The novel explores themes of individual solitude, labor, and the complexities of colonial and racial dynamics. It also delves into humanity's relationship with animals, prompting ongoing debates and discussions. Its enduring influence highlights the relevance of these themes even 300 years after its initial publication.
The end of the Cold War removed hemispheric security from the top of the agenda of U.S.-Latin American relations. Democracy, trade and investment, drugs, and migration rose in importance. Pressures to eliminate the anachronistic U.S. embargo on Cuba increased. The new agenda also includes Latin America's growing ties to the countries of the European Union and other regions. This book contains fifteen essays by distinguished U.S., Latin American, and European scholars on each of these issues, framed by overviews of the changing historical context from the nineteenth century to the end of the Cold War. Authors include such notables as Harvard scholars John Coatsworth, Jorge Dominguez, and Marcelo Suarez-Orozco; European academics such as editors Jamnes Dunkerley and Victor Bulmer-Thomas; and Latin American intellectuals such as Eduardo Gamarra and Rodolfo Cerdas-Cruz.
The book explores the complexities of Anglo-American imperialism, highlighting the lack of a cohesive imperial agenda and the inconsistent ability to exert influence. It delves into historical contexts and the varying motivations behind imperial actions, emphasizing the diverse experiences and outcomes of imperial endeavors in Anglo-American history. Through critical analysis, it challenges conventional narratives and invites readers to reconsider the dynamics of power and control in the Anglo-American relationship.