The Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) is a Washington, D.C.-based non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1975.[2][3] The organization can draw on a large number of interns of graduate and undergraduate students, who gain experience in different fields additionally receiving academic credit from their home institutions.[4] COHA also attracts retired government employees who support COHA in preparing monographs[5] on a variety of topics including regional development, trade policies, and the international lending agencies' controversial development strategies. Further support is provided by a number of COHA senior research fellows of different nationalities including the United States and Latin America, who are experts in their respective fields of engagement.[6][7]
According to the group's website, the Council on Hemispheric Affairs was founded in 1975 to promote the common interests of the American hemisphere, to take regional issues into focus and to reinforce the importance of inter-American relations. One focus is the development of a constructive US policy towards the Latin American countries. COHA decided in 1982 to also observe Canada's relations with Latin America. Since its inception, the leadership of the COHA is made up of representatives of major trade unions, organizations, and religious groups, and also includes important civic and academic figures. COHA supports representative democracy and pluralistic institutions. COHA is non-partisan[citation needed] and is not part of political alliances. It supports open and democratic political processes and continues to condemn authoritarian regimes[8] of whatever political orientation, that subject their populations to their own political agendas, curtailing economic growth and development, disregarding social justice and the right to physical integrity as well as withholding civil rights.[9]
In the past, the COHA has expressed criticism of US policy towards Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela and of neo-liberal social reforms in Latin America.[10] It also criticized that the US entered into the NAFTA with (Canada and) Mexico while Mexico was rife with endemiccorruption, its institutions lacking true democracy and its trade unions lacking equality rights. Their credo was that it should have never been entered into until Mexican institutions were truly democratic, its trade unions could freely negotiate as equals, and the government had been cleansed of endemic corruption. COHA also continues to bring to light the random application of structural adjustments which badly affect the poorest of the poor of the Latin America population.[11]
COHA has investigated issues such as unproductive U.S. pressure on President Aristide of Haiti which ended in him being overturned and Washington's installing an ill-fated interim regime in his place.[12][13]
Directoredit
Larry Birns was the director of COHA from its founding in 1975 until his death in 2018.[14] Birns was a former defense researcher, strategist, and member of the Institute for Strategic Studies in London, and a member of Oxford's All Souls College. Birns was also a senior grade public affairs officer for the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America in Santiago, Chile during the Allende government. Birns taught and lectured for 15 years in the fields of Latin American studies, comparative government, and international law at a number of U.S. and British colleges and universities.
The Heritage Foundation stated that the Council on Hemispheric Affairs had a leftist positioning, would exaggerate negative publicity about right-wing governments in Latin America.[18] The council was also described as a leftist lobby by Ofira Seliktar in Failing the Crystal Ball Test.[19]
^Vadum, Matthew (19 March 2008). "Terrorist-Supporting Venezuelan Strongman Has Famous Allies". Human Events. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^"Council on Hemispheric Affairs Internship Opportunity". Internship Opportunity. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
^"PARAGUAY: A TERRORIST UTOPIA". U.S. Government. 28 November 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
^"Council on Hemispheric Affairs appoints Mr. Ernesto Pineda to serve as Senior Research Fellow". Calva Consulting Group. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
^"Human Rights in Guatamala [sic]". U.S. Government. 30 September 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
^"31 US organizations denounce the brutal repression in Bolivia". Evening Report. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
^"COHA's History". Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
^"About COHA". Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
^"NAFTA ́s impact on US-Mexican border security: drug, trade and migration" (PDF). SciencesPo. December 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
^"Washington's Vendetta against President Aristide". Scoop World. 16 January 2004. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
^"The Suppression of Democracy in Haiti". The Canada-Haiti Information Project. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
^"Message from the Board and Friends of COHA on the Passing of Larry Birns". 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
^Stephen Kinzer, Globe Correspondent. Coping with Latin America; At issue: how should we deal with leftists. Boston Globe Boston, Mass.: Jul 15, 1980. pg. 1
^Treaster, Joseph B. (2 June 1983). Man in the News; Latin Envoy: Mr. Simpatico. New York. p. A.7. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Miller, T. Christian; Ixer, Stephen (21 February 2003). A Top Chavez Foe Jailed for Role in Strike; Renewed protests are possible as the regime targets two business and union leaders. p. A.3. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ abFrawley, Joan. "The Left's Latin American Lobby". The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
^Seliktar, Ofira (2000). Failing the crystal ball test : the Carter administration and the fundamentalist revolution in Iran ([Online-Ausg.] ed.). Westport, Conn [u.a.]: Praeger. p. 44. ISBN0275968723.
^"Paid Notice: Deaths CHIARA, JUDITH HELEN LOEB". 18 November 2010 – via NYTimes.com.
