Encyclopedia of U.S.-Latin American Relations

Articles Scope Descriptions

References

Every entry must include 3 to 5 bibliographical references that are related to the subject. Appropriate references include monographs, journal articles, biographies and memoirs.
Spanish language materials may also be included. Book chapters may be identified, but not pages from textbooks. For treaties, acts, agreements, conferences and the like include one government or international agency reference that provides an official account or text.

Acts, Treaties and Agreements

Provide a discussion of the reasons for the act, treaty or agreement, a summary of it and the impact it had upon inter-American relations. The bibliographical references must include one government or agency reference that provides the text of the act, treaty, or agreement.

Countries and Regions

These essays are to present an overview of a country's relations with the United States. The essays should develop major themes and identify key events and persons in the relationship. Because certain individuals or topics need fuller explanation, contributors should examine the entire list of entries for those already identified. Some models are provided in the topics list, such as Cuba, Mexican War, Mexico. References should list broad surveys of the relationship between the country and the United States.

Conferences and Summits

Explain the reasons for convening the meeting, a summary of its results and its impact upon inter-American relations. The bibliographical references must include one government or agency reference that serves as the official account of the conference or meeting.

People

Include birth and death dates in parentheses following the subject's name. The entry should begin with a very brief presentation of the basic facts about the subject's life. The essay's focus should be upon his/her contribution to the field of inter-American relations. Where appropriate the main written works of the subject, should be included in the biographical references along with biographies and other appropriate secondary works.

Topics

These entries must relate the factual story of the topic or event along with its causes and consequences. Several of the entries in this category are important to a country's relations with the United States. Thus, contributors should scan the Topics listing for countries for those topics/events deserving greater attention than can be provided for in the general survey of the U.S. relations entry. Using the 1902 Platt Amendment as an example, what are the key provisions of the amendment? Why did the U.S. insist upon it? Until its termination in 1934, what impact did the amendment have upon Cuba? This methodology enables the encyclopedia to better serve the user with detailed accounts of significant topics and events. Bibliographical references must be germane to the topic.