Australian-Latin American Relations ─ New Links in a Changing Global Landscape

Until recently, Australia and Latin America were considered remote, disconnected, and politically irrelevant to one another. This has changed significantly in recent years. Within Australia, there has been a surge of interest in Latin America across cultural, economic, and political realms. Australian universities are actively recruiting Latin American students; Australian travelers are visiting Latin America in increased numbers; new diplomatic relations are emerging; and investment in mining and other business sectors is expanding. Latin America's emergence as a region of greater global economic and political influence – coupled with technological developments that mitigate its geographic distance - mean that Lain America is becoming increasingly relevant to Australia, both as an economic competitor (especially in the supply of raw commodities) and as a land for great opportunities in trade, educational and culture and exchange, and other form of collaboration. Despite this, scholars still lack a framework grounded in rigorously empirical analysis to explain what these new connections signal, how they will shape Australia in the coming years, and why they should matter to academics, policy-makers, and the general public. This volume responds to that gap, exploring Australian-Latin American relations across three broad categories: diplomatic and trade relations; migration, education and innovation; and cultural influences. It situates the increased connections between Latin America and Australia within the context of broader global transformations, including shifting power relations between the 'Global North' and 'Global South,' and asks broader questions about where Australia fits as a Western nation in the global South.

Elizabeth Kath is a Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellow and Lecturer in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University, Australia. Her research is located within the field of global studies and is interdisciplinary.

Raul Sanchez Urribarri is Lecturer (Legal Studies) at the Department of Politics, Philosophy, and Legal Studies. His research focuses on the intersection between Law and Politics, with an emphasis on judicial decision making, legal reform, and rule of law issues in LAtin AMerica