This book analyzes ALBA's structure and dynamics, its practicality, its medium and long-term sustainability, and its capacity to influence regional and international affairs. The work examines ALBA's possible economic and security consequences for neighboring non-member states in the region, particularly the United States, as well as other key actors such as China, Russia, and Iran. The volume analyzes the origins, ideological orientation, structure, internal dynamics, and evolution of the ALBA initiative and its regional and international implications during its first decade of existence. It is the first comprehensive work on the subject with a multi-disciplinary perspective and it provides an analysis of the new regional, Bolivarian Alliance initiative in Latin America and its relation to the international system. The volume includes studies on the Bolivarian Alliance and Chavismo under Hugo Chavez Frias' leadership. As a whole, this volume weaves together such crucial issues as oil politics, drug-trafficking, hemispheric security, and trade.
Chapter 1: A Guide to ALBA: What is the Bolivarian Alternative to the Americas and What Does It Do? Joel D. Hirst and Chistopher Sabatini Chapter 2: New Philosophy and Socialism of the 21st Century John W. Murphy Chapter 3: Chavez and ALBA David Adams and Phil Gunson Chapter 4: Political And Ideological Aspects Of The Alianza Bolivariana Para Los Pueblos De Nuestra America - Tratado De Comercio De Los Pueblos (ALBA - TCP): Viability and Sustainability? Chapter 5: ALBA: Ideology overcomes integration? Josette Altmann Borbon Chapter 6: Neo-Bolivarian Challenges: Cuba and Venezuela and Their Foreign Policies Magdalena Defort Chapter 7: Morales' Bolivia and ALBA Marten W. Brienen Chapter 8: ALBA and Petro-Caribe: Successes and a Paradoxical Failure of Venezuelan Soft Power in the Caribbean Anthony P. Maingot Chapter 9: ALBA and Central America: Nicaraguan Integration and Sub-Regional Mistrust Cristina Eguizabal Chapter 10: The Post- Washington Consensus Regional Integration in South America Convergence and Divergence in ALBA and UNASUR: A Comparative Perspective Khatchik DerGhougassian Chapter 11: Military Geometry of ALBA: Venezuela's Armed Forces, Terrorism, and Revolutionary Islam Magdalena Defort Chapter 12: UNASUR: Constructing the South American Identity Marcela Ganem Chapter 13: The South American Defense Council vis a vis ALBA: Dilemmas and Contradictions of the New Security Diplomacy Raul Benitez Manaut and Rut Diamint Chapter 14: ALBA and Economic Regionalization in Latin America Roberto Dominguez Chapter 15: ALBA-TCP: A Viable and Sustainable Alternative? Marcela Anzola-Gil Chapter 16: The Bolivarian Alliance and the United States of America - Incompatible Ideas Joel D. Hirst Chapter 17: Russia and ALBA: A Marriage of Convenience Vladimir Rouvinski Chapter 18: Europe and the New Latin America. Spanish Perception of New Trends in South American Security and Integration: Focus on ALBA Joaquin Roy Chapter 19: Chinese Engagement with the ALBA Countries: A Relationship of Mutual Convenience? R. Evan Ellis
