CSIS and Inter-American Dialogue Panel Discussion: “Challenges to Democracy in the Americas: The Role of the Inter-American Democratic Charter”
May 24, 2007| Printer Friendly
Event Summary by CCD correspondent Daniel Hollingsworth

The Center for Strategic and International Studies partnered with the Inter-American Dialogue to present a panel discussion on “Challenges to Democracy in the Americas: The Role of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.”  The panel consisted of José Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the Organization of American States; Thomas Shannon, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; and Barry Lowenkron, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

Secretary General Insulza began the discussion with an assessment of the purpose and effectiveness of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.  He called the Charter the most important piece of legislation in the inter-American political dialogue.  The Charter’s major contribution is to take a clear stand on the definition of democracy.  This comprehensive definition includes the importance of elections to representative democracy, citizen participation, freedoms of expression and of the press, rule of law, human rights, separation of powers, and transparency.  However, he emphasized that this document is a charter, not a treaty, and the contradiction between the promotion of democracy and national sovereignty has not been resolved.  While the Charter allows the OAS to assist in countries where democracy is being threatened, there are no clear rules for what constitutes this threat.  Additionally, requests for assistance must be made by the government of a member state, either the government of the state in which assistance is needed or another member government.  Mr. Insulza argued that the Charter could be made more effective by interpreting the definition of government to include all branches of government, not just the executive branch, providing a check on an executive branch that moves to curtail democracy.

Assistant Secretary Shannon next focused on the role of civil society in the promotion and consolidation of democracy.  He said that the primary purpose of the Charter is to provide a common understanding of democratic principles, allowing civil society to protect its own democratic rights.  In this sense, the Charter is a tool of education, not a punitive tool.  He called for an expansion of this principle, citing the lack of an internal dialogue in the western hemisphere between NGOs and civil society regarding best practices in the promotion of democracy.  He added that this dialogue should seek to promote a greater sense that the erosion of democracy in one country is of concern to all the countries in the region.

Assistant Secretary Lowenkron began his remarks with the reminder that democracy promotion is a global concern, and that it does not come with a “Made in America” stamp.  Democracy has come to be almost universally accepted as a worthy objective, so the issue is not whether to promote democracy, but how.  He highlighted how the Charter defines democracy as a right, and that the Charter stresses accountability when these democratic rights are denied.  He too focused on the role of civil society in the promotion of democracy, saying that civil society and NGOs can “shine a spotlight” on the denial of democratic rights.  He urged that the Charter be considered as a floor from which democracy should be expanded, not a ceiling.