lasaforum spring 2011 : volume xlii : issue 2 letter to the editor The Obama Initiative by ronald H. CHilCote | University of California, Riverside | [email protected] During 2008–2009 the editors of Latin participants, with papers and presentations Resolution on the Obama Administration American Perspectives (LAP) organized by Greg Grandin, Rafael Hernández, and and Latin America three journal issues in celebration of the Miguel Tinker-Salas. The paper and fiftieth anniversary of the Cuban Revolution resolutions were also the focus of a LAP The Latin American Studies Association (Issues 164, 165, and 166 [Volume 36, 1–3], editors’ meeting in Toronto. (LASA) is the largest professional association January, March, and May 2009). A in the world for individuals and institutions collective position paper evolved through Thus, we took our endeavor seriously and engaged in the study of Latin America and that lengthy process and served to introduce opened our lengthy deliberations to the the Caribbean. With over 6,000 members, our project. It was during this period that LASA membership. LASA President John 45 percent of whom reside outside the Barack Obama became U.S. president after a Coatsworth cooperated with us, and the United States, LASA is the one Association two-year campaign and a landslide election. resolutions were presented with petitions that brings together experts on Latin In late 2009 the editors decided to focus on signed by more than twice the number of America from all disciplines and diverse the first two years of his presidency and, in required endorsers (thirty). The LASA occupational endeavors, across the globe. particular, his administration’s policies on Executive Council (EC) must approve the For decades, LASA members have spoken in Latin America. submission of a resolution to a vote of the defense of democracy and human rights in membership. The resolution on Cuba the Western Hemisphere and in support of Our purpose was to seek a means for submitted by the Cuba Section and the LAP peaceful and respectful relations among expressing a positive and constructive Honduras resolution moved forward with states in the region. position regarding present and future U.S. minor changes, but our resolution on foreign policy in Latin America. A position Obama’s policy for Latin America was, Whereas: as a candidate, Barack Obama paper evolved through five meetings of according to one EC member, voted down promised a new approach to Latin America debate and discussion and through four on the grounds that it was “factually that rejected unilateralism and recognized drafts with the intent of carrying a position inaccurate, lengthy, and ideological.” We the importance of promoting social justice paper to the Latin American Studies wanted it to be accurate and constructive, and reducing inequality; and Association meetings in Toronto (October and we would have been willing to revise it 6–9, 2010). Our position paper (to be in a way that the executive committee could Whereas: in October 2008, leaders and published in the July 2011 issue of LAP) approve it and the membership could vote it members of LASA called on Senator Obama, served as a foundation for resolutions up or down. The EC could have consulted if elected, to reject the U.S. role in imposing prepared for the 2010 Congress. As us, but chose not to do so. We believe that a economic policies that concentrated wealth academics concerned about the role of the mail ballot would have resulted in a very and undermined human welfare and to United States in Latin America, we wanted large majority of LASA members supporting respond with friendship and respect to the to present LASA members with an the resolution, as indeed they subsequently movements of workers, peasants, women opportunity to express their views about approved the Cuba and Honduras and indigenous communities for social U.S. policy in Latin America and to identify resolutions. After the LASA Congress we change; and problems and suggest new policy directions consulted past association presidents Arturo with the hope of improving future relations Arias, John Coatsworth, Carmen Diana Whereas: in April 2009 at the Summit of between the United States and Latin Deere, Susan Eckstein, Marysa Navarro, and the Americas in Trinidad, President Obama America. Helen Safa, and they supported sending the recognized that “Every one of our nations Obama resolution for a vote and agreed that has a right to follow its own path” and At LASA our Obama resolution was debated the text should appear in the LASA Forum. expressed his intention to engage the rest of and improved through a LAP workshop We print the resolution below. the hemisphere on the basis of “mutual attended by some thirty persons, who respect and equality”; and carefully reviewed it and made minor changes. Next, the position paper served as Whereas: although some positive steps a departure point for a “Featured Panel” have been taken, such as the limited presided over by Ronald Chilcote and Sheryl expansion of travel to Cuba, these initiatives Lutjens and attended by several hundred have been relatively minor and are 24 outweighed by policies that continue and 2. The Latin American Studies Association the DREAM act that facilitates higher even expand the undesirable policies of the urges President Obama to accept the Unión education for young adults who arrived as past; and de Naciones Suramericanas’(UNASUR’s) call undocumented children; to establish South America as a zone of Whereas: the embargo of Cuba has not peace; This resolution will be mailed to President been lifted and the U.S. is the only nation in Barack Obama, all members of the U.S. the Americas opposed to readmitting Cuba 3. The Latin American Studies Association House of Representatives and the U.S. to the Organization of American States; and urges President Obama to normalize Senate, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton relations with Cuba, including actively and Assistant Secretary of State for Western Whereas: the militarism of Plan Colombia working to bring about the total lifting of Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela, the and Plan Mérida, the militarization of drug the embargo by Congress; New York Times, Washington Post, and Los policy, and the deployment of the Fourth Angeles Times. Fleet have been reinforced with plans to add 4. The Latin American Studies Association military bases in Latin America and to urges President Obama to actively pursue Presented to the Executive Council by increasingly militarize the U.S.-Mexico friendly relations with Bolivia, including seventy-two members of the Latin American border; and ending the ban on importing Bolivian Studies Association. textiles; Whereas: the Obama administration has [Professor Chilcote is managing editor continued the George W. Bush 5. The Latin American Studies Association of the bimonthly journal Latin American administration’s divisive and urges President Obama to actively pursue Perspectives] n counterproductive hostility toward friendly relations with Venezuela and to end progressive governments in Latin America, U.S. support for groups or entities that seek particularly toward Venezuela and Bolivia, to destabilize the Venezuelan government; but failed to defend democracy in Honduras, condoning the coup, and has deepened ties 6. The Latin American Studies Association to Colombia with its appalling record of urges President Obama to base U.S. policy human rights abuses; and toward Colombia on the reduction of human rights abuses and violence against Whereas: the Obama administration has the civilian population by the security and failed to address the causes of paramilitary forces; undocumented immigration, including the role of U.S. trade and economic policies, and 7. The Latin American Studies Association has disregarded the harmful consequences of urges President Obama to formulate new deporting more undocumented immigrants trade and development policies and than the Bush administration; now therefore programs that increase the opportunities for let it be Latin Americans to live a dignified life in their own countries and that incorporate Resolved: greater freedom of movement of labor in conditions that respect the rights of 1. The Latin American Studies Association immigrant workers; urges President Obama to reduce, rather than increase, the U.S. military presence in 8. The Latin American Studies Association Latin America and to reverse the urges President Obama to cease deportation militarization of U.S. regional and border of undocumented immigrants who have no policies; criminal charges against them until such time as comprehensive immigration reform is enacted and to fully support enactment of 25.