Pan-Americanism: A United Americas Dream

Pan-Americanism is a movement that seeks to create, encourage, and organize relationships, an association (a Union), and cooperation among the states of the Americas, through diplomatic, political, economic, and social means. The first Pan-American conference was held in 1889 in Washington, DC, to encourage inter-American trade as well as the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region. The idea of Pan-Americanism can be traced back to Simón Bolívar, who proposed that Spain's former colonies secure their independence with a pan-American federation. The movement has evolved over the years, with the establishment of the Pan-American Union in 1910 and the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1948, and has been a cornerstone of presidential policy in the US.

The Monroe Doctrine

Pan-Americanism is a movement that seeks to encourage and strengthen relationships, cooperation, and association among the states of the Americas through diplomatic, political, economic, and social means. The struggle for independence by the nations of Hispanic America after 1810 evoked a sense of unity, especially in South America, where there were cooperative efforts under Simón Bolívar in the north and José de San Martín in the south.

In the 1800s, Pan-Americanism existed in the form of a series of Inter-American Conferences—Panama (1826), Lima (1847), Santiago (1856), and Lima (1864). These meetings aimed to provide a common defence for American nations. The first of the modern Pan-American Conferences was held in Washington, D.C., in 1889–1890, resulting in the establishment of the Pan-American Union (initially called the Commercial Bureau of the American Republics).

Despite the Monroe Doctrine's original declaration of U.S. opposition to new European expansion in the Americas, the United States used its influence to promote its strategic interests in the region. The Doctrine was invoked multiple times throughout the 1800s to increase U.S. influence, including during the annexation of Texas (1845) and the Mexican-U.S. War (1845–1848). In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt added the Roosevelt Corollary to the Doctrine, stating that it was the obligation of the United States to intervene in Latin America to prevent European action if Latin American countries demonstrated "bad behaviour".

U.S. diplomats also pursued a contrasting policy of Pan-Americanism, promoting national sovereignty, continental cooperation, and integration. These conflicting foreign policy objectives created intense discourse among U.S. and Latin American leaders regarding anti-interventionist policies and doctrines. While U.S. diplomats pushed for further integration and unification of the American continents, the U.S. government resisted attempts to enshrine the Monroe Doctrine and its Corollary in international law, instead favouring American exceptionalism and continued intervention in Latin America to protect U.S. interests.

Simón Bolívar's influence

Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader who played a crucial role in Latin America's struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire in the early 19th century. He is revered as a hero across Latin America for his leadership and contributions to the region's independence and unity. Bolívar's influence on Pan-Americanism is significant and can be observed in the following ways:

Proposal for a Pan-American Federation

Sixty-five years before the formation of the Pan American Union in 1890, Simón Bolívar proposed the idea of a pan-American federation. He envisioned that the former colonies of Spain in the Americas should secure their independence and form a unified federation. Bolívar's plan, however, did not come to fruition as the former Spanish colonies became divided into twenty sovereign nations, each with its own political and economic interests. Despite this, Bolívar's proposal laid the groundwork for the concept of Pan-Americanism and the pursuit of greater cooperation among the nations of the Americas.

Inspiration for Early Pan-American Conferences

The early 19th-century struggle for independence in Hispanic America, led by figures such as Simón Bolívar, evoked a sense of unity, especially in South America. This unity and cooperative spirit inspired the convening of early Pan-American conferences, such as the one held in Panama in 1826, known as the "Congreso Anfictiónico de Panamá." These conferences aimed to foster collaboration and collective defense among the newly independent nations of the Americas.

Influence on Latin American Unity and Identity

Simón Bolívar's efforts and successes in achieving independence for several Latin American countries contributed to a sense of shared history and identity in the region. Bolívar's vision of a unified Latin America, free from colonial rule, inspired future generations of Latin American leaders and intellectuals. This shared history and identity became a basis for further Pan-American cooperation and the pursuit of common goals, such as promoting cultural exchange, protecting sovereign rights, and fostering economic development.

Shaping the Principles of Pan-Americanism

The ideals and principles advocated by Simón Bolívar, including independence, unity, and cooperation, became fundamental tenets of Pan-Americanism. Bolívar's belief in the importance of collective action and mutual support among the nations of the Americas influenced the development of Pan-Americanism as a political movement. His ideas influenced the formulation of policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening relations, promoting cultural exchange, and addressing shared challenges among the countries of the Americas.

Symbol of Resistance and Liberation

Simón Bolívar is widely celebrated as a symbol of resistance against colonial oppression and a champion of liberation across Latin America. His military campaigns and victories against the Spanish Empire inspired other nations in their struggles for independence. This shared history of resistance and liberation fostered a sense of solidarity among Latin American countries, which became a driving force for Pan-Americanism. It encouraged nations to work together, support each other's sovereignty, and promote regional cooperation.

In summary, Simón Bolívar's influence on Pan-Americanism is profound and enduring. His proposals for a unified federation, his leadership in the fight for independence, and his vision of a cooperative and sovereign Latin America laid the ideological foundations for Pan-Americanism. Bolívar's legacy continues to inspire efforts to strengthen relations, promote cultural exchange, and foster a sense of shared identity among the nations of the Americas.

