Richard Feinberg's Article on Latin America in Brookings
The Cartagena Summit: Positive Voices amidst Rancor
04/20/2012
Richard Feinberg,
Brookings Institution
While the headlines from the recently concluded sixth Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia focused on the deeply divisive issues of Cuba, the Falklands/Malvinas islands, and counter-narcotics strategies, the gathering nevertheless registered some notable progress toward building a genuine community of democratic nations.
Summits these days are not solely meetings among heads of state. In the western hemisphere and elsewhere, they convene representatives from civil society, social movements, and the private sector. The Summit of the Americas specifically has come to resemble an annual association meeting, gathering a wide range of players interested in inter-American relations. Summits are efficient opportunities for personal networking and information gathering, for job-hunting and deal-making, and for advancing policy agendas.
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Richard Feinberg is Professor of International Political Economy and Chair of the Global Leadership Institute at IR/PS. He can comment on U.S. foreign policy matters, notably with regard to Latin America and Asia, and business and economic matters.
