TTLV: US-Russia competition in Latin America in the early 21st century

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's full name:Ta Mai Ly              

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: November 19, 1991

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision on recognition of students No. 3215/2014/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 31, 2014 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in training process: None

7. Thesis topic name:“US-Russia Competition in Latin America in the Early 21st Century”

8. Major: International Relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Scientific instructor:Dr. Dang Minh Duc- Institute for European Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

10. Summary of thesis results:

Latin America is a densely populated region with a large area, rich natural resources and a long coastline. Latin America is currently undergoing many economic changes; with its geostrategic location, this region has long been considered the "backyard" of the United States. However, in the first decades of the 21st century, especially after the events of September 11, 2001 and the global financial crisis of 2008, the position of the United States in Latin America has gradually declined. Meanwhile, Russia has begun to pay attention to this region and has been increasing cooperation with Latin America since the early years of the 21st century.

Latin America has now become an attractive region for many major countries such as China, Russia, the EU and Japan. Faced with changes in the regional and world situation in the early years of the 21st century, Russia has been making efforts to resume cooperation with Latin American countries. Changes in Russia's policy towards Latin America and the competition between the US and Russia in this region have great significance for international relations in general and the Latin American region in particular.

The thesis focuses on the study of the competition of interests between the US and Russia in Latin America in the early years of the 21st century, which is of urgent significance in the context of limited research on this region. Moreover, there are not many studies on the competition between the US and Russia in the potential Latin American region; the competition of interests between these two powers not only has a simple impact on the countries involved but also has a certain influence on the international relations situation.

The thesis also provides an assessment of the competitive behavior of the US and Russia in Latin America, and points out the impacts of this competitive relationship on the world and the Latin American region.

11. Practical application:

The thesis can be used as reference material for research and teaching on international relations.

12. Further research directions

13. Published works related to the thesis

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Ta Mai Ly 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: November 19, 1991 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 3215/2014/QD-XHNV-SĐ dated December 31, 2014, by the Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University Hanoi (VNU)

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Official thesis title: “US - Russia competition in Latin America in the early twenty-first century”

8. Major: International relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Supervisor: Dr. Dang Minh Duc, Vietnam Institute for European Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

10. Summary of key findings:

Latin America is a wide area with a large population, an abundance of natural resources and a long coastline. This region is going through the process of economic transformation. Although Latin America is traditionally considered as a backyard of the US because of its geopolitical characteristics, the US is now playing a lesser role in this region, especially after the September 11 attacks and the international financial crisis in 2008. Meanwhile, Russia has started to pay more attention to this region, and cooperation between Russia and Latin American countries has been fostered since the early 21^stcentury.

In recent years, Latin America has become an attractive place in various aspects for many major countries, such as China, Russia, Japan and the EU. To respond to the changes in Latin America and in the world in the early 21st^stcentury, Russia has been making more efforts to renew cooperation with countries in this region. The changes of Russian policies towards Latin America, along with the competition for benefits between Russia and the US in this region, have been of great importance to global international relations in general and to Latin American countries in particular.

The purpose of this thesis is to shed light on the competition for benefits between Russia and the US in Latin America in the early 21^stcentury. This is a crucial research topic to be conducted, because there has been little research on the political settings of Latin America, and because there has been extremely little research on competition between Russia and the US in this potential region. The competition between these two superpowers exerts a strong impact not only on relevant countries but also to the context of global international relations as a whole.

This thesis also makes evaluations of the competition between the US and Russia in Latin America, and reveals the impacts of this competition on this region and on the world.

11. Practical applicability:

The thesis could be used as reference for research, teaching on international relations.

12. Further research directions

13. Thesis-related publications: