Antonio V. Menéndez Alarcón

Latin American Culture: A Deconstruction of Stereotypes

This article addresses and deconstructs some of the most widely held beliefs on Latin America in the United States, and it is based on an analysis of publications (in print and electronic), with emphasis on the past forty years, coupled with statistics and personal observations. Specifically, the article examines the differences and similarities among Latin Americans in eight areas of the Latin American social world—urban-rural subcultures, work, ethnicity, social class, religion, militarism, politics, and family and gender relations—and it questions the widespread idea of a monolithic group as reflected in US popular culture and in the US media.

Two Models of Universalism: Contrasting Findings

This final chapter recapitulates the key differences and similarities between French and US approaches to foreign policy as reflected in the interviews and documents, and it addresses how these differing models of universalism affect cooperation between both countries as well as the interplay within international organizations. It examines in particular the issue of ideology (including religion) and realism in foreign policy, including the contrasting views between French and US political leaders in addressing the globalization process; the free market; the interconnection among private corporations, national interests, and foreign policy; and the role of the states in a multipolar world.

The Dynamics of US Foreign Policy: Exceptionalism and Providentialism

This chapter follows the same structure as Chapter 2, with an overview of US foreign policy regarding Europe, France, NATO, the Warsaw Pact, and the Middle East from the end of World War II to the present. Following this is presented an analysis of concrete cases (such as the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts), describing various approaches employed by the United States to address international issues, and the perceptions and opinions of US political leaders, with particular emphasis on the 1980s to the present. There is overall agreement on the continuity of the major directions of US foreign policy from the 1950s to the present. However, there are some differences with regard to what should be the approach to reach the main objectives of US foreign policy. The interviews and documents show agreement among the a large majority of the Republican Party, but the Democratic Party is more divided on the specific approaches to deal with US intervention in the world.

Continuity and Variation of French Foreign Policy since 1945

An overview of French foreign policy regarding the Middle East, the European Union, and the Warsaw Pact, and France’s relations with the United States and NATO from the end of World War II to the present, including the constitution of the Fifth Republic and foundational role of de Gaulle. Next, the policies developed by various administrations from the 1980s to the present are examined, with particular emphasis on perceptions and opinions of French political leaders. There are no major differences among the political parties in terms of foreign policy. Indeed, on the main elements of foreign policy instituted by de Gaulle there is strong agreement by all interviewees, from the left and the right of the political spectrum. All subsequent presidents, with slight adaptations have followed these key premises of French foreign policy.