U.S.-Venezuela Relations since the 1990s Coping with Midlevel Security Threats [Paperback]

Oil makes up one-third of Venezuela's entire GDP, and the United States is far and away Venezuela's largest trading partner. Relations between Venezuela and the United States, traditionally close for most of the last two centuries, began to fray as the end of the Cold War altered the international environment.

U.S.-Venezuela Relations since the 1990sexplores relations between these two countries since 1999, when Hugo Chavez came to office and proceeded to change Venezuela's historical relation with the United States and other democracies. The authors analyze the reasons for rising bilateral conflict, the decision-making process in Venezuela, the role played by public and private actors in shaping foreign policy, the role of other powers such as China, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia in shaping U.S.-Venezuelan relations, the role of Venezuela in Cuba and Colombia, and the impact of broader international dynamics in the bi-lateral relations.

Part I: U.S.-Venezuela Relations and IR Theory1. Introduction: Old Themes, and Variation. Part II: Neorealism, Soft Balancing, and Mid-Level Security Threats.2. Venezuelas New Foreign Policy Through the Prism of Neorealism 3. U.S. Responses: The Rise and Decline of Emulation Part III: Beyond Neorealism: Economics, Ideas, and Institutions.4. Oils Double Role and the Concept of Friends/Enemies 5. The Talk Softly, Sanction Softly Policy: Origins, Benefits, and Limitations Part IV: Regime Type and Other Domestic Sources of Foreign Policy. 6. Regime Type and Venezuela: President and Soldiers 7. Regime Type and US Policy Toward Venezuela: President and Congress Part V: Overreaching and Outreaching.8. From ALBA to Damascus: Tiny Allies, Big Pariahs and Identity Construction 9. Conclusion: Friends/Enemies, for Now

Javier Corralesis Professor olC$