The Strategic Dynamics of Latin American Trade [Hardcover]

The diversity of Latin American trade agreements established since the mid-1980s reflects a broadening range of strategic perceptions and orientations. The argument of this volume is that this increasing divergence among the arrangements reflects fundamental and growing differences among their broader strategic perceptions and political and economic objectives. These, in turn, are grounded in each countrys economic profile, the institutional configuration of its trade policy process, and the constraints and opportunities policymakers perceive at the domestic and international levels.The opening chapter in this volume provides a theoretical framework that highlights the political-economic tradeoffs entailed in different trade strategies. The remaining chapters in sections I and II focus on domestic and international constraints involved in the formulation, pursuit, and implementation of trade policies. The last half of the volume contains detailed, empirically grounded studies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and the dynamics of Mercosur. The editors provide synthesis and some concluding remarks in the final chapter to what is an impressively conherent volume. This volume analyzes trade agreements in Latin America since the mid-1980s, and provides a theoretical framework that highlights the political-economic tradeoffs entailed in different trade strategies formulated and pursued by different countries in the region. It contains detailed, empirically grounded studies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and the Mercosur block as a whole. The major contribution that this important book offers is a full consideration of the strategic dimensions of the trade policies pursued by Latin America's largest economies. Policy-makers, students and scholars interested in Latin American trade issues will find this book a valuable addition to their libraries and an invaluable reference tool. Vinod Aggarwal is Professor of Political Science, Affiliated Professor of Business anló'