Sociology Essay: A Critical Analysis of Inter-American Relations

This essay provides an analysis of the article 'Better Than You Think: Reframing Inter-American Relations' by sociologists Richard Feinberg, Emily Miller, and Harold Trinkunas, focusing on the evolving inter-relations between the American regions, particularly the relationship between the United States and Latin America since the George W. Bush administration. The analysis covers the historical context, including the US's inclination to promote market-oriented economies and progressive democracies in Latin America, while also addressing the challenges of terrorism, human rights, and societal conflicts. The essay further discusses the economic and military leverage employed by the US to influence Latin American countries, while also acknowledging the decline in traditional leverage and the importance of addressing violent crime and governance issues in the Caribbean and Central America. The essay concludes by highlighting the article's strengths in depicting the historical relationship but notes its limitations in providing concrete recommendations for improvement, such as increasing military budget expenditure for specific countries.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
The purpose of the following essay is to make an analysis of the article by the three
sociologists Richard Feinberg, Emily Miller and Harold Trinkunas. The name of the article is
‘Better Than You Think: Reframing Inter-American Relations’ (Feinberg, Miller and Trinkunas
2015). The inter-relations between the different American regions have always been a strong
question for the researchers. In this essay, the points made by the three experts would be
analyzed and the main arguments will be countered. The influence of the native white skinned
Americans has always dominated the migrated African-American people. However the concern
still remain whether the inter-relations between the Americans have evolved or not.
Analysis of the article
The name of the journal in which this article was published was Latin America Initiative
Foreign Policy. The article was published in the year 2015. The authors have argued about that
the regional relationship between the Americans since the public administration being run by
George W. Bush. The relationship between United States of America and Latin America has
been discussed because of their relationship has also gone through some heated debates and
disputes over the time as well. According to the authors USA has always inclined to implement
the well-managed and market-oriented economies in Latin America since the open business
environment has always been need of the hour for the organizations in these countries (Feinberg,
Miller and Trinkunas 2015). On the other hand, the local governments of the Latin American
countries have not been in peace with the US government over a long period time. The core
interests of USA have been well rooted in the Latin America than that of the countries from the
Middle East and Eastern Europe.

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The USA administration suggests that the progressive democracies should be established
as per securing of the human rights in the Latin American countries. The authors of the article
have also described the fact that the United States has suffered the threats from the various
terrorist organizations from all over the world (Feinberg, Miller and Trinkunas 2015). The trade
and economy is much dependent on the relationship between the USA and the Latin American
countries. The historical and political issues have been much helpful for building of peaceful
relations between these two regions. On the contrary, it can also be said that the societal
development and the questions of human rights have not been given the ultimate focus in these
regions. The conflicts between the Northern states and Southern states of USA have been a
matter of study for all the people in this regard. The authors have also pointed out the fact that
the conflicts between the societies have resulted in the inter-turmoil in the countries like
Venezuela and Argentina. This has been very rightly and effectively pointed out indeed.
The experts have pointed out very efficiently and they have remarked that the matter of
the international security and the democratic issues have been the main concerns for the
deterioration of the condition between the two regions. One aspect should also be discussed
about and this is of the increase of the violent crime in the various areas of the Caribbean
countries and Central America. The governance of these areas has not been that much proper
indeed. This is why they want to be included in the greater societies within the United States of
America (Feinberg, Miller and Trinkunas 2015). As per the authors of the article, the inter-state
relationship within USA is the most important issue for the people. The experts have suggested
the fact the US foreign assistance should be the most lethal fact for the success of the countries.
The instances from the Second World War can be given in this scenario since USA had been
struggling to fight against the Axis Power when Brazil had taken the initiative to send their

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troops against the Italian forces and Mexico had been the major contributors to the Air Force.
This relates the fact that the relationship between these states had been very good and based on
co-operation (Feinberg, Miller and Trinkunas 2015). The situation that arose after the Second
World War was very much related to the political and military assistance.
According to the authors, the economic leverage and military leverage had been very
much effective for the improvement of the relations between the United States and the several
Latin American countries. The primary purpose of USA was to make the Latin American
countries democratic ones for their rights (Feinberg, Miller and Trinkunas 2015). This solely
depicts the fact that the United States of America wanted to make some strict changes within the
democratic point of views. The arguments can be countered by saying that many problems had
been created regarding establishing democracy in the Latin American countries and the human
rights. In this discourse, the authors have opined that the forms of the traditional leverage have
declined a lot in many cases. The bilateral economic leverages have not been that much indeed.
They have supplied the data that the economic assistance of United States has dropped down
0.61% of the GDP of Latin America in the year 1965. The market-based economies of several
countries have contributed a lot to the economic growth with the assistance from the USA
administration. On the other hand, the issues of terrorism still have to be dealt with strong hands
indeed.
Conclusion
The conclusion of the article analysis can be drawn by saying that the article has brought
out the most significant issues in this scenario of the inter-state relationship between the USA
and Latin America. The article has its strengths in depicting the relationship between the USA

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and the Latin American countries from the times of the Second World War to the current times.
This is very important for all the countries to abide by the several treaties and sequences that
arise. However, this article has not been able to produce the ways how this relationship can
evolve and mad better. The recommendations should have been made in the article that the
military budget expenditure should be increased for those countries like Colombia, Paraguay,
Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela.

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References and Bibliography
Feinberg, R., Miller, E. and Trinkunas, H., 2015. Better Than You Think: Reframing Inter-
American Relations. Policy Brief.