Inter-American Dialogue
The Inter-American Dialogue (http://www.thedialogue.org) is the leading U.S. center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs. The Dialogue brings together public and private leaders from across the Americas to address hemispheric problems and opportunities. Together they seek to build cooperation among Western Hemisphere nations and advance a regional agenda of democratic governance, social equity, and economic growth.
In her capacity as Vice President for Democratic Governance at the Dialogue, Marifeli Pérez-Stable directs a number of projects concerned with the analysis and strengthening of democracy in the hemisphere:
The Obama Administration and the Americas:
Agenda for Change
Several of the Inter-American Dialogue’s staff and members contributed to a new Brookings Institution volume, The Obama Administration and the Americas: Agenda for Change, featuring recommendations for how the Obama administration should approach several key countries in the hemisphere. Dialogue vice president for policy Michael Shifter wrote a chapter on Colombia, “Seven Steps to Improve U.S.-Colombia Relations;” vice president for democratic governance Marifeli Pérez-Stable wrote a chapter on Cuba, “Cuba in Transition: The Role of External Actors;” and senior associate for U.S. policy Dan Erikson wrote a chapter on Haiti, “Haiti’s Political Outlook: What the United States Should Do.” In addition, Dialogue member George Gray Molina wrote a chapter on Bolivia, “The United States and Bolivia: Test Case for Change,” and Dialogue co-founder Abe Lowenthal is an editor and wrote an overview chapter, “Renewing Cooperation in the Americas.” The full Table of Contents is available here.
The editors presented the book at a public forum on Wednesday, April 1 at 3:30 p.m. in the Brookings Falk Auditorium and were joined by Mexico’s Ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan.
The Obama Administration and the Americas: Agenda for Change
“This useful volume by a stellar group of experts should be warmly welcomed by the Obama administration as it tries to reset the course of U.S. policy toward the Americas based on mutual respect and convergence of interests.” —Ambassador Thomas Pickering, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, 1997–2001
“Written by scholars and practitioners with a deep understanding of Latin American societies and politics, this excellent book will help craft a more constructive relationship between the region and the United States.”—Fernando Henrique Cardoso, President of Brazil, 1995–2003
WASHINGTON, D.C.—When President Barack Obama makes his regional debut at the fifth Summit of the Americas on April 17, he and the 33 democratically elected leaders of the region will be challenged by a complex agenda and a turbulent economic environment. To navigate through the prevailing headwinds, the United States will need to take a fresh approach, establishing common ground with our increasingly independent and globalized neighbors. The new Brookings Institution Press book The Obama Administration and the Americas: Agenda for Change (April 2009) shows how the United States can improve the quality of attention it devotes to the Americas.
Our neighbors to the south affect the daily lives of U.S. citizens on issues such as energy, narcotics, immigration, trade and jobs. Edited by Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Abraham F. Lowenthal, Brookings Senior Fellow Theodore J. Piccone and University of Oxford Fellow Laurence Whitehead, The Obama Administration and the Americas suggests that the United States should seize an early opportunity to engage Latin America, recognizing the region’s diversity but also its shared concerns and aspirations. While other foreign policy issues may be more pressing, the book argues that the new administration should seek to rebuild inter-American cooperation and to refocus—in a nuanced, patient and sensitive way—on how to promote, strengthen and protect democratic governance in the Americas.
In this timely volume, top experts from Latin America, Europe and the United States consider such tough issues as bolstering fragile political change in Haiti, dealing with a controversial regime in Venezuela, navigating dramatic political change in Bolivia, confronting the breakdown of the rule of law in Mexico, and dealing thoughtfully with the ongoing transition in Cuba, including a proposal to open negotiations on returning the Guantanamo naval base. The contributors offer practical, and in many cases, bold recommendations for President Obama and his team.
The editors will be presenting the book at a public forum on Wednesday, April 1 at 3:30 p.m. in the Brookings Falk Auditorium and will be joined by Mexico’s Ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan.
“This timely, pragmatic volume … is an excellent addition to the reading list for policymakers, analysts, and practitioners alike.” —Thomas “Mack” McLarty, White House Special Envoy for the Americas, 1996–98
“It is finally possible, through frank dialogue, to build a new partnership in the Americas. The authors of this timely book give a promising and hopeful response.”—Ricardo Lagos, President of Chile, 2000–06
The Editors
* Abraham F. Lowenthal is a professor of international relations at the University of Southern California and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. The founding president of the Pacific Council on International Policy, he was also the founding director of the Inter-American Dialogue.
