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In light of the current global economic crisis, Hugo Chávez and his populist acolytes across Latin America have been quick to blame U.S. economic policies for their suffering. Notwithstanding, America’s belief in free markets and free trade is no longer just a Washington consensus -- it is a global consensus. As a new U.S. president takes office this January, he will likely look to engage Latin America economically and pursue partnerships across the region. But leaders from this region may be shrewd to reciprocate with commitments to free people and free markets; governance and institutional reform; and, most important, security. Join us as José R. Cárdenas from the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau of the U.S. Agency for International Development; Peter DeShazo of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; John Maisto of the U.S. Education Finance Corporation and former senior Foreign Service officer and ambassador to the Organization of American States; and Ray Walser of the Heritage Foundation discuss how Latin American countries must take responsibility for their future economic and political progress. AEI’s Roger F. Noriega will moderate.
| 12:45 p.m. | Registration | |
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| 1:00 | Panelists: | José R. Cárdenas, U.S. Agency for International Development |
| | | Peter DeShazo, Center for Strategic and International Studies |
| | | John Maisto, U.S. Education Finance Corporation |
| | | Ray Walser, Heritage Foundation |
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| | Moderator: | Roger F. Noriega, AEI |
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| 2:30 | Adjournment | |
United States Should Focus on Building Partnerships, Promoting Education in Latin America
WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 16, 2008--In spite of the current economic crisis, "nothing that has happened fundamentally alters the proposition that free markets and free societies continue to offer the last, best hope for improving the lives of millions around the world," said José R. Cárdenas, acting assistant administrator in the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau of the U.S. Agency for International Development, at an AEI conference on October 15.
While demagogues such as Hugo Chávez of Venezuela continue to "drown out serious discussion through noisy rhetoric," Cárdenas added, the United States must focus on building political and economic partnerships in Latin America during the coming years. Leaders in the region must reciprocate with their own commitments to reform. In addition to free markets and free people, he continued, governments must focus on developing "strong civil societies and effective democratic institutions" to support these markets. They also must not waver on free trade, and they must ensure the security of their own people.
Other panelists recommended that U.S. policy in Latin America focus on, among other things, educational improvement. Ambassador John Maisto, director at the U.S. Education Finance Corporation, noted that Latin America is "no longer our backyard, but our neighborhood." This is not a time for America to "dictate" its policies to the region. Instead, Maisto envisioned the next U.S. president as "the education president of the Americas," demonstrating "unprecedented interest in putting resources into education programs, academic partnerships, and degrees for Latin American students in the U.S." In fact, some of the closest U.S. allies in the region--Colombian president Álvaro Uribe, Chilean foreign minister Alejandro Foxley, and Mexican president Felipe Calderón of Mexico--were educated at American universities.
Peter DeShazo of the Center for Strategic and International Studies reiterated the importance of education, noting that "people don't rise out of the working class in Latin America--not because of lack of access, but because of the poor quality of education." Indeed, a better educated Latin America is in the strategic interest of the United States, DeShazo said. It will have a more innovative and productive workforce and will be less easily swayed by the populism of the region's demagogues.
But the United States cannot assume that our partnerships and alliances with Latin America will simply arise on their own, the Heritage Foundation's Ray Walser noted. "The battle of ideas should be at the forefront" of our country's policy for the region. We must "maintain the high road, stand by our friends, and make our brand work," he added.
--APOORVA SHAH
For video, audio, and event information, visit www.aei.org/event1820/.
Roger F. Noriega authored a Latin American Outlook on what the next president's Latin American priorities should be.
For media inquiries, contact Véronique Rodman at 202.862.4870 or vrodman@aei.org.
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