South American Defense Council: What it Means for Regional Security?

The South American Defense Council (CSD), created in March 2009 as a military coordinating body of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) demonstrates a growing trend among Latin American countries to approach matters of regional security independent of the United States. The CSD also indicates a maturation of democratic civil military relations in a region once dominated by authoritarian military regimes. The CSD aims to facilitate the exchange of information about regional defense policies, promote collaboration for disaster relief, and promote civil-military engagement. In less than a year it is hardly a tested entity, but the presence of 12 South American states coming together around security policy marks an important moment in the evolution of civil-military relations in the region. Brazil has taken on an important leadership role in the CSD, acting as a leader in recent regional peacekeeping efforts. As a geopolitical move, Brazil also sees a benefit in promoting good relationships with all countries of South america, given its common border with nine of them. Although the United States is not a member of the CSD, the organization\u27s agenda of infromation exchange of defense policies, military cooperation, and capacity building, including disaster assistance and preparedness provide opportunities for greater collaboration. The CSD is not part of the Inter-American System created after the Second World War. It is unclear how its work will coincide with the OAS Committee on Hemispheric Security or its Secretariat for Multidimensional Security. The U.S. should view the CSD as a mechanism to promote joint initiatives that encourage democratic governance in the region

¿Podrá salvar la reforma a la ONU? Oportunidades para la creación de un organismo multilateral eficaz para el siglo XXI

Se ha escrito profusamente sobre el tema de la reforma de la ONU. Este artículo intenta ampliar la documentación al respecto situando el proceso de dicha reforma en el contexto de los acontecimientos actuales. En concreto, se pregunta si el modo en el que la ONU abordó la guerra en Irak era un indicio de la incapacidad futura de negociar con EEUU en el foro mundial, o si el episodio simplemente se reduce a una situación excepcional que no implica necesariamente que el Consejo de Seguridad sea ineficaz. Aunque no me ocuparé de los detalles específicos de las acciones de la ONU con respecto a Irak, sí que debatiré de qué modo la agenda de la actual reforma ha estado dominada por la división creada por la falta de acción por parte del Consejo de Seguridad a la hora de sancionar una guerra. También examino de qué modo los actuales planes de reforma pueden dar lugar bien a una institución revigorizada, bien a una cuyo papel se limite a aquellas situaciones que EEUU y sus aliados consideren que está preparada para abordar

Taiwan-China Balancing Act in Latin America

This ARI reviews the current state of the Taiwan-China relationship in light of the current challenges Taiwan faces in keeping its Latin American allies loyal. More opportunities for shifting alliances now exist, especially given the current global economic meltdown which has had an impact on both China and Taiwan’s ability to sustain its assistance to many Latin American states. Taiwan-China relations in Latin America are at a crossroads. This paper starts with an overview of Taipei’s struggle to ensure the support of its Latin American allies, in face of a fast growing and increasingly appealing Beijing. It then focuses on two case studies, St Lucia and Costa Rica, which have recently switched allegiance. St. Lucia has flipped back and forth; while Costa Rica ended a 63-year relationship with Taiwan in June 2007 and recognised the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Whether other countries follow suit is unclear. However, the risk of a domino effect favouring Beijing is real, as underscored by recent developments in Panama, Haiti, Nicaragua and Paraguay. It seems that economic concerns are shaping Latin American governments’ reactions to Taiwan and China’s struggle for sovereignty. As the PRC’s trade and investment pull increases and Taiwan’s declines, it seems that Taipei is set to lose one of its last strongholds

A face democrática: a falência da assistência ao desenvolvimento e as reformas na área de segurança

This article discusses how the reform of the defense section is essential for completing the transition processes of political regimes dominated by military to democratic regimes. The reform of the defense section is defended as a condition to establish a good governability, guaranteeing the bases not just for the political development, but mainly for the economic and social, of countries that have faced the violence of conflicts and/or política/regimes of force.Neste artigo, discute-se como a reforma do setor de defesa é es­sencial para completar os processos de transição de regimes políticos domi­nados por militares para regimes democráticos. Além disso, defende que a reforma desse setor é condição para estabelecer a boa governabilidade, garantindo as bases para o desenvolvimento não apenas político, mas princi­palmente econômico e social de países que enfrentaram a violência de confli­tos e/ou regimes políticos de força