China's influence on U.S.-Latin American relations

Abstract

This thesis will discuss how China's involvement in Latin America influences the relationship between the United States and Latin America. This argument is constructed based on a before-and-after relationship between the United States and two Latin American countries, Mexico and Brazil, to determine how Chinese interest in these respective countries altered United States influence. This thesis demonstrates how both U.S. prior relations and Chinese involvement in Latin America determines whether U.S. influence is susceptible to outsider attempts to erode this influence. Through historical institutionalism, this paper determined that if there is a strong historical relationship between the United States and a Latin American country, it is unlikely that China's increased presence will degrade U.S. influence. This argument is concluded with closing thoughts and policy recommendation aimed at ensuring U.S. influence in Latin America remains strong and insulated from potential degradation.