Send Print Share

Changing approaches to security / Working Paper

The EU and the vicious circle of poverty and insecurity in Latin America

11/05/2010 By Susanne Gratius

Nowadays, Latin America is not quite as poor as in previous decades, but is certainly more violent and unstable. The region faces less traditional security threats such as drug trafficking, urban violence and political polarisation. These require new international responses that differ from the European Union’s development angle and the military/legal route followed by the Unites States. As a key donor, the EU has contributed to the reduction of poverty in Latin America, but this hasn’t had a corresponding effect on reducing security problems.

The simultaneous increase in violence and the decrease in poverty in Latin America casts doubt on the existence of a direct relationship between development and security; a relationship suggested by EU policy. Those Latin American countries which have received the most European aid – Central American and Andean countries – remain the most unstable. Seemingly, reducing poverty and inequality levels does not lead to a decrease in violent crime.

Therefore, it is necessary to review the EU’s policy towards Latin America. Although Europe cannot and does not want to put itself on the same level of involvement as the US, it can help to develop a new method of reducing levels of violence in the region. It can also have a more significant presence and individual profile in the debates and policies surrounding security in the Americas.

Download the full version of this publication, available in English (208 kB)
Spanish (208 kB)

To read or listen to the comments of our experts in the media about this and other topics, please visit our Press section.

Keywords

Democracy Economic crisis European Union Latin America & Caribbean

Related publications

• Is the politicial dialogue between the European Union and Latin America useful?
• Organised crime and drug trafficking in Mexico and Central America
• The European-Latin American Summit: towards selective bilateralism?
• The post-crisis rise of Latin America
• Why does Spain not have a policy for Latin America?

Bio author: Susanne Gratius

Latin America. Emerging powers. Brazil. Cuba. Venezuela. EU-Latin American relations.