Regional Organizations

The Americas are home to the oldest regional organization and have a long and complicated history of developing mechanism to promote regional cooperation. Dating back to Simón Bolívar’s efforts with the Congress of Panama (1826), leaders from across the Americas have dreamed of Inter-American cooperation. However, these efforts have remained elusive despite developing a large number of regional and sub-regional bodies for supporting these ends. The wide array of regional organizations has major implications for regional governance and for efforts to promote development, defend democracy, and geopolitics.

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Ratzlaff’s research has focused on mapping and understanding the veritable cornucopia of regional organizations in the Americas and its implications on regional governance, how they can be leveraged to support democracy and development in the region, and how U.S.-Chinese competition complicates regional governance initiatives. In addition to his research, Ratzlaff has consulted and provided recommendation on these issues to key stakeholders.