It's Not Your Grandfather's Hemisphere

The United States has never experienced a more auspicious moment to advance its fundamental national interests in the Americas. Today, most nations of the hemisphere are building on democratic success, economic growth, expanding capacity, and regional integration to overcome past inequities and to drive major internal transformation.

At the same time, they are confronting powerful new challenges that will require smart and strategic responses on their part—and on ours.

The shift to this new era has happened so seamlessly that perhaps the biggest risk is that we will fail to recognize its dimensions and adapt our approach accordingly. This is not just true for policymakers but for academics and U.S. and regional media as well. For too many, the old narrative in which the U.S. tries to mold feckless neighbors into compliant partners—or worse, struggles against those who disagree with us—continues to hold powerful sway.

That narrative is utterly at odds with the remarkable partnerships flourishing throughout the hemisphere. As Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, I have been given a remarkable vantage point from which to take stock of how much the hemisphere has changed for the better.

Read the full text of this article at www.AmericasQuarterly.org.

Arturo Valenzuela served as assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs from 2009 to 2011. He is returning to his academic position at Georgetown University.