Ralph Espach, Ph.D., Research Analyst and Director, Latin American Affairs Program

Expertise
  • Latin American and inter-American security and political relations
  • Brazil
  • Environmental politics and security in Latin America
  • Likely implications of climate change for human security in the Americas

Dr. Ralph Espach is an analyst with CNA Strategic Studies. His area of focus is security and international issues within Latin America, and U.S. relations with the region. He also conducts research on issues of climate change and security. Before joining CNA, Espach received a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and managed the Brazil Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.

Recent Work: Implications of Chinese, Iranian, and Russian engagement in Latin America for U.S. regional interests; Brazil-U.S. security relations and naval engagement;; impacts of climate change on Colombia's national and regional security; leadership and decision-making in the Chavez government; assessing the effectiveness of U.S. Naval humanitarian and civic assistance programs.

Previous Positions: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; University of Seattle.

Education: Ph.D. in political science from University of California, Berkeley (2006); M.A. in international affairs from the George Washington University; B.A. from Columbia University.

Languages: Spanish and Portuguese

Publications of Interest

  • Private Environmental Regimes in Developing Countries: Globally Sown, Locally Grown. 2009. New York: Palgrave-Macmillan.
  • “When is Sustainable Forestry Sustainable? Comparing the Effectiveness of the Forest Steward-ship Council in Argentina and Brazil.” Global Environmental Politics: Vol. 6: 2. May 2006.
  • “Private Regulation Amid Public Disarray: An Analysis of Two Private Environmental Regulatory Programs in Argentina.” Business and Politics: Vol. 7: 2. Aug. 2005.
  • “Free Trade Beyond NAFTA: The Economic and Institutional Rationale for Mexico’s Bilateral Trade Agenda.” In Vinod K. Aggarwal and Shujiro Urata, eds. Bilateralism and Regional Trade in the Asia-Pacific. 2005. New York: Routledge Press.
  • The Strategic Dynamics of Latin American Trade. 2004. Co-edited with Vinod K. Aggarwal and Joseph S. Tulchin. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
  • “The Brazilian Amazon in Strategic Perspective.” In Joseph S. Tulchin and Heather A. Golding, eds. Environment and Security in the Amazon Basin. 2002. Washington, D.C.: Wilson Center Press.
  • Latin America in the New International System. 2000. Co-edited with Joseph S. Tulchin.Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
  • Combating Corruption: Anti-Corruption Reforms in Latin America. 2000. Co-edited with Joseph S. Tulchin. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Security in the Caribbean Basin. 2000. Co-edited with Joseph S. Tulchin. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

espachr@cna.org   703.824.2550