Title
Contemporary Paradigms in the Study of Inter-American Relations
Document Type
Book Contribution
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Description
This chapter reviews some of the literature on the study of inter-American relations in order to demonstrate the extent to which the two paradigms currently dominate analyses in the field. Conventional science, and its contemporary off-shoots such as the liberal-developmental paradigm, emphasize a methodology based on maximizing quantitative data. Dominguez bemoans the pluralistic, nonparadigmatic state of inter-American studies; Bodenheimer claims that social scientists’ blindness to the existence of an all-encompassing approach prevents them from realizing that although they may be using different oars, they are all rowing in the same boat. The organizational-ideology paradigm, best represented by the preliminary efforts of Guillermo O’Donnell, comes closest to being a new approach, while representing a serious effort at synthesizing and bridging other paradigms. The autonomy assumption makes it possible for some to discuss Latin American development programs and foreign policies with barely a nod to US influence.
Citation Information
Hughes, Steven W.; and Mijeski, Kenneth J.. 2019. Contemporary Paradigms in the Study of Inter-American Relations. Latin America, the United States, and the Inter-American System. 19-44. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429052040-2 ISBN: 9780429708404,0891588744,9780367022181