High oil prices are bound to undermine the U.S. economic recovery, unless global supplies increase significantly. Latin America holds the world's biggest oil reserves after the Middle East, but politics are hindering its potential, especially in Venezuela. Global U.S. security would benefit from a revamping of outdated and misguided idealism-driven policies toward Latin America, which, in fact, strengthen anti-American forces led by President Hugo Chávez.
This is a blind spot in American politics, one that threatens U.S. geopolitical and economic interests. At stake, ultimately, is the U.S.'s ability to navigate a shifting world and protect its way of life. Washington needs a new regional policy not only to neutralize Chávez, but also to secure long term access to Latin America's oil, improve global security, and counter the rising influence of regional players.
America's Blind Spot offers a fascinating and thorough analysis of key geopolitical and economic threats to the U.S., highlighting the need for a new Latin American policy doctrine based on military and strategic priorities.
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Oil markets threaten US security and global standing, yet America has a blind spot in Latin America, a key region of concern, especially in Venezuela.
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viii | |
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ix | |
Foreword |
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xi | |
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Foreword |
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xvi | |
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Preface |
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xviii | |
Latin America: The blind spot |
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xviii | |
US national security = energy security |
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xx | |
Renewable irrelevance |
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xxv | |
Oil is king |
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xxviii | |
Why Latin America |
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xxx | |
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PART ONE AMERICA'S FAILED RELATIONS SOUTH OF THE BORDER |
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1 | (62) |
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1 National security: The idealist curse |
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3 | (16) |
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4 | (8) |
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The realist version of Latin America |
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12 | (7) |
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2 The Bolivarian caudillo and failed US policy |
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19 | (26) |
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United States and Latin America: Imperialism, communism, and absence |
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23 | (6) |
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Chavismo, Bolivarianism, and oil |
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29 | (16) |
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3 Gauging Chavez as a threat |
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45 | (18) |
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46 | (9) |
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Brotherly lessons from Iran |
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55 | (3) |
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58 | (5) |
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PART TWO THE CENTURY OF OIL, AGAIN |
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63 | (86) |
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4 America and energy: An "addiction" hard to kick |
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65 | (18) |
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67 | (2) |
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America's "addiction" to energy |
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69 | (4) |
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73 | (2) |
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Energy prices, the real threat |
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75 | (4) |
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79 | (4) |
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5 America and oil imports: Until death do us part |
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83 | (18) |
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A historical perspective, a future concern |
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86 | (6) |
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The Obama blueprint: Rehash or game changer? |
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92 | (9) |
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6 Global oil supplies and American security |
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101 | (24) |
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103 | (5) |
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The tight market and prices |
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108 | (6) |
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114 | (3) |
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US oil import alternatives |
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117 | (1) |
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Canada, risk, and promise |
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118 | (5) |
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Latin America, the pending policy |
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123 | (2) |
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7 Latin America: The new frontier |
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125 | (24) |
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126 | (9) |
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Venezuela, a silver bullet? |
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135 | (7) |
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China's buying spree in Latin America |
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142 | (5) |
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147 | (2) |
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PART THREE A NEW APPROACH |
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149 | (46) |
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8 Colombian lessons for Obama |
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151 | (28) |
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157 | (10) |
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167 | (2) |
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169 | (10) |
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179 | (16) |
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186 | (9) |
Index |
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195 | |
Michael J. Economides is Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Houston, US. One of America's leading energy analysts, he has done technical and managerial work in over 70 countries. He is the author with Ron Oligney of The Color of Oil: The History, the Money, and the Politics of the World's Biggest Business (2000), which looks at how petroleum dictates international politics and was nominated for a Pulitzer prize. Andrés Cala is a journalist in Spain whose career spans three continents and over a dozen countries, specializing in geopolitics and energy. His work has been published by some of the world's leading publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, The Christian Science Monitor, and TIME Magazine. He is also the European correspondent of Energy Tribune.