This article explores soft power from both the United States and Latin American perspectives, analyzing the perceptions of effectiveness for both regions and where they can go from here.
By helping [the hemisphere’s] democracies to deliver, the United States can prevent populist regimes from emerging, and thereby close down space for malign external actors to meddle and reinforce authoritarian tendencies.
The autocrat’s worst nightmare is not only a united and unified Europe, but also an American continent that possesses the resources and resolve to push for a common approach to today’s global energy challenges.
Data from the AmericasBarometer survey shows that Latin Americans’ faith in the U.S. government and democracy has declined while their trust in the Chinese government has risen along with regional concern over insecurity and corruption.
Given Latin America and the Caribbean’s vulnerability to climate change, its leaders are closely watching how the incoming Biden administration will recalibrate the United States’ environmental policy to see whether the Western Hemisphere will make diplomacy and multilateralism great again.
