The Promise of Multilateralism in Latin America

Organized by the Latin America Interest Group

From Simon Bolivar’s 1826 Congress of Panama to the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, multilateralism has always been front and center in the history of Latin America. But is it thriving or declining today? What can it help achieve, and what obstacles is it posing? This session will explore the past, present and future of multilateralism in the region, including an assessment of multilateral institutions and groups in resolving crises in the region. Have they been successful (e.g., in Venezuela, Haiti or Nicaragua)? How should success be measured? Are the institutions that aim to promote economic integration and trade (e.g. Mercosur, Pacific Alliance) in ascendancy or decline? What is the record and promise of specialized institutions (e.g. the SIEPAC focusing on the electricity grid in Central America, or the Inter-American Development Bank)? Do ad hoc groups, like the Lima Group, hold more power and promise than formal institutions like the OAS? Are the existing institutions suited to address challenges such as migration, climate change, or trans-border criminal activities? Should new institutions, such as a regional criminal court, be created? What should be the role of these institutions with regard to corruption, a particularly “hot” topic in the region?

FEATURING
Karen Alter, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Michael Camilleri, Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program, Inter-American Dialogue
Mariana Durney, Catholic University of Chile
Jorge Kamine, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Cesar Coronel Ortega, Coronel & Pérez (Moderator)

(Speaker organizations are shown as of June 2020)

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