Inter-American Conferences

The Inter-American Conferences were a series of meetings held between 1826 and 1889 to discuss problems of common defence and juridical matters among the independent states of the Western Hemisphere. These conferences were an important expression of Pan-Americanism, a movement that sought to encourage cooperation among the states of the Americas through diplomatic, political, economic, and social means.

The first of these conferences was the Congreso Anfictiónico de Panamá, organised by Simón Bolívar in 1826. This was followed by the Congreso de Lima in 1847, the Congreso de Santiago in 1856, and another Congreso de Lima in 1864. The primary objective of these meetings was to provide for a common defence.

The first of the modern Pan-American Conferences was held in Washington, DC, from 1889 to 1890, with all nations represented except the Dominican Republic. This conference established the International Union of American Republics (later called the Pan-American Union), with its headquarters in Washington, DC. Treaties for arbitration of disputes and adjustment of tariffs were adopted, and the Commercial Bureau of the American Republics was established, which later became the Pan-American Union.

Subsequent Inter-American Conferences were held in various South American cities, including Mexico City in 1901-02, Rio de Janeiro in 1906, Buenos Aires in 1910, Baltimore, Maryland, in 1922, and Santiago, Chile, in 1923. These conferences dealt with matters of common concern, such as arbitration of financial and territorial claims, extradition of criminals, codification of international law, copyrights, patents, trademarks, and the status of aliens and diplomatic personnel.

The Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace, held in Buenos Aires in 1936 at the request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, adopted a draft treaty for the peaceful resolution of conflicts between American states. Further conferences were held in Lima in 1938, Chapultepec in Mexico City in 1945, and Quitandinha, Brazil, in 1947, which considered the problems of hemispheric defence, reciprocal assistance, and solidarity.

The Ninth International Conference of American States, held in Bogotá in 1948 and led by the United States, reconstituted the Pan-American organisation as the Organization of American States (OAS). This conference adopted the Charter of the Organization of American States, the American Treaty on Pacific Settlement ("Pact of Bogotá"), and the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man.

The Pan-American Union

The idea of an international union in the Americas was first proposed by José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar at the 1826 Congress of Panama, which was still part of Colombia at the time. They envisioned a league of American republics with a common military, a mutual defence pact, and a supranational parliamentary assembly. However, Bolívar's dream was short-lived due to civil war in Gran Colombia, the disintegration of Central America, and the emergence of nationalistic sentiments in the newly independent American republics.

The concept of regional solidarity and cooperation resurfaced in 1889-1890 at the First International Conference of American States, held in Washington, D.C. Eighteen nations participated in this conference, agreeing to establish the International Union of American Republics, along with a permanent secretariat named the Commercial Bureau of the American Republics. This secretariat was later renamed the International Commercial Bureau at the Second International Conference in 1901-1902.

In 1948, the Pan-American Union underwent a transformation and was reconstituted as the Organization of American States (OAS). This change signaled a shift from cultural interaction to a stronger focus on military and police cooperation. The OAS continues to function as an important international organization, promoting cooperation and addressing shared challenges in the Western Hemisphere.

The Good Neighbor Policy

Pan-Americanism is a movement that seeks to create, encourage, and organize relationships, cooperation, and unity among the states of the Americas through diplomatic, political, economic, and social means. In the 20th century, US President Franklin Roosevelt embraced a robust formulation of Pan-Americanism through the establishment of the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs and his Good Neighbor Policy.

President Roosevelt, in his inaugural address on March 4, 1933, stated:

> In the field of world policy, I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor—the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others, the neighbor who respects his obligations and respects the sanctity of his agreements in and with a World of neighbors.

Roosevelt's Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, affirmed this position at the Montevideo Conference of American States in December 1933, stating:

> No country has the right to intervene in the internal or external affairs of another.

To accomplish this, Roosevelt established the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs (OCIAA) in August 1940, with Nelson Rockefeller at its head. The OCIAA was essentially a propaganda tool used to define Latin American society as perceived by the United States. One division within the OCIAA, the Motion Picture Division, was headed by John Hay Whitney. Whitney believed in the power of Hollywood films to win the hearts and minds of Latin Americans and convince Americans of the benefits of Pan-American friendship. He urged film studios to hire Latin Americans and produce movies that placed Latin America in a favorable light, while refraining from perpetuating negative stereotypes.

Similarly, in 1941, William S. Paley and Edmund A. Chester at CBS Radio collaborated with the OCIAA to create the "La Cadena de las Américas" (Network of the Americas) radio network. This network broadcast news and cultural programs that reflected Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy and Pan-Americanism throughout Latin America during World War II.

By the end of World War II, Latin America was the region of the world most supportive of American foreign policy. However, with the onset of the Cold War in 1945, the Good Neighbor Policy ended as the United States felt a greater need to protect the Western Hemisphere from Soviet influence. This shift conflicted with the Good Neighbor Policy's fundamental principle of non-intervention and led to renewed US involvement in Latin American affairs.

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