The New Cold War, China, and the Caribbean : Economic Statecraft, China and Strategic Realignments

This book examines the slide into a new Cold War in the Caribbean. The primary argument is that the Caribbeans geopolitics have shifted from a period of relative great power disinterest in the aftermath of the Cold War to a gradual movement into a new Cold War in which a global rivalry between the U.S. and China is acted out regionally. The result of this is a gradual polarization of countries in the Caribbean as they are increasingly pressured to choose between Washington and Beijing (this being very evident during the Trump years). It can be argued that the U.S. focus on the Caribbean in the late 1990s through the early 21st century diminished, leaving the region open to a China ready and eager to do business and guided by a diverse set of objectives. The book brings the reader into a discussion on international relations with a main focus on U.S.-Chinese relations being played out in the Caribbean, an important strategic region for the North American country. Scott B. MacDonald is the Chief Economist for Smith's Research & Gradings, a Global Americans Research Fellow, and a founding member and Fellow of the Caribbean Policy Consortium Preface Acknowledgments Contents List of Tables 1 Introduction Purpose of the Book Operationalizing Terms New Cold War? There Will Be No Cold War? Economic Statecraft Sharp Power Geography Still Matters Outline of the Book References 2 China’s Caribbean Adventure China’s Economic Landscape Changes Still Authoritarian After All These Years China’s International Development Strategy China and Latin America China Comes to the Caribbean The Role of Confucius Institutes Changing Strategic Considerations Conclusion Note References 3 China, Venezuela, and Cuba: The New Cold War? Putting Venezuela into Context The Best of Times and the Worst of Times The Ties That Bind China, Cuba, and the New Cold War Defining China’s Role in Cuba Conclusion References 4 China and the English-Speaking Caribbean and Suriname Better in the Bahamas? Trinidad and Tobago—Realpolitik and Mutual Interests Guyana Jamaica Suriname Conclusion References 5 Caribbean States and the New Landscape The Return of Geopolitics and the Caribbean China’s Economic Statecraft—A Sentiment Shaper Triggers to the Geopolitical Debate Covid-19 Diplomacy International Democracy Taiwan, China, Guyana, and Being Bullied The Chinese in the Caribbean: Negative Perceptions Conclusion References 6 The China–Taiwan Duel: Caribbean Echoes From Republic of China to Taiwan—A Brief Look A Global Game Panama, the New Cold War, and the Caribbean The “Loss” of the Dominican Republic Assessing the New Cold War Landscape—China, Taiwan, and the United States Taiwan’s Covid-19 Diplomacy Taiwan and the Caribbean—A Bleak 2020s? Conclusion References 7 Realignments, Tensions, and Asymmetry: Russia and Iran Russia’s Return to the Caribbean The Return of Russia as a Great Power The Caribbean Beckons Russia’s Role in Keeping Venezuela Afloat Russia and the Rest of the Caribbean Russia and the Offshore Caribbean Iran and the Caribbean The Hidden Hand of Oil Trading Conclusion References 8 Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, and the New Cold War The European Caribbean Europe, the New Cold War, and the Caribbean Europe, China, and the Caribbean The UK and the Caribbean Canada, China, and the Caribbean Conclusion References 9 U.S. Policy in a Choppy Caribbean Sea Continuity and Change—The Bush and Obama Years The Trump Years and the New Cold War Pressure Politics The Place of Economic Statecraft Vaccine Policy—A Stumble U.S. Caribbean Policy—So Much Unfinished Business Climate Change, Energy Alternatives, and Transitions Puerto Rico and the New Cold War Conclusion References 10 Conclusion Three Possible Scenarios China Uber Alles (China Above All) The China Fade Scenario The Muddle-Through Scenario Flashpoints and Opportunities Conclusion References Index "This book examines the slide into a new Cold War in the Caribbean. The primary argument is that the Caribbean's geopolitics have shifted from a period of relative great power disinterest in the aftermath of the Cold War to a gradual movement into a new Cold War in which a global rivalry between the U.S. and China is acted out regionally. The result of this is a gradual polarization of countries in the Caribbean as they are increasingly pressured to choose between Washington and Beijing (this being very evident during the Trump years). It can be argued that the U.S. focus on the Caribbean in the late 1990s through the early 21st century diminished, leaving the region open to a China ready and eager to do business and guided by a diverse set of objectives. The book brings the reader into a discussion on international relations with a main focus on U.S.-Chinese relations being played out in the Caribbean, an important strategic region for the North American country."--Page [4] of cover