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

by Peter H. Smith

Book Overview

Talons of the Eagle offers a vivid portrayal of the last two hundred years of U.S.-Latin American relations, casting new light on issues such as economic integration, environmental protection, drug trafficking, and undocumented migration. Rather than concentrating only on US policy, as many texts do, it addresses the structural relationships of both regions. Focusing on international systems, the distribution of power, and the perception and pursuit...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195129989
• ISBN13: 9780195129984
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 9.1" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent, meaningful read.

I read this book last semester for US-Latin American history class, and it is one of the few that I was proud not to resell. The book was extremely interesting and well-written, and the author did an impressive job of relating US-Latin American relations to world events outside of the region. Most importantly, the author connected each historical event to a greater, big-picture theme in history, commenting on its significance and relevance. Although I have previous knowledge of US-Latin American relations, I still learned a lot by reading this book. Even if you have no experience studying US or Latin American history, it is a worthwhile read. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in any field of history.

Very solid analysis

Very good analysis. Well written. An excellent read whether you are a beginner or somewhat versed in LatAm and US relations. It serves as a great review of history as well.

First rate interdisciplinary approach to history.

In this very readable historiacl survey of U.S.-Latin American realations, Smith develops a template which demonstrates the logic of U.S. policy and Latin American response within the context of the global situation. To accomplish this, he breaks history into three general time periods: 1790s-Cold War, The Cold War, and the post-Cold War. In each of these periods, Smith develops the global context or "rules of the game", then moves on to the resulting U.S. policy. He finishes each historical era with an incisive analysis of Latin American options for response. This book is a must for students of Latin America and certainly for those individuals whose activities, whether they be commercial or official in nature, are shaping the book's next chapter.