The OAS and the role of Democracy in Latin America
On May 14th 2008 the Americas Society/Council of the Americas and the National Endowment of Democracy hosted the Secretary-General of the OAS, H.E. José Miguel Insulza in their offices in New York to discuss how the OAS is helping develop democracy and democratic institutions within modern Latin America. With the current state of affairs in Latin America, democracy in its true form is a strong contender in many Latin American nations. As the historical forum of discussion and voice for the states of Latin America, progress and diplomacy has always worked best with the assistance of the OAS and the Americas community in resolving issues in the region.
The future of Latin America is often seen in two perspectives. One is the US and its approach to other countries in the Americas. Many in the United States see Latin America as its proper sphere of influence. While many in Latin America would prefer an increasingly independent status, the reality of geopolitics is that for better or for worse, the United States has had a lot of power in determining the future of Latin America via economic relationships, political ties and support to groups and officials in various Latin American countries. The question now is based on how the US wants to approach the region in the future. With economic successes in Mexico and Brazil and Chile, and diplomatic challenges with Venezuela and Bolivia and a mix of both with every other country, the opportunity to reengage after five years in Iraq will determine how the US progresses in the future as a regional power or a source of conflict for many of its neighbours.
In his new book The Second World and in an interview with Edward Baker of Strategy+Business, Parag Khanna of the New America Foundation discusses how the future of geopolitics will likely take shape in the future. With power becoming divided among China, the US and the EU, many regions of influence which he refers to as the Second World will often become influenced by one of the three main powers. These middle powers have yet to determine which influence they wish to presume, but as Khanna points out the opportunity for influence comes only from those powers and their ability to coordinate their diplomacy in a productive fashion. As with Latin America and the OAS, the region is essentially available for diplomacy and will be the determining factor of future influence of the US in the near future. Isolationism and the fear of working within the international community will only hurt the US in the future. The OAS and Latin America is seen as the answer for many, as Edward Baker states: “The answer lies right under our noses.”
For Video of the May 14th discussion with the OAS click here.
For a Video Interview by Charlie Rose with Parag Khanna click here.
For further discussion ofthe issue of US influence in the World, see The Washington Post article The Rise of Non-Americanism by Fareed Zakaria by clicking here.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Interesting post. The OAS is indeed perceived as the answer for many, specifically as a forum for building trust and overcoming discrepancies among countries in the western hemisphere. A recent example is the bilateral tensions between Colombia and Ecuador. A few days ago, both governments restored diplomatic relations suspended after a Colombian raid on the Ecuadorian side of the border. The media, many analysts and leaders from the region acknowledge the OAS’ mediation efforts to soften the tone between both governments and re-establishing diplomatic ties.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Yes, Id tend to agree. Thank you for your comment!
September 27th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
[…] Leadership, while likely the most media friendly issue and less complicated than the equations needed to understand the Bail Out, has done little to address the true need for proper regulations, the true market effects of the financial industry and creating laws which protect consumers, protect the national reserve and provide that economic decision making should bear consequence on those decision makers in private industry and remove the corporate veil as is the case with many business borrowers and consumers of the financial industry which need those companies to help grow their local economies and communities. As debated by Mr. Obama in last night’s debate, the financial crisis we have to date is the final legacy of the Bush Administration, but while a Bail Out may make this issue last week’s news, the massive amount of borrowing from lenders in cash rich China, Dubai and other wealthy emerging economies in the last eight years and the economic alienation of US allies in the process in places like Europe, Canada and Latin America may take a process of normalization of investment trends from the US to the world into a situation where those new lender countries will be on par with the US immediately. It was though by writers like Zakaria and Khanna that over a course of 15-35 years, the US will become one of many economic superpowers in the globe, but due to poor leadership and a financial industry which has chosen to give the death kneel to the American Empire of the 20th Century, measured predictions by those authors will likely come true before the paperbacks of their recently published books become available. The next President, whoever he is, will likely be a better choice than anyone in the last 20 years, and will spend the better half of the next four years cleaning up America as he bears the responsibility for cleaning up everyone else’s mess. Like the formidable Cristina Kirchner of Argentina, charm can only go so far when you are the caretaker of a crisis from the past. Suffering politically from chaos which she cannot end and did not create, Obama or McCain will inherit one of the worst jobs you can have in the financial industry, the country’s risk bearer. […]
October 5th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
[…] Many other countries in the Americas have been set with their own local issues and have had some support and acknowledgement from the US in positive and negative manners. Mainly the US in the last 8 years have ignored Latin America in The War on Terror, and minimal support and ties with the US have been good for many in the region and their development. Ignoring the Americas, the backyard of the US and important future allies is not an option, as pointed out by Zakaria in his writings and book. A strong Americas will do nothing but help the US reintegrate into the international community if respect and independent policies are supported by the next President of the US and progress of the Americas is valued and not hindered. Reactionist trade policy and calling the opposition George Bush when no coherent discussion is available to win votes in an election is not acceptable on any level. Policy cannot be formed by name calling, and any politician who uses this tactic does nothing but to embarrass themselves and their supporters in a democracy. The Bush era is over, and only working for new opportunities is an acceptable result. […]