POPULAR CULTURE AND U'S' POLICY TOWARD LATIN AMERICA

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POPULAR CULTURE AND U.S. POLICY TOWARD LATIN
AMERICA
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KEY PERSPECTIVES

• 1. U.S. more powerful than countries of Latin
  America (including region as a whole)
• 2. Therefore U.S. has wide latitude for
  policythough decision-making often restricted or
  bounded by ideology
• 3. And Latin America has less latitude, must
  operate within (explicit or implicit) limits

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LATIN AMERICAN RESPONSES

• 1. Result of rational calculations, thus
  rational choice
• 2. Not psychological love-hate relationships,
  adolescent outlooks, etc.
• 3. Menus of strategic optionsin differing
  periods, under differing circumstanceskey topic
  here
• 4. Hence view of dynamic relationship, not only
  U.S. policy

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PUBLIC OPINION AND FOREIGN POLICY

• Questions
• Does popular culture matter?
• Does public opinion shape foreign policy?
• What is the role of mass media?

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Americas Prestige around the World, 1999-2006
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Popular Support for GWB and Iraq Policy
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BASIC HYPOTHESES

• 1. Public opinion has significant effects,
  especially in democracies
• 2. Public opinion has little if any effect
• a. foreign policy belongs to bureaucrats
  and/or big business
• b. citizens unconcerned or uninformed
• c. international issues do not win elections
  all politics is local
• 3. State apparatus can mold and mobilize
  public opinion, which in turn provides
  legitimacy for elite decisions

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AND NOW.

• Hollywoods depictions of Latin America,
  especially during post-WWII period
• Question How much has changed?

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The Gringo in Mañanaland

• The hero discovers paradise
• The hero has a dream about bananas
• The hero has a problem with women
• And with bandits
• The hero calls in the Marines (who save the day)
• The bandits cooperate (from prison)
• The Good Neighbors are happy