Political Leaders’ Role in Latin American Foreign Policy: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This article systematically reviews the current state of Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) in Latin America, focusing on political leaders, especially presidents, highlighting the region’s significant but often overlooked contributions to the field. It analyses scholarly articles from both Western and Latin American journals to explore who is involved in the decision-making process, the elements that shape decision-making, and the types of decisions analysed in the region. Additionally, the review sheds light on where the knowledge originates and where it is published, underscoring the underrepresentation of Latin American perspectives in International Relations literature. It concludes by stressing the advancements in regional FPA research and the importance of integrating these diverse Latin American viewpoints to enhance the field, as the region offers rich empirical data that supports theory-building and comparative analysis.

Keywords

Foreign Policy Analysis, Systematic review, presidential decision-making, Policymakers, International Relations

Citation

Consuelo Thiers, “Political Leaders’ Role in Latin American Foreign Policy: A Systematic Review”, Uluslararası İlişkiler, Advanced Online Publication, 15 April 2025, pp. 1–17. DOI: 10.33458/uidergisi.1675147

Affiliations

Consuelo THIERS Ph.D, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh E-Mail: [email protected] Orcid: 0000-0002-7515-2354