the presence of Chinese national oil companies in the regional energy sector, we show that China’s incursion has allowed the region to shift its traditional energy partners, introducing a factor of change into economic and political relations with geopolitical implications for the regional arena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the changes occurred since the VI EU-LAC Summit, in Madrid in May 2010, on the relationship between the European Union and Latin America. A change continued with the Celac-EU Summit, held in January 2013, which presents evidence of bi-regional strategy and the full import of the most significant commitments to build that relationship: regional integration and social cohesion. Latin America and the European Union should strengthen their bond and extrapolate on other institutions and settings of the current post-Cold War geopolitical order. A scenario where they share views and concerns and whose response, in any case, must come from a joint position and shared perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In April 1969, Latin America implemented the first nuclear weapon free zone (NWFZ) in an inhabited region of the world. This article explores the creation of Latin America's NWFZ as a utopian impulse. It argues that various Latin American states used the utopian ideals of security, sovereignty, and socio‐economic prosperity to propel the region's denuclearisation forward. Those implementing these utopian ideals had to define the meaning of Latin America, nuclear weapons under a non‐proliferation agreement, and the denuclearisation of an inhabited region. The result was compromise forged from a collision of utopian ideals and dystopian geopolitics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries a group of intellectuals and Spanish scientists found it necessary to resume cultural relations with Latin American countries that had been Spanish colonies in the past. In order to do this, they promoted a school of thought called 'Hispano-Americanism', which aimed to create a Spanish-speaking geopolitical space that would counteract the growing influence of other European powers and of the United States in Latin America. This American projection would serve at the same time to 'regenerate' cultural and scientific life in Spain and to improve the country's position in the international field. This movement relied on the financial support of the Spanish communities settled in Latin America. They contributed to the creation of cultural institutions to disseminate Spanish scientific progress. The first and most successful of these creations was the Institucion Cultural Espanola de Buenos Aires (Spanish Cultural Institution of Buenos Aires), which became a model to imitate in other Latin American countries. The associations tended to impose their own interests and priorities, focusing on acquiring more prestige and social recognition in the countries that had settled through links with local political and cultural elites. This was due to the absence of a genuine Spanish foreign policy and to the financial responsibility adjudged to the local communities of Spanish immigrants regarding cultural and scientific initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of leftist governments in the Americas and the adoption of policy initiatives contrary to U.S. interests highlight a disconnect in interamerican relations, which cannot be understood simply as U.S. “neglect” of Latin America. In contrast to arguments that attribute the deteriorating relations to U.S. preoccupation with the Middle East, the article examines whether the “War on Terror” acted as a guiding paradigm for the George W. Bush administration in Latin America. Opposition to this “War on Terror” paradigm was evident following Colombia's 2008 air strike in Ecuador. Justified as a preemptive strike against a terrorist threat, Colombia's action met regional condemnation. The article argues that this Colombia-Latin America division reflects a larger geostrategic disconnect, whereby the “War on Terror” is challenged, causing the increasing marginalization of Washington and resistance to U.S. policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the production of knowledge in Latin America and how it has been subject to colonial and imperial designs. He discusses critical thought and its centeredness in western theory and questions whether critical theory has reached its peak, and if so, should it be abandoned or reconstructed by shedding light on its hidden side, that of coloniality. The author reports on Jose Carlos Mariategui, the father of twentieth century Latin American critical thought, and his concerns for Latin America.

The article discusses the geopolitical situation and energy patterns of Latin America. The author mentions that there is a dramatic difference in the geopolitical trend in Latin American countries since 1990. He explains that there is a geopolitical axis with extra-hemispheric links that could divide Latin America from the United States. The author also concludes that Latin America have a number of regimes that are moving to the left politically. He explains that these changes are with a threats ideologically and in energy toward U.S.

The recent expansion of China's Belt and Road Initiative-related commercial dealmaking into Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is unlikely to bring fundamental change to China-LAC economic relations. It may, however, catalyse a more volatile LAC-China-US geopolitical relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]