Heine Launches New Book on Latin American Foreign Policies
At a conference hosted by the Institute of International Relations at West Indies University, Jorge Heine, Research Professor at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and Interim Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, launched his new book, Latin American Foreign Policies in the New World Order: The Active Non-Alignment Option.
After opening remarks from Dr. Annita Montoute, Director of the Institute, Heine opened his presentation with the reason behind the book’s publishing: the sudden re-emergence of active non-alignment as a foreign policy tool. The growing tensions between the United States and China in Latin American affairs were the original impetus for examining active non-alignment, specifically in the way they exerted pressure and coerced Latin American countries to make decisions that did not align with their own interests. Active non-alignment is the resulting foreign policy measure; now, instead of putting Chinese or American issues first, Latin American countries are prioritizing their country’s own interests.
Heine also connected the book’s content to other major world events. With the invasion of Ukraine and following the Russia-Ukraine War, Heien explained that there was a key divergence in the reaction between the Global North and Global South: the Global North responded with diplomatic and economic sanctions, whereas the Global South condemned the invasion, yet refused to become implicated in any war effort. “They are refusing to make this European war into a global war. The reason for this is not some kind of moral failure…This is because they are taking an active non-alignment position.”
The full conference can be watched here.
Ambassador Jorge Heine is a Research Professor at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. He has served as ambassador of Chile to China (2014-2017), to India (2003-2007), and to South Africa (1994-1999), and as a Cabinet Minister in the Chilean Government. Read more about Ambassador Heine on his Pardee School faculty profile.