The Inter-American Dilemma - by L Ronald Scheman (Hardcover)

About the Book

This timely volume critically examines the inter-American system--its problems and its potential. Focusing on the Organization of American States (OAS), the author assesses the system's realities, describes its successes and failures, and discusses the lessons it holds for the entire global system of international organization. The author argues that federalism and decentralization are vital to the structure of our global networks and that the inter-American system is one of the important models to make it work. Although the OAS has for years been the cornerstone of the inter-American system, the author demonstrates how this agency has become, on the operational level, unmanageable and unresponsive to the real interest of the member nations. On the political level, Scheman describes how the distinct and largely incompatible interests of the Caribbean and South American nations will lead to a different kind of hemispheric system in the coming century.

Book Synopsis

This timely volume critically examines the inter-American system--its problems and its potential. Focusing on the Organization of American States (OAS), the author assesses the system's realities, describes its successes and failures, and discusses the lessons it holds for the entire global system of international organization. The author argues that federalism and decentralization are vital to the structure of our global networks and that the inter-American system is one of the important models to make it work. Although the OAS has for years been the cornerstone of the inter-American system, the author demonstrates how this agency has become, on the operational level, unmanageable and unresponsive to the real interest of the member nations. On the political level, Scheman describes how the distinct and largely incompatible interests of the Caribbean and South American nations will lead to a different kind of hemispheric system in the coming century.

Review Quotes

"The appearance of this book is a most important event because it is the first one on this neglected subject to be published in the U.S. in almost a decade and the author, a leading expert on the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American System (IAS) as long-time observer and practitioner (he was OAS Assistant Secretary of Management for eight years), has made a significant contribution to understanding the strengths and weaknesses--and potential--of the OAS, and what is required to revitalize the OAS and the IAS. L. Ronald Scheman presents an astute and realistic assessment and then makes his case in a cogent, convincing and thoughtful manner in this well-documented study. . . . He sets the stage for his study in an excellent Overview: Paralysis at the End of the [IAS's] First Century, ' which is followed by chapters on: 2. The OAS and the Quest for [IA] Cooperation, ' 3. Peace and Security, ' 4. Human Resource Development . . ., ' 5. Administering International Cooperation: A Case Study of Institutional Reform in the OAS, ' 6. The OAS and the UN: Regionalism Reconsidered, ' and 7. The [IAS's] Second Century.' The longest chapter is number 3 and the most original, fascinating and informative is number 5. In chapter 3, he properly examines the problem of the different national interests demonstrated by the impact of U.S. intervention and role during the Falkland/Malvinas war. There is a most interesting discussion of the expanding roles of the Inter-American Peace Committee (and the reasons for its decline) and Human Rights Committee. What makes chapter 5 so interesting is because Scheman was an active participant in the reform process and, therefore, presents aninsider's view. He presents a detailed examination of the challenges and problems, many of them bureaucratic and involving personnel, concerned in modernizing and professionalizing the OAS Secretariat. . . . This book is an invaluable contribution and deserves serious consideration by diplomats, foreign ministries, international civil servants, scholars, teachers and students. In fact, this study should serve as a catalyst for reassessing and then improving the effectiveness of international organizations, both regional and global. There is a good bibliography and index, and some excellent tables (one of the most interesting is Table 2.5 Ratio of Direct Services Received vis-a-vis Quotas/Contributions' )."-Inter-American Review of Bibliography

?The appearance of this book is a most important event because it is the first one on this neglected subject to be published in the U.S. in almost a decade and the author, a leading expert on the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American System (IAS) as long-time observer and practitioner (he was OAS Assistant Secretary of Management for eight years), has made a significant contribution to understanding the strengths and weaknesses--and potential--of the OAS, and what is required to revitalize the OAS and the IAS. L. Ronald Scheman presents an astute and realistic assessment and then makes his case in a cogent, convincing and thoughtful manner in this well-documented study. . . . He sets the stage for his study in an excellent Overview: Paralysis at the End of the [IAS's] First Century, ' which is followed by chapters on: 2. The OAS and the Quest for [IA] Cooperation, ' 3. Peace and Security, ' 4. Human Resource Development . . ., ' 5. Administering International Cooperation: A Case Study of Institutional Reform in the OAS, ' 6. The OAS and the UN: Regionalism Reconsidered, ' and 7. The [IAS's] Second Century.' The longest chapter is number 3 and the most original, fascinating and informative is number 5. In chapter 3, he properly examines the problem of the different national interests demonstrated by the impact of U.S. intervention and role during the Falkland/Malvinas war. There is a most interesting discussion of the expanding roles of the Inter-American Peace Committee (and the reasons for its decline) and Human Rights Committee. What makes chapter 5 so interesting is because Scheman was an active participant in the reform process and, therefore, presents aninsider's view. He presents a detailed examination of the challenges and problems, many of them bureaucratic and involving personnel, concerned in modernizing and professionalizing the OAS Secretariat. . . . This book is an invaluable contribution and deserves serious consideration by diplomats, foreign ministries, international civil servants, scholars, teachers and students. In fact, this study should serve as a catalyst for reassessing and then improving the effectiveness of international organizations, both regional and global. There is a good bibliography and index, and some excellent tables (one of the most interesting is Table 2.5 Ratio of Direct Services Received vis-a-vis Quotas/Contributions' ).?-Inter-American Review of Bibliography

About the Author

L. RONALD SCHEMAN is former Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Studies of the Americas and has also served as Assistant Secretary for Management of the Organization of American Studies.