Beyond the Arctic: Latin America

John R. Hamilton lecturing at UAF on Feb. 11

Why would America’s arctic university host a guest lecturer who is a former ambassador to Guatemala and Peru?

“We’re not just arctic,” explained Mike Sfraga, director of the UA Geography program, at a Feb. 11 event where former US ambassador John R. Hamilton discussed US-Latin American relations. “UAF does arctic very well,” Sfraga said, “but there are broader issues and other factors that impact our lives.”

In his introduction, Hamilton demonstrated how small the world is by describing how, on the day of the Fairbanks lecture, a friend in Guatemala e-mailed him a story about Hamilton from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

“The beginning of a new presidential administration is an exciting time in international affairs,” Hamilton said. The Obama administration reminds him somewhat of the John F. Kennedy administration. “There is hope and expectation in Latin America,” he said. “But let’s face it; Latin America is not going to be at the top of the new administration’s list.”

Hamilton said US relations with Latin America are in better shape than is shown in the mainstream media. “We have good relations with Brazil and Mexico and bilateral agreements with many countries.”

Immigration, trade, imported oil, investments, and illegal drugs all point to the importance of being on good terms with Latin America, Hamilton said. Among the US’s obligations are to support fair elections, respect human rights, and strengthen the press in Latin America, he added.

Hamilton advised the audience to observe:
• the Feb. 15 election in Venezuela
• Hugo Chavez’s domestic policies in Venezuela where inflation is at least 30 percent
• the exodus of Jewish citizens from Latin America due to anti-Semitism
• the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Crime is a significant factor in some Latin American countries, Hamilton said. “Colombia is a very violent place; if you polled Latin Americans about what issue concerns them the most I think it would be lack of security in the streets. Frankly, it’s terrible.”

The issues that will affect US-Latin American relations the most are the state of the US economy (“This will affect our relations more than anything,” Hamilton said.), trade policy, immigration, and the political situations in Cuba and Brazil. “I hope the Obama administration addresses income inequality,” Hamilton said. “Even in wealthy countries poverty is huge. Our intent should be to think how inequality can be reduced.”

Read about President Obama's foreign policy plan.