Latin America and European soft power geopolitics

This document argues for refocusing European Union (EU) engagement in Latin America away from appeasement of the emerging illiberal regimes and towards active support for liberal forces, consistent with the EU’s founding philosophy, economic goals and geopolitical future.

The author argues that The Treaty of Rome (1957) and the formulation of EU law thus far give the impression that the EU is broadly aware of responsible political and economic policies. However, these principles applied so stringently to aspiring Member States don’t seem to be a guide for relations with Latin America. The policy, if there is one, instead seems a mixture of patronisation, appeasement, confusion and even encouragement of unacceptable behaviour.

Key issues raised include that:

• paradoxically, but quite realistically, Cuba could become a source of inspiration for Latin America -  the island nation could give hope to those forces attempting to reform the hemisphere. It could also be the main conduit of European soft power into the rest of the region
  
• probably the most constructive EU policy toward Latin America would be to use the soft power of its successful democratic transitions to train a cadre of dissidents in Cuba and Venezuela
  
• as its main asset is soft power, the EU would be ill advised to continue pursuing a foreign policy inconsistent with the internal values that glue it together.