The Alliance for Progress

Book excerpt: The Alliance for Progress was a unique experiment in inter-American cooperation in which the United States adopted a policy linking humanitarian and development considerations with strategic goals. This volume explores the original goals of the Alliance and analyzes its achievements of twenty-five years. It draws upon the direct experience of leaders from the U.S. and Latin America who participated in the Alliance, relating how they view the effort in the light of history--what were the true motivations, accomplishments, and shortcomings of the Alliance. The contributors discuss how considerable tangible successes were achieved which laid the groundwork for modern, development-oriented governments now coming to fruition. They also demonstrate that the Alliance's legacy can now be dealt with through new approaches to inter-American cooperation--thus facing the challenges of new technology and rising expectations of the new democracies in the hemisphere.