INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PAN AMERICAN

IDEAL

The Pan American Ideal: Overview

Connected with proposals that led to First International Conference of the American States (1889-90)

Tensions between universalism and multilateralism persisted from the beginning

United Nations Charter (Article 51) drafted to accommodate Pan American ideal

Pan American Ideal virtually disappeared in 1960’s

Institutional Development: 1889-

World War II

Commercial Bureau of American Republics grew out of First International Conference of the American States

Fourth Conference (1910) – Named system – Union of American Republics– Bureau becomes Pan American Unions

Broader responsibilities U.S. Secretary of State chair Governing Board

Placing the system on a permanent institutional

basis Special Inter-American Conference on

Problems of War and Peace– Mexico City (1945)

Act of Chapultapec (sanctions to be used against agresor)

– Authorized drafting of three basic integrated documents

Treaty of reciprocal assistance Constitution for a regional organization Treaty to coordinate agreements on pacific

settlements

1947 – Special Inter-American Conference for

the Maintenance of Continental Peace and

Security Rio Treaty adopted (Inter-American

Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance) Created a mutual security regime that

became model for NATO Never had operational military forces

Ninth International Conference of American

States Approved Charter of Organization of

American States (Treaty of Bogota) Went into effect in 1951, although provisions

adhered to almost immediately When OAS Charter was adopted the Union

of American States became the Organization of American States (OAS)

Inter American Treaty on Pacific Settlement

Also adopted at the Ninth International Conference

Intended to order the disparate extant procedures for the peaceful resolutions of inter-American disputes

United States never ratified this treaty

MEMBERSHIP IN THE OAS

1948 - 1962 all independent Latin American States

Castro’s Cuba suspended in 1962

Boundary disputes kept some former British colonies out for some years

OAS STRUCTURE

Council of the OAS– One permanent member from each state– Act provisionally when there is a threat to peace– Oversees IA-ESOSOC– Inter-American Council of Jurists– Inter-American Cultural Council

Specialized Conferences (much autonomy)– Twelve organs deal with technical matters– Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Protocol of Buenos Aires (1967)

Created the General Assembly as the new supreme organ of the OAS– Meets annually– Approves budget– Elects Secretary General

Abolished Inter-American Conference Permanent Council located in

Washington, D.C.

Protocol of Managua 1993 - Approved by General Assembly

of the OAS Provisions:

– Eliminated Inter-American Economic & Social Council &

– Eliminated Inter-American Council on Education, Science & Culture

– Created Inter-American Council for Inter-regional Development (CIDI)

Major Contemporary Concerns of the OAS

Peace and Security merged during the Cold War

Democracy and human rights Economic and Cultural cooperation Drug traffic Environmental protection

Democratic Charter: Adopted 2001

– ** Twenty-Eight Articles - ** A multilateral tool with the central aim of

strengthening and upholding democratic institutions in the nations of the Americas

- ** The Charter, which is binding on all 34 of the currently active OAS member states, spells out what democracy entails and specifies how it should be defended when it is under threat

Peruvian Assault on Democracy a Catalyst

President Fujimori seeks to prolong his authoritarian government

Peru forced to accept democratic renewal Promote and defend democracy New president became advocate for set of

rules for democracy in OAS

Democratic Charter as Reflection of U.S.

Strategic Interests – Washington views liberal democratic regimes as

conducive to maintenance of stability in the region

– Carta Democrática creates consensus on acceptance of democratic culture

– If democratic culture is violated – likelihood of rapid, decisive, multilateral response against uprisings

– Democratic elites in OAS states support each other

Democratic Charter allows U.S. to appear as less

“IMPERIALISTIC”

Washington Committed to multilateral action

U.S. military burden reduced Leftward drift of government of

President Hugo Chavez divides U.S. and Latin American

April 2002 coup United States “Involved?” in

Political Crisis in Venezuela

Policy Consensus behind the Charter Unravels

A game changer in Venezuela? OAS called in after coup when

opposition came to view Carter Center as inclining toward the government

Chavez government becomes hostile to OAS

Opposition to Democratic Charter

Democratic Charter: Trojan Horse?

OAS and the Venezuelan Crisis

Caesar Gaviria: Secretary General of OAS

– Personally oversaw the monitoring of efforts to recall President Chavez

– Former president of Colombia

– Came from kind of political establishment that President Chavez distrusts

OAS and the Venezuelan Crisis

Group of “Friends of Venezuela” formed in Quito as check on the OAS and Carter Center – Spain & Portugal– Mexico, Chile & Brazil– United States

OAS (and Carter Center) certified Chavez victory in the referendum of August 15, 2004)

UN played a minor role

Experience with the Democratic Charter

Leads Latin American States to Explore

Multilateralism without the United States