Latin America and the Caribbean have been of special interest to the United States because of its proximity and the instability caused by democratic transitions. The region has been an experimental ground in which U.S. principles and practices have collided within the context of the Cold War and beyond it. This course will examine the constantly evolving dynamics of relations between the United States and Latin America through the analysis of U.S. foreign policy and the integration efforts in Latin America aimed at gaining further autonomy in the face of the hegemonic reconfiguration in the XXI century. Participants will also explore contemporary challenges and phenomena such as the impact of rising populism, organized crime, and free trade on the relations between the U.S. and Latin America. Particular attention will be given to the role of public and summit diplomacy as an instrument of regional integration and redefinition of the relations between the U.S. and Latin America.