‘Economic Displacement delivers a sharp and compelling analysis of China's growing economic influence in Latin America, demonstrating how Chinese actors are crowding out established U.S. firms. Urdinez meticulously examines the far-reaching consequences of this shift, not only for China and the U.S., but also for Latin American nations and international organizations. The work offers undeniable evidence of a significant reorientation towards China and is vital reading for anyone seeking to understand China's economic ascent.’
Margaret M. Pearson - Professor of Government and Politics, University of Maryland
‘This is an essential book that explores how China is occupying a central role in Latin America. It examines the displacement of U.S. influence through the lens of political economy. A must-read for anyone interested in Latin America and the emerging geopolitical order.’
Andreza Aruska de Souza Santos - Director of the Brazil Institute, King's College London
‘Clear-eyed, original and meticulous, this book tracks the epoch-defining shift from American to Chinese economic influence in Latin America and the Caribbean. Offering novel insights on China’s feat of ‘displacing’ an entrenched hegemon, Urdinez reveals the pivotal role of local elites, public opinion and political alignment within international organizations in the region. A must read at this time of heightened Sino-American rivalry.’
Ching Kwan Lee - Professor of Sociology, University of California
‘Economic Displacement offers a fresh and timely perspective for thinking about U.S.-China power dynamics in Latin America and beyond. Urdinez develops a new approach to understanding and measuring economic statecraft that emphasizes the relational nature of power and influence, and spotlights the key roles of unintentional displacement and host country agency. China’s displacement of US influence in many countries has resulted not from a deliberate Chinese strategy but from American retrenchment and Latin American demand. The book should be essential reading for policymakers and researchers interested in economic statecraft, U.S.-China relations, and the Global South in international relations.’
Austin Strange - Associate Professor, University of Hong Kong
‘In this meticulously researched book, Franciso Urdinez combines qualitative and quantitative analysis to illustrate China’s displacement of the United States as a provider of economic goods to Latin America and the Caribbean. He connects China’s rise to a loss of U.S. political influence, but transcends the standard framework of U.S.-China competition to emphasize the agency of regional actors. An illuminating and necessary book at a time of heightened U.S.-China tensions and disruptive U.S. diplomacy.’
Cynthia J. Arnson - Cynthia J. Arnson, former director, Latin American Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
