ABSTRACT
The magnitude of change in the international system during the first decade of the twenty-first century was less stark than what had occurred around 1990 but the new changes were significant nevertheless.1 The impact of such systemic changes, at the worldwide and hemispheric levels, upon U.S. relations with key Latin American countries was clear: U.S. clout weakened, Latin American autonomy from the United States increased. In some cases, as in relations between the United States with Venezuela, the relationship turned adversarial. In most cases, and even in aspects of U.S.–Venezuelan relations, U.S.–Latin American relations still worked effectively to address shared concerns, as the chapters in this book make clear. But, on balance, the likelihood and practice of widespread U.S.–Latin American policy coordination, relying upon multilateral institutions and common objectives, declined markedly during the decade.
