MERCOSUR and Alternative World Orders
Helio Jaguaribe

The most probable world order trends that will prevail, at least during the first quarter of the 21st Century, and the role that groups of Latin American countries, like MERCOSUR, can play in these scenarios is the principal objective of this "prospective exercise", as the author calls it.

Multilateralism's New Approach in the Global Economy
Diana Tussie

Globalization and multilateralism do not always come across as compatible; at times they seem to be drifting further and further apart with no point of union to support one another. In her essay, the author points out the paradox set forth by globalization vis-a-vis institutional interpretations of international trade relations. She does, however, concede that the proliferation of regional trade agreements is a "benign" formula from which a new type of multilateralism can be shaped.

The Rules of the World Game and
Latin America's External Policy
Eduardo Mayobre

The author says that the characteristics of the world's economic and political evolution at the end of the century demand the shaping of an external policy for Latin America and the Caribbean so that the region can carry out its own development agenda. After examining the areas of influence and those in dispute in the world scenario, he analyzes the role of the transnational economic agents and its implications for the developing countries.

The Fast Track:
A Long and Winding Road
Craig VanGrassteck

The object of the author's study is the fast track procedure sought by Clinton from Congress for the negotiation of trade agreements. He takes an in-depth look at the reasons that led to the failure of this initiative and sketches two possible scenarios including the implications of building the FTAA all the while emphatically asserting that the absence of fast track will not paralyze US trade policy.

Social Policy and the FTAA
Manuela Tortora

The author makes special emphasis on the social impact that FTAA implementation will spark. The basis for the argument she presents in her paper is precisely that the hemispheric project should not be limited to being "simply market liberalization." In the last two sections a number of proposals are made that could effectively put into practice what until now has only been the theoretical link between social policy and the FTAA.

Hemispheric Negotiations:
What's in it for Central America?
Umberto Mazzei

The author spells out recommendations for smaller economies, such as those in Central America, to ensure that they reap greater benefits from regional and hemispheric free trade agreements.

Integration Agreements and the
Latin American Community of Nations
Juan Mario Vacchino - Telasco Pulgar

This article analyzes, some historical antecedents of a Community of Nations in the region and the elements needed to constitute it; strides made in strengthening regional integration, the links between these agreements and external challenges to integration. It concludes with some considerations regarding the influence of this process on the perspectives of achieving, progressively, the Latin American Community of Nations.

The Declaration of Santiago.
II Summit of the Américas
Documentos

Full text of the Santiago Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government who participated in the II Summit of the Americas.

Globalization: Fact Versus Fiction
Aldo Ferrer

The author reviews truths and untruths of globalization as it unfolds in its four main areas: international trade, transnational corporations, financial flows, and regulatory frame-works.
His analysis unmasks the fundamentalist view of globalization by showing what actually occurs in the real world. By exposing the facts, the author provides a real alternative for developing countries.

Central America, For a Renewed
Exercise in Regional Integration
Eduardo Stein

Guatemala's Foreign Minister explains the challenges confronting Central American integration on the eve of the new millenium, especially in light of the aftermath of the Cold War, and urges the countries of the isthmus to develop their own cooperation and regional development programme.

Impact of the Asian Crisis on Latin America
Permanent Secretariat of SELA

This study presents the short- and long-term effects of the Asian crisis on the principal countries in our region and, in general, the degree of Latin America's trade dependence on the markets in that area, as well as its vulnerability vis-á-vis the drop in the price of raw materials.

Re-Encounter of Two Worlds: the
Europe-Latin America Summit of 1999
Permanent Secretariat of SELA

The preparation of the European Union-Latin America Summit will be one of the principal activities in the external relations of the countries in the region. The Permanent Secretariat analyzes the international context in which the meeting will take place, the priorities and mutual interests of both parties, the issues that will probably be on the agenda and the possible organizational difficulties that could emerge in the development of the process.