The autor explores the primary characteristics of Argentine foreign policy during the past ten years, as well as the evolution of Argentina's relations with the United States and Latín América It is argued that although the country's foreign policy has undergone change in some concrete aspects, the defense of democratic principles has constituted the central foundation of all of the governments examined. The text concludes by formulating a series of observations concerning the recently inaugurated govemment of Néstor Kirchner.

bilateral relations with United States --- regional relations --- democracy.

This article discusses the foreign policies of the different governments of the Concertación Democrática in Chile. Following the end of the dictatorship in 1990, the reestablishment of democracy became the centerpiece of all administrations. This was also reflected in Chilean foreign policy, in which the central objective of the country has been its positive reinsertion within the global system. The strengthening of external commercial relations, as well as the creation of a multilateral policy capable of providing legitimacy to Chile on both the regional and international levels, have been fundamental in pursuing this goal.

Foreign policy --- Concertación Democrática --- reestablishment of democracy --- multilateral policy.

The author analyzes the hardening of United States policy towards Cuba during the government of George W. Bush, as well as the evolution of bilateral relations within the con-text of the global war against terrorism. Within this discussion, the text highlights the contrast between the executive's hard-line policy and the progressive opening in the position of both Democrats and Republicans within the U.S. Congress, and the Bush ad-ministration's insistence upon classifying Cuba as a terrorist country, in disregard of Fidel Castro's systematic efforts to demonstrate the island's willingness to cooperate in counterterrorist efforts.

United States policy towards Cuba --- democrats --- republicans --- global war against terrorism.

The author identifies Hugo Chavez's electoral victory and the implementation of a new type of democracy as two factors that transformed Venezuelan foreign policy, and in particular, the bilateral relationship with the United States. Chavez's international activism, in addition to his Bolivarian policy signaled a shift from "safe partner" to "partner with reservations" in the country's relations with Washington. Although Venezuela considered itself a Latin American showcase in previous years, the text argues that Chavez's populist tendencies, his critical posture towards the promotion of democracy and human rights, and his supposed links with Colombian guerrillas has led to a "wait-and-see" policy characterized by high levels of caution on the part of the United States.

Venezuelan-U.S. relations --- Bolivarian policy --- safe partner --- partner with reservations.