What Is Pan Americanism?
Pan-Americanism is the ideal of unity among the states of the Americas. Starting with the struggle for independence in Latin America in the early 1800s, the idea was that American nations should support each other in matters of security and sovereignty. While this original idea never took off, a number of Pan-American initiatives still exist today, focusing on trade and fight against drugs.
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Origins
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In the early 1800s, newly acquired independence for Latin American states, followed by the rise of the United States as a major world power, helped gave birth to the idea that this new world of the Western Hemisphere was different from the old world of European monarchies--and that a lot more unites than divides American nations.
Bolivar's Dream
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Venezuelan military and political leader Simon Bolivar is considered the father of Pan-Americanism. His ideal was a political union of American states with the aim of permanent military and political cooperation.
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History
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American states held a number of conferences mainly devoted to common defense and mutual support for each state's sovereignty. The United States saw in Pan-Americanism a chance to assert itself as a major power by establishing hegemony on the new continent. Other nations soon became resentful of the U.S.
Pan-Americanism Today
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After the Cold War, the need for political security in Americas largely disappeared, as did the original Pan-American ideals. At the same time, a number of new Pan-American initiatives and organizations have been established, focusing on issues such as trade, migration and drugs.
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References
Resources
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