The dialogue between countries on our continent is in a critical situation. Just look at the last Summit of the Americas, which was attended by the fewest countries and heads of state since such meetings began in the 1990s.
Not only that, the speeches delivered on that occasion showed that the representatives of each country were more concerned with addressing their own citizens than with forging a continental discourse. This fragmentation was also seen in the multiplicity of topics addressed, without a clear axis.
The lack of articulation is paradoxical if we consider that, as a region, we face common problems. The deterioration of the quality of life of large sectors, the reduced opportunities for women, indigenous and Afro-descendants, the erosion of democratic institutions, the vulnerability of migrants fleeing violence or in search of better economic conditions, and the negative cross-border effects of natural disasters or environmental degradation are challenges that require concerted responses. As the pandemic made clear, appealing to "every man for himself" will only increase the negative consequences.
In the face of continental paralysis, three Latin American universities, El Colegio de México, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella and Universidad de los Andes, took the initiative to work in a collaborative effort that culminated in the publication of the report "(Co)constructing a strategic agenda for the Americas."
We start from three fundamental premises. The first is the need to build a common agenda focused on a limited number of issues to prevent the discussion from becoming a dialogue of the deaf.
The second is that Inter-American dialogue cannot be limited to governments alone, but must also include academics, activists, civil society organizations, businessmen, and other key actors. The third is the importance of articulating the proposals from Latin America in order to redirect and rebalance the dialogue with the most powerful country on the continent.
In the report we outline a concrete agenda around three priority themes: reducing inequalities, addressing migration and combating the negative effects of climate change. These issues are not only interrelated, so they must be addressed together: their attention will generate positive effects in other areas, such as, for example, the reduction of violence affecting the continent.
Inequalities must be thought of in the plural, considering that income and wealth gaps intersect with other disparities based on gender, race, religion, and urban or rural status. These inequalities are historical, cumulative and feed each other in a harmful way, but as a result of the pandemic they have worsened, rolling back the advances achieved in previous decades.
Currently, women face more difficulties in accessing the labour market and a greater burden of unpaid care work and domestic chores. Reducing these disparities is not only a social justice imperative, but would generate positive economic effects.
Several studies suggest that if the hours invested in care were paid or could be used for productive activities, the economies of Latin American countries could grow between 15 and 20%.
Migrations have become more dynamic and complex than ever. Not only because of the growing number of people moving around the continent, but also because of the emergence of new routes, the change in the profile of those who migrate (previously mainly young men and today more families and unaccompanied children), and the way of traveling (for example, in caravans).
In addition, many countries in the south of the continent have begun to receive waves of migrants, a situation that had not been experienced in the past. This has generated diverse responses such as the militarization of borders and the increase in xenophobia that coexist with temporary regularization efforts.
On the other hand, migrants face increasing dangers on the routes they travel and, in many cases, end up being victims of sexual, labor and organized crime exploitation.
The effects of climate change are becoming clearer in the Americas. The frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, hurricanes and cold waves have a direct impact on the majority of the region's population. However, the Americas also have valuable resources to lead the energy transition and become a leading region in the adoption of renewable and clean energy.
To strengthen dialogue and achieve the necessary agreements, it is essential to consider the spaces that allow them to be promoted. In this regard, it is important to take advantage of the existing institutional framework at the Summit of the Americas, even if significant reforms are required to adapt it to current challenges. One of the crucial issues to be addressed was membership, as insisting on the position that invitations depended exclusively on the host country could lead to exclusions, loss of relevance and representativeness.
Professors of International Relations at El Colegio de México
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