* Theodore J. Piccone is a senior fellow and deputy director for Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution. He serves as an adviser to the Club of Madrid and has served on the National Security Council, at the State Department and in the Pentagon.
* Laurence Whitehead is an official fellow in politics at Nuffield College at the University of Oxford and editor of the Oxford Studies in Democratisation series. He is the author of Latin America: A New Interpretation (Palgrave Macmillan, 2005).
The Obama Administration and the Americas: Agenda for Change
Edited by Abraham F. Lowenthal, Theodore J. Piccone, and Laurence Whitehead
Foreword by Strobe Talbott
Brookings Institution Press
Pub date: April 1, 2009
235 pages
ISBN 978-0-8157-0309-9
$28.95/£20.99
Contributors: Carlos Elizondo (Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas), Daniel P. Erikson (Inter-American Dialogue), Bert Hoffmann (University of Hamburg), Ana Laura Magaloni (Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas), Jennifer McCoy (Georgia Tech University and the Carter Center), George Gray Molina (University of Oxford), Rodrigo Pardo (former foreign minister of Colombia and director of the magazine Cambio), Marifeli Pérez-Stable (Florida International University and Inter-American Dialogue), Michael Shifter (Inter-American Dialogue), Juan Gabriel Valdés (United Nations, formerly), and Daniel Zovatto (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance).
National Dialogues on Democracy
National Dialogues on Democracy in Latin America, co-sponsored by the Organization of American States, is a project consisting of eight two-day national workshops with 25 to 30 top-ranked and well-known political analysts from the public sector, private sector, civil society, media, academia, and clergy. The principal objective of the dialogues is to bring together diverse sectors of analysts to reflect on the quality of democratic consolidation in their countries and to recommend ways to strengthen it. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Mexico are the countries where the workshops will be held.
The participants discuss the condition of democratic governance in their country, the setbacks and advances democracy has registered in recent years, and the major weaknesses and challenges it will confront in the coming period. In addition, they identify the high-priority tasks that need to get done in order to strengthen and deepen democracy, and build the credibility of democratic institutions and leaders. The intended outcome of each dialogue is a set of concrete benchmarks against which to measure progress into the future.
Quickly following each national workshop, the Dialogue issues a report on the country prepared by one of the participants. The findings and recommendations of the country report will be used to promote broader public exchanges on democratic governance and consolidation. In a second phase of the project, a concluding report will be issued that compares and contrasts the problems and progress of democracy in the selected countries.
Guatemala: Ten Years After the Agreements on a Firm and Lasting Peace
Guatemala: Ten Years After the Agreements on a Firm and Lasting Peace recounts the meeting held in Antigua on March 22-24, 2007.
Dominican Republic: Democracy for a Better Life
Dominican Republic: Democracy for a Better Life recounts the meeting held in Juan Dolio on
October 7-9, 2007.
Miami Group on Western Hemisphere Affairs
The Miami Group on Western Hemisphere Affairs has been launched as a forum to bring together Miami’s corporate, financial, civic and academic leaders to discuss the most important issues in hemispheric affairs. The Group will hear from and exchange ideas with top US and Latin American policymakers on a regular basis in order to strengthen Miami’s enormous professional and intellectual resources on Latin America.
Events
Agustín Carstens, Finance Minister of México, November 1, 2007
Henrique Meirelles, Governor of the Central Bank of Brazil, April 4, 2008
Enrique Garcia, President and CEO of the Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF), April 24, 2008
Juan Manuel Santos, Defense Minister of Colombia, July 29, 2008
Michael Shifter, Peter Hakim, Marifeli Pérez-Stable, U.S.-Latin American relations, October 23, 2008
Congressional Testimonies
“With Castro Stepping Down, What’s Next for Cuba and the Western Hemisphere,” Testimony before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, March 5, 2008.
Latin America Advisor
“US, Mexico Must Expand Efforts to Fight Human Trafficking,” February 4, 2009.
“Calderon’s Popularity Hinges on Success of Anti-Drug Effort,” July 28, 2008.
“Cristina Fernandez’s First 100 Days Marked by Turbulence,” April 1, 2008.
“Venezuela, Mexico Need to Reform State Oil Companies,” January 18, 2008.
“After Vote, Costa Rica Turns to Implementation of CAFTA-DR,” November 14, 2007.
“Carlos Slim’s Wealth Comes at Mexico’s Expense,” September 25, 2007.
“Where Does Banco del Sur Fit In?” August 1, 2007.