The Future of the West Runs Through Latin America

The Future of the West Runs Through Latin America

For too long, Latin America has been viewed as peripheral to Western strategy. This masterclass presents a bold alternative: Latin America is not on the margins of the West—it is one of its foundational pillars. Rooted in shared cultural traditions, political institutions, and deep economic ties, the region is vital to the West’s renewal in the 21st century.

In an era defined by geopolitical competition, supply chain realignment, energy transition, and democratic uncertainty, the Western Hemisphere is becoming strategically decisive. From nearshoring and critical minerals to democratic governance and cultural influence, Latin America’s role is expanding rapidly.

Hosted in Miami—the gateway to the Americas—this session offers participants a compelling new framework to understand Latin America’s growing geopolitical and economic significance, and why its future is inseparable from that of the broader Western world.

The class will conclude with a brief Q&A, followed by a networking gathering.

Agenda:

6:00 PM – 6:15 PM: Registration & Welcome
6:15 PM – 7:00 PM: Masterclass – The Future of the West Runs Through Latin America
7:00 PM – 7:10 PM: Q&A
7:15 PM – 8:00 PM: Networking Gathering

About the Speaker:

Julio Crespo MacLennan is a historian and international analyst specializing in Europe, Latin America, and transatlantic relations. He is Professor of International Relations at IE University’s School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs in Madrid and a former Fellow of St Antony’s College, University of Oxford.

Through his teaching, international lectures, and his Substack publication Letters from the West, he explores the historical foundations and geopolitical future of the Western world. His recent work argues that Latin America constitutes a foundational pillar of the West and will play a decisive role in shaping its economic and strategic renewal in the 21st century.

He has delivered lectures and keynote addresses in more than thirty countries and at leading international forums worldwide.