Reconceptualizing Security in the Americas in the Twenty-First Century

by Bruce M. Bagley (Contribution by), Jorge Chabat (Contribution by), Sebastían Antonio Cutrona (Contribution by), R. Evan Ellis (Contribution by), Juan Carlos Garzón Vergara (Contribution by)

Overview

This book illustrates the plethora of security concerns of the Americas in the 21st century. It presents the work of a number of prolific scholars and analysts in the continents of America. The book provides one of the only expansive applications of theory to a wide geographical area. It offers new perspectives and urges readers to take theory seriously through use.

Within the Americas, we find a number of important issues that compose of this geographic security complex. Most important are the threats that supersede borders: drug trafficking, migration, health, and environment. These threats change our understanding of security and the state and region process of neutralizing or correcting these threats. This volume evaluates these threats within contemporary security discourse.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739194874
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/29/2016
Series:	Security in the Americas in the Twenty-First Century
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Bruce M. Bagley is professor in the Department of International Studies at the University of Miami.

Hanna Kassab is lecturer at the University of Miami.

Jonathan D. Rosen is research professor at the Institute of International Studies at the Universidad del Mar, Mexico.

Table of Contents

Section 1: Reconceptualizing Security

Chapter 1: The Hemisphere and Declining U.S. Hegemony—Hanna Kassab
Chapter 2: Reconceptualizing Security Priorities of the Hemisphere—Hanna Kassab
Chapter 3: Desecuritization: Reestablishing Priorities of the Hemisphere—Alberto Lozano-Vázquez

Section 2: Terrorism, Insurgency and Challenges to the State

Chapter 4: In the Name of Vindice: Latin America’s ‘Endemic Pattern’ of Violence: A Conceptual Analysis—Bradford R. McGuinn
Chapter 5: Colombia: Prospects for Peace in the 21st Century: Past Failures, Present Challenges and Future Opportunities—Lilian Yaffe
Chapter 6: Mexico: Violence in Mexico: In Search of an Explanation—Jorge Chabat

Section 3: Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking

Chapter 7: Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking: Trends and Supply Chains—Juan Carlos Garzón Vergara
Chapter 8: Venezuela: Trends in Organized Crime—Joseph M. Humire
Chapter 9: Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime in Colombia: Major Challenges for the Santos Administration—Adam Isacson
Chapter 10: A ‘Full-Cycle-Country’: How Argentina’s New role Within the Political Economy of Illicit Drugs is Transforming the Structure of Organized Crime—Sebastían Antonio Cutrona
Chapter 11: The Evolution of Peru’s Shining Path and the New Security Priorities in the Hemisphere—Barnett S. Koven and Cynthia McClintock

Section 4: The New Security Agenda

Chapter 12: The Rise of China in the Americas—R. Evan Ellis
Chapter 13: Development and Inequality in the Americas—Ali R. Bustamante
Chapter 14: Resource Security: Energy and Environment—Rémi Piet
Chapter 15 Health Security Challenges in the Americas: Newly Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases—Sherri L. Porcelain
Chapter 16: Environmental Security of Coastal Resources in Latin America—Daniel Suman
Chapter 17: Migration in the Americas—Roberto Zepeda Martínez

Editorial Reviews

One is hard-pressed to find comprehensive studies on what is likely the number one challenge facing the region and U.S. policy: security. The editors of this book have filled an important academic and policy gap, providing in-depth analysis of the region's security agenda, with special focus on citizen security, violence and non-traditional issues such as energy, health, and migration. The depth and breadth of this issue and country-focused book is sure to be of great interest to scholars and policy-makers alike.

Frank O. Mora

While Latin America currently does not present a threat to global security, a number of important security issues within the Americas result in pervasive threats to people’s lives…. This informative volume, which brings together contributions from all over the Americas, picks up on these diagnoses. It is a valuable addition to an increasing literature on nontraditional security issues in the Americas, which so far has concentrated mainly on citizen security, violence, and illicit activities like drug trafficking.

International Studies Review

States is not the least interested in turning to violence to liquidate Venezuela's 'revolution.' Nobody is going to invade Venezuela. What is generally ignored is why Obama has taken this contradictory step that only serves to give Maduro a pretext for nationalism, increase repression and stir the Latin American hornet's nest. And yet, there are good reasons behind the move. Venezuela is indeed a risk to the security of the United States, not because it violated the democrats' human rights – that was the excuse – but because of three activities that are codified in the doctrinary definition that indicates where the danger to U.S. society begins or intensifies. Whoever wants to know the vision that prevails in Washington on this issue should read the book Reconceptualizing Security in the Americas in the 21st Century, with special attention to the chapter titles Venezuela: Trends in Organized Crime.

The Miami Herald

Reconceptualizing Security, a project with University of Miami roots, brings together seventeen chapters on organized crime, drug trafficking, environmental challenges, and shared health issues, as well as several country case studies. The volume contains several excellent chapters.

Latin American Research Review