Canada's engagement with democracies in the Americas
Introduction Support for democracy in Latin America has been an explicit objective of Canadian foreign policy for at least two decades. Recent developments in the region suggest the need to review the assumptions underpinning Canadian policy, and to critically examine the current strategy of re-engagement. Our goal is to suggest ways in which Canada might contribute to new approaches to supporting democracy in the region, in particular by placing social inclusion more centrally on the policy agenda, especially in its participation in the inter-American system. Canada’s engagement with Latin America, in the past, has been predicated on three interrelated assumptions: that the region was becoming more democratic, that it had embraced open markets, and that, as a result, it was reasonable to expect a more cooperative and pragmatic tone in inter-American affairs. A review of the past two decades suggests that, although democracy remains the preferred system of government, many voters are dissatisfied with the performance of elected governments. The record of progress in reducing poverty and inequality has also been disappointing. Finally, the international politics of the region have become more fraught. In light of these trends, the 2007 proposal for Canadian "re-engagement" with the Americas by the Conservative government offered an opportunity to begin from more realistic premises. While it is unclear what a "third way" means in this context, we suggest that democracy support in the Americas should reflect several key lessons of the past two decades. In particular, we emphasize continued bilateral support and multilateral initiatives in response to requests expressed from the region; and for formal institutional mechanisms that ensure elections are meaningful expressions of the sovereignty of the people, that power is expressed in accordance with the rule of law, and that economic growth and social policies deliver equitable benefits in the diverse states of the Americas.