The OAS democratic solidarity paradigm: Questions of collective and national leadership

This article examines the prospects for an interamerican "paradigm of democ ratic solidarity" Although the region has seen genuine progress in the prom otion and defense of democracy, a significant deficit in collective and nat ional leadership hinders the consolidation of hemispheric prodemocracy acti vism. As illustrated by a number of recent cases, including the controversy over Peru's May 2000 election, these impediments are not only situational but structural. This article concludes with a discussion of ways to move be yond these problems and to buttress the democratic solidarity doctrine.