International Structure and International Integration

The article investigates interaction and integration in Latin America, using nations as units. Four indices of international stratification are presented and compared, and intensity of interaction within different pairs of nations is analysed. Interaction is measured in terms of trade, airborne transport, participation in continental meetings, negotiations, and participation in World Wars.The consequences of interactive disequilibrium appear important in analysis of inter action. An equilibrated pair, with units of equal status, is characterized by mutual exchange on equal level of intensity, and mutual influence that flows within the pair. A disequilibrated pair may be characterized by high intensity of interaction, but the exchange is not mutual, and there is no flow of influence. Equilibrated units influence each other; while in a disequilibrated pair one unit dominates, not influences, the other.The medium status units appear most important in international integration; such units foresee mobility in the international system, and imagine that international integration may make it possible to challenge top status units in the system.These and other findings are compared with findings in small group research, which are proved fruitful in the interpretations of our findings. We discover that Latin American nations do not imitate and are not responsive towards the United States because of lack of mobility within the inter-American system. Since the United States behaves as a 'superdog' in the system, thus dominating Latin American nations, the Latin American nations become followers of the United States and eager participants in inter-American meetings. It is our contention, however, that the United States' image in Latin America disappears when United States dominance ceases, because this image is not internalised in the local culture.One important policy implication emerges from our analysis: if a nation wants to influence another, its policy should aim at supporting the other nation in its attempts to gain the same status in the system as that of the 'would-be' influencer.