ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how the rise of China and the arrival of the Post-Western World have shaped political dynamics in Latin America and the academic debate in a region that has traditionally been part of the US sphere of influence and one whose perspective on global politics has often had only a limited influence on IR theory making. The emergence of a more multipolar, multiplex and Asia-centric order offers strategic opportunities for Latin America. At the same time, Latin American governments have been relatively slow to grasp the full implications of a global order that is increasingly co-led by non-Western actors and shaped by great power competition. In the same way, the ongoing shift of power toward Asia has important implications for Global IR and offers opportunities for Latin American academia in contributing to the growing debate about how to update International Relations theory, helping us navigate a less Western-centric world – yet in the same way, the region’s geopolitical marginalization may also make Latin American contributions less likely.
