ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the latter period of hegemonic regime change in Latin America: the US role after 1945. To do so, it focuses on each and every breakdown of democracy that took place during the period to see how the United States influenced and reacted to it. Democratic breakdowns are key moments to determine the disposition of hegemons to influence regime change, and act as a window to the interest hegemons have and the method they employ to influence the outcome. This chapter's conclusions suggest that the role of the United States in promoting authoritarianism and democracy in Latin America has been very complex and mostly determined by Washington's perception of extra-hemispheric threats. While in general opposed to democratic collapse, the United States favored coups here and there, when it thought strategic interests were endangered.
