This book addresses the complex evolution of Latin American foreign policies at the first quarter of the 21st century with new lenses. We rethink the micro and macro foundations of foreign policy behavior at three levels of analysis: states (represented by the bureaucracy implementing foreign policy); leaders, driving or dramatically changing foreign policy approaches and preferences; and stakeholders - old and new - inserting new demands and new challenges to the foreign policy exercise. Even when there are always small processes of change in foreign policy approaches, the turn of the century determined significant changes that have not yet registered in a comparative way.

What make this book distinctive is that all chapters will be written by top female scholars, adding a different positionality and perspective to a very old problem of inclusion not only in Latin America but also in the discipline. Women have started to lead foreign policy in the region. Colombia and Costa Rica have been the most notable cases in that regard. However, women at the top positions in foreign policymaking have not necessarily meant reforming the traditionally exclusionary diplomatic services in the region or including minorities and indigenous peoples into foreign representation and policymaking. This book attempts to go beyond the promises and plans to have a more inclusive foreign policy that corrects omissions and injustices in terms of issues, priorities and agents of change.  

Grace Jaramillo is honorary assistant professor and research associate at University of British Columbia’s School of Global and International Affairs and former head of the International Relations Program at FLACSO, the largest graduate academic program and think-tank in Latin America.