President Obama and the OAS.

• Author: Shifter, Michael
• Position: AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE - Barack Obama and the Organization of American States

It is no surprise that the new administration of Barack Obama has been getting a lot of advice about how it should approach US policy towards Latin America and the Caribbean in the coming years. There is an enormous sense of opportunity right now, a feeling that the time could be ripe for shaping a more productive relationship between Washington and the region.

Most of the ideas have focused on controversial policy questions of great concern to Latin America. In addition to the usual array of issues-trade, immigration, drugs, and Cuba--there is a great deal of interest in whether or not relationships will change with countries like Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia. How will the new administration tackle this agenda? How should it tackle the agenda? Another very important-and much less frequently asked question--is how President Obama will deal with the inter-American system and, specifically, the Organization of American States. Will the new administration continue to give it ample financial assistance (roughly 60 percent of the total budget) and perfunctory political support? Or will it attempt to reenergize an institution that has been limited in its ability to carry out critical functions? The fact is that it is hard to separate the specific policy challenges in Latin America from those facing the hemisphere's institutional architecture.

Given budgetary pressures and other foreign policy priorities, the Obama administration

is unlikely to give more aid money or even attention to Latin America. But what should be reasonably expected of President Obama is a greater emphasis on multilateral diplomacy. Since he announced his candidacy for the presidency two years ago, Obama has been consistent in talking about the need for genuine consultation with partners in this hemisphere and elsewhere. This kind of consultation also seems to be a central trait embodied in his leadership style.

For reasons of pragmatism as well as principle, Obama would be wise to elevate the importance of the OAS. Any efforts by the new US administration to support democratic governance, the rule of law, or human rights would have little credibility or legitimacy unless it was conducted in concert with other regional governments. On these and other issues, the OAS offers a unique forum and much-needed space to air different perspectives and explore cooperation.

In addition, the technical expertise of the organization has given it an impressive track record for...