ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the domestic bases for foreign policy changes in South America and their implications for US policy. The general trend toward democracy in Latin America has been heartening. The new democracy in South America has helped unleash new forms of nationalism as potent political forces. Nationalism existed under the previous military regimes in their national security state forms. The new nationalism, however, is more widespread and reaches to the popular level, and, consequently, is more explosive. The return to democracy in South American countries may force people to reassess Rostow's formulations. In the South American continent, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay have all made dramatic returns to democratic rule. Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru are perhaps shaky democracies, but democracies nonetheless. The very process of democratization has opened up new vistas, new promises, and also new fads to the South Americans.
