Gallagher, Kevin P. "The China Triangle: Latin America’s China Boom and the Fate of the Washington Consensus"

Gallagher (global development policy, Boston Univ.’s Pardee Sch. of Global Studies; The Clash of Globalizations) explores the effect of China’s economic prosperity on Latin America and the subsequent impact on relations with the United States. While addressing criticisms against China, Gallagher paints
a positive picture of the country’s involvement in Latin America and argues against the Washington Consensus, a policy of trade liberalization pushed by the United States, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. The book tracks economic development in China and Latin America and discusses the impact of Chinese investment and the demand for Latin American commodities. Gallagher advocates for a future in which Latin America works with both the
United States and China as partners, stating that “the United States should welcome and complement China’s global development financing.” However, Latin America can’t economically rely on the United States or China and ultimately “it is Latin America’s responsibility to put the right policies into place.”
VERDICT
A well-written and insightful analysis of the economic ties between
China, Latin America, and the United States that will be of interest to academics but that is not directed at the average reader.