| Theme | United States | Latin America (General) | |--------|----------------|--------------------------| | | Stable republic | Fragmented, unstable states | | 19th-century focus | Industrialization, expansion | Commodity exports, caudillos | | 20th-century governance | Two-party system, strong institutions | Cycles of democracy/dictatorship | | Economic model | Internal market, innovation | Export dependence, external debt | | Role in region | Hegemon, interventionist | Sovereignty-seeking, asymmetrical dependency | | Current trends (2026) | Polarization, immigration debates | Search for inclusive growth, anti-corruption |