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OAS Secretary General Calls for Combating Inequality in the Americas at LASA 2014 Forum

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza called on the countries of the Americas to overcome the obstacles that slow efforts to reduce inequality in the region during his address to the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) in Chicago.

“The task of politics will always be to find the best balance, within the rule of law, between economic growth and the reduction of inequality,” said Secretary General Insulza, who recalled that the central theme of the upcoming OAS General Assembly in Asunción, Paraguay is “Development with Social Inclusion.”

That task, said the OAS leader, has become even more important following the economic development of the region during the last decade, which sparked “a revolution of expectations.” “The possibility that those who escaped poverty with the expectation of a better life might go backwards or simply not continue advancing, creates discontent and can translate into political instability,” warned the Secretary General.

To avoid this, the countries of the Americas must address three obstacles, said the leader of the OAS. The first is the fact that “in many countries of Latin America the ‘winner takes it all’ principle still reigns, without respect for or even consideration of the opinion or the interests of the minorities.” “The second problem,” added the leader of the hemispheric institution,”is the lack of strong institutions and norms of democratic coexistence which affects many of our countries.”

Finally, said the Secretary General, “the third problem that must be overcome is the danger represented by a halt to growth. When a region begins to experience an important growth cycle like that which Latin America is going through, the great question is whether it’s possible to stop its reversal.”

In his conclusion, Secretary General Insulza highlighted that “if the recent history of social coexistence in our Hemisphere shows anything, it’s that notwithstanding periodic crises in one country or another, there is a progressive tendency that portends ever better days.” “Let’s take it as a stimulus to continue working toward a better future for the Americas. One in which the confluence of growth, stability, and democracy is a daily and permanent reality,” he closed.

The presentation by the Secretary General took place in a panel titled, “Democracy in Latin America: Learning from the Past and Envisioning the Future,” and was part of the LASA 2014 Forum, which has as its central theme “Democracy and Memory.” The panel also featured the participation of Evelyne S. Huber, from the University of North Carolina; and Jorge Domínguez, from Harvard University.

The OAS leader will also participate in the panel titled, “Democracy, institutions and Agency: the legacy of Guillermo O’Donnell,” together with Daniel Brinks of the University of Texas, Rossana Castiglioni of Diego Portales University, Charles D. Kenney of the University of Oklahoma, and Timothy Power of Oxford University.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-208/14