Here is a fresh and unconventional introduction to the history of Latin American international relations, from colonial times to the present. Previous works of this scope have been written with an emphasis on the Latin American policy of the United States or other “outside” nations. In this volume, the authors offer a pioneering study from a perspective that has been ignored in English-language books—that of the Latin American nations themselves. Latin American Diplomatic History begins with the origins and nature of Latin American foreign policies and proceeds to the diplomatic conflicts and agreements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This synthesis draws out the persistent tensions among the Latin American countries—border conflicts, economic rivalries, population pressures, and ethnic clashes. Latin American Diplomatic History includes an extensive bibliography with listings by both country and century. This straightforward historical survey will appeal to all professionals, laymen, and students with an interest in Latin American relations, and it will be a useful guide for those who intend further study.

Skuban's study highlights the fabricated nature of national identity in what became one of the most contentious border disputes in South American history.

This book argues that it can be beneficial for the United States to talk with 'evil' - terrorists and other bad actors - if it engages a mediator who shares the United States' principles yet is pragmatic. It shows how the US can make better foreign policy decisions and demonstrate its integrity for promoting democracy and human rights, by employing a mediator who facilitates disputes between international actors by moving them along a continuum of principles, as political parties act for a country's citizens. This is the first book to integrate theories of rule of law development with conflict resolution methods, and it examines ongoing disputes in the Middle East, North Korea, South America and Africa. It draws on the author's experiences with The Carter Center and judicial and legal advocacy training to provide a sophisticated understanding of the current situation in these countries and of how a strategy of principled pragmatism will give better direction to US foreign policy abroad.