External linksedit
Official website
December 15, 2023
council, hemispheric, affairs, coha, redirects, here, 2022, cessation, hostilities, agreement, coha, ethiopia, tigray, peace, agreement, coha, washington, based, governmental, organization, founded, 1975, organization, draw, large, number, interns, graduate, u. COHA redirects here For the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement CoHA see Ethiopia Tigray peace agreement The Council on Hemispheric Affairs COHA is a Washington D C based non governmental organization NGO founded in 1975 2 3 The organization can draw on a large number of interns of graduate and undergraduate students who gain experience in different fields additionally receiving academic credit from their home institutions 4 COHA also attracts retired government employees who support COHA in preparing monographs 5 on a variety of topics including regional development trade policies and the international lending agencies controversial development strategies Further support is provided by a number of COHA senior research fellows of different nationalities including the United States and Latin America who are experts in their respective fields of engagement 6 7 Council on Hemispheric AffairsFormation1975TypeNon governmental organizationHeadquartersWashington D C U S Location2501 Calvert Street N W Suite 401 Washington D C U S Revenue 2016 95 702 1 Expenses 2016 105 400 1 Websitewww wbr coha wbr org Contents 1 History 2 Director 3 Reception 4 Funding 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editAccording to the group s website the Council on Hemispheric Affairs was founded in 1975 to promote the common interests of the American hemisphere to take regional issues into focus and to reinforce the importance of inter American relations One focus is the development of a constructive US policy towards the Latin American countries COHA decided in 1982 to also observe Canada s relations with Latin America Since its inception the leadership of the COHA is made up of representatives of major trade unions organizations and religious groups and also includes important civic and academic figures COHA supports representative democracy and pluralistic institutions COHA is non partisan citation needed and is not part of political alliances It supports open and democratic political processes and continues to condemn authoritarian regimes 8 of whatever political orientation that subject their populations to their own political agendas curtailing economic growth and development disregarding social justice and the right to physical integrity as well as withholding civil rights 9 In the past the COHA has expressed criticism of US policy towards Haiti Cuba Venezuela and of neo liberal social reforms in Latin America 10 It also criticized that the US entered into the NAFTA with Canada and Mexico while Mexico was rife with endemic corruption its institutions lacking true democracy and its trade unions lacking equality rights Their credo was that it should have never been entered into until Mexican institutions were truly democratic its trade unions could freely negotiate as equals and the government had been cleansed of endemic corruption COHA also continues to bring to light the random application of structural adjustments which badly affect the poorest of the poor of the Latin America population 11 COHA has investigated issues such as unproductive U S pressure on President Aristide of Haiti which ended in him being overturned and Washington s installing an ill fated interim regime in his place 12 13 Director editLarry Birns was the director of COHA from its founding in 1975 until his death in 2018 14 Birns was a former defense researcher strategist and member of the Institute for Strategic Studies in London and a member of Oxford s All Souls College Birns was also a senior grade public affairs officer for the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America in Santiago Chile during the Allende government Birns taught and lectured for 15 years in the fields of Latin American studies comparative government and international law at a number of U S and British colleges and universities Reception editThe Boston Globe describes Birns as a lobbyist and a Leftist liberal critic of U S policy 15 and The New York Times says the Council on Hemispheric Affairs is a liberal research group specializing in United States Latin America relations 16 The Los Angeles Times describes the COHA as a liberal think tank 17 The Heritage Foundation stated that the Council on Hemispheric Affairs had a leftist positioning would exaggerate negative publicity about right wing governments in Latin America 18 The council was also described as a leftist lobby by Ofira Seliktar in Failing the Crystal Ball Test 19 Funding editThe conservative Heritage Foundation has alleged the Council on Hemispheric Affairs was founded with assistance from Orlando Letelier and Richard Barnet of the progressive think tank Institute for Policy Studies 18 It has been funded by the Judith Loeb Chiara Foundation 20 See also editUnited States and South and Central AmericaReferences edit a b Council on Hemispheric Affairs Inc PDF Candid Retrieved 9 March 2020 About COHA Vadum Matthew 19 March 2008 Terrorist Supporting Venezuelan Strongman Has Famous Allies Human Events Retrieved 25 February 2016 Council on Hemispheric Affairs Internship Opportunity Internship Opportunity 26 December 2019 Retrieved 15 December 2020 PARAGUAY A TERRORIST UTOPIA U S Government 28 November 2001 Retrieved 5 January 2021 Council on Hemispheric Affairs appoints Mr Ernesto Pineda to serve as Senior Research Fellow Calva Consulting Group 15 August 2016 Retrieved 5 January 2021 Human Rights in Guatamala sic U S Government 30 September 2003 Retrieved 14 January 2021 31 US organizations denounce the brutal repression in Bolivia Evening Report 2 December 2019 Retrieved 14 January 2021 COHA s History Council on Hemispheric Affairs Retrieved 14 January 2021 About COHA Council on Hemispheric Affairs Retrieved 16 March 2015 NAFTA s impact on US Mexican border security drug trade and migration PDF SciencesPo December 2017 Retrieved 21 January 2021 Washington s Vendetta against President Aristide Scoop World 16 January 2004 Retrieved 26 January 2021 The Suppression of Democracy in Haiti The Canada Haiti Information Project 17 October 2011 Retrieved 26 January 2021 Message from the Board and Friends of COHA on the Passing of Larry Birns 2018 09 04 Retrieved 2018 11 09 Stephen Kinzer Globe Correspondent Coping with Latin America At issue how should we deal with leftists Boston Globe Boston Mass Jul 15 1980 pg 1 Treaster Joseph B 2 June 1983 Man in the News Latin Envoy Mr Simpatico New York p A 7 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help CS1 maint location missing publisher link Miller T Christian Ixer Stephen 21 February 2003 A Top Chavez Foe Jailed for Role in Strike Renewed protests are possible as the regime targets two business and union leaders p A 3 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help a b Frawley Joan The Left s Latin American Lobby The Heritage Foundation Retrieved 20 February 2015 Seliktar Ofira 2000 Failing the crystal ball test the Carter administration and the fundamentalist revolution in Iran Online Ausg ed Westport Conn u a Praeger p 44 ISBN 0275968723 Paid Notice Deaths CHIARA JUDITH HELEN LOEB 18 November 2010 via NYTimes com External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Council on Hemispheric Affairs amp oldid 1179523583, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
