The OAS in Perspective

Since 1824, the newly independent Latin American states continuously tried to advance regional integration projects while constantly and simultaneously reaffirming their own independence from Europe, and the right to define the kind of state that they would become. These projects revolved around Pan-American Conferences that promoted principles that would allow for the eventual achievement of a regional scheme. All through the nineteenth and the first part of the twentieth century; these series of conferences, treaties, doctrines and international law principles, meant to rally states in the Western Hemisphere to joint efforts and advance either common economic interest; enforce collective security and peaceful resolution of disputes; or develop a common social agenda that would allow for the development of a common Pan-American society of states. The successive Pan-American conferences tried and failed to rally multilateral support and advance a regional cooperation framework around either economic, security or social principles, due to the lack of consensus around any of these set of norms. Neither mechanisms such as 1) treaties and doctrines to advance the peaceful resolution of disputes between states; 2) the support for a customs union; or 3) the promotion of the traditional principles of respect for the right of self determination and sovereignty; successfully generated a common set of normative principles that could motivate elites in positions of authority to promote multilateralism.