Evan Ellis: “Understanding Chinese Engagement with Latin America and its Effects on the Region”
Dear Colleague:
For me personally, the struggle of the Ukranian people against Vladmir Putin’s brutal and indefensible aggression has brought a welcome, if unexpected moment of clarity and unity in our otherwise complex and ambiguous world. At the terrible price of the suffering of the Ukranian people and the ongoing destruction of their country, the world owes Ukraine a debt of gratitude…for reminding us in our dark moments that resistance to malevolence can sometimes still prevail, even against enormous odds, with the aid of courage, willpower, unity, and a little outside help. A month ago, I could not have imagined Democrats and Republicans finding common cause in Washington DC, or the US and Europe standing in unity. We in Washington have lost a dangerous quota of our faith in stories with happy endings, where good prevails over bad (let alone where good can be distinguished from bad). I am moved by the number of Ukranian flags and colors that I see everywhere here in the US, and in the cyberspace of my colleagues, but it means something we have not seen here in a long time.
The fight is far from over, and the price paid in Ukranian lives is unconscionable, but as I send out my latest publication, I indulge in the temptation to express this sincere personal sentiment: my solidarity with the Ukranian people in their time of difficulty, my admiration for their character, resilience and determination, my respect for the creativity and courage of their fighters and for their President, who reminds us that leadership by example still matters.
In these troubled global times, the world would be a better place if we could all be infused a bit more with the inspiring and contagious spirit of the Ukrainians, and if our leadership could all channel a bit more Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Most of all, my thanks and respect to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people for reminding us all in the rest of the world that there are still things worth believing in and fighting for…and what can be achieved with unity, determination and hope.
And now, the official purpose of this email, to share with you my new article on understanding Chinese Engagement with Latin America and its effects on the region.
The work was first translated and published in Spanish by my colleagues at Argentina’s very respected media organization InfoBAE:
https://www.infobae.com/opinion/2022/03/23/el-compromiso-chino-con-america-latina-y-sus-efectos-en-la-region/
It was also just published in English by India’s respected media organization IndraStra:
https://www.indrastra.com/2022/03/Chinese-Engagement-with-LATAM.html
The article highlights the key content and findings of my just published book China Engages Latin America: Distorting Development and Democracy? (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2022):
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-96049-0
As always, thank you for the opportunity to engage with you through this means. If you find these occasional emails of use, please feel free to share with a friend or colleague, or join my (always free) distribution list.
My very best regards, and… Нехай Бог благословить Україну та її народ. Ми з вами.
Evan Ellis
Latin America Research Professor, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute
#REvanEllis