American Regionalism and the United Nations

Abstract

American regionalism has phases through history which must be considered in relation to the United Nations. The Monroe Doctrine was first a unilateral policy of the United States to protect the American continent from European encroachment. Simón Bolivar, the leader of Latin-American independence, tried to form a loose federation of American States. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, there was held an Inter-American Congress, which institutionalized American regionalism by setting up the Pan-American Union. Thereafter, the concept of American regionalism was distorted into becoming a policy of unilateral enforcement by the United States, under the leadership of President Wilson, which continued until the Good Neighbor policy was initiated by President F. D. Roosevelt. For the first time, the policy of the United States, guided by Sumner Welles, made an effort to establish regionalism on the basis of equal partnership. As a result, Latin America, together with the United States, maintained, within the Charter of the United Nations, the principle of regionalism, despite opposition. In conclusion, regionalism is vital to achieving the more united world inevitable in view of the thrust of technological progress and an ever increasing world population.