Community of Latin American and Caribbean States

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Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
Map of North, Central and South America indicating CELAC members.
Map of North, Central and South America indicating CELAC members.
Official languages
Demonym
  • Latin American
  • Caribbean
Membership 33 member states
Leaders
 -  President pro tempore Cuba Raúl Castro
Establishment 23 February 2010 (2010-02-23)
Area
 -  Total 20,413,300[1] km2
7,881,619 sq mi 
Population
 -  2011 estimate 591,038,580[1]
 -  Density 29/km2
75/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2011 estimate
 -  Total $6.945 trilliona[1]
 -  Per capita $12,014a[1]
Gini 49.6
high
HDI (2011) Increase 0.721
high
Internet TLD .latb
a. Does not include Barbados, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica and Suriname.
b. Proposed.

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Spanish: Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños, CELAC; Portuguese: Comunidade de Estados Latino-Americanos e Caribenhos; French: Communauté des États Latino-Américains et Caribéens) is a regional bloc of Latin American and Caribbean states thought out on February 23, 2010, at the Rio Group–Caribbean Community Unity Summit,[2][3][4] and created on December, 3, 2011, in Caracas, Venezuela, with the signature of The Declaration of Caracas.[5] It consists of 33 sovereign countries in the Americas representing roughly 600 million people. Absent from the bloc are Canada and the United States, as well as the territories of France, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom in the Americas.[6]

CELAC is an example of a decade-long push for deeper integration within the Americas.[7] CELAC is being created to deepen Latin American integration and to reduce the once overwhelming influence of the United States on the politics and economics of Latin America. It is seen as an alternative to the Organization of American States (OAS), the regional body organised largely by Washington in 1948, ostensibly as a countermeasure to potential Soviet influence in the region.[7][8][9]

CELAC is the successor of the Rio Group and the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development (CALC).[10] In July 2010, CELAC selected President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez and President of Chile Sebastián Piñera, as co-chairs of the forum to draft statutes for the organization.[11]

Contents

Member states [edit]

CELAC comprises 33 countries speaking five different languages:

Eighteen Spanish-speaking countries (56% of the area, 63% of the population)

One Portuguese-speaking country (42% of the area, 34% of the population)

One French-speaking country (0.1% of the area, 1.6% of the population)

Twelve English-speaking countries (1.3% of the area, 1.1% of the population)

One Dutch-speaking country (0.8% of the area, 0.1% of the population)

Twelve countries are in South America, which accounts for 87% of the area and 68% of the population.

Rationale [edit]

On February 23, 2010, Latin American leaders at the 23rd Rio Group summit in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, said they were forming an organisation of the Latin American and Caribbean states. Once its charter was developed, the group was formally established in July 2011, at a summit in Caracas. The bloc will be the main forum for political dialogue for the area, without the United States or Canada.[12][13]

In an interview in February 2010, President Evo Morales of Bolivia said, "A union of Latin American countries is the weapon against imperialism. It is necessary to create a regional body that excludes the United States and Canada. ...Where there are U.S. military bases that do not respect democracy, where there is a political empire with his blackmailers, with its constraints, there is no development for that country, and especially there is no social peace and, therefore, it is the best time for prime ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean to gestate this great new organization without the United States to free our peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean."[9]

At the 23rd Rio Group summit, President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela said, "Now here, in Mexico, a document, a commitment, the creation of a body of Latin America and the Caribbean, without the USA, without Canada (...) Now we can say from Latin America, from Mexico (...) we have revived the dream and project of Bolívar."[14] Mexican President Felipe Calderón added, "We decided, for the first time, to form the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States as a regional space consisting of all states."[15] Calderon said, "We cannot remain disunited; we cannot successfully take on the future based on our differences; now it's up to us to unite without discounting the things that make us different … to unite based on our similarities, which far outweigh our differences."[16] Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said it is "A historic fact of great significance."[17]

President Rafael Correa of Ecuador said that the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States "can be much more effective than other instances to solve ourselves, with our own strengths, our own visions, our conflicts."[18]

Reaction [edit]

The announcement prompted debate and discussion across Latin America and the Caribbean about whether it's more beneficial to have close ties with U.S. and Canada or to work independently.[19][20]

Raúl Zibechi, writing for Mexico's centre-left La Jornada newspaper said, "The creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States is part of a global and continental shift, characterised by the decline of U.S. hegemony and the rise of a group of regional blocs that form part of the new global balance."[21]

An editorial in Brazil's conservative Estadao newspaper said, "CELAC reflects the disorientation of the region's governments in relation to its problematic environment and its lack of foreign policy direction, locked as it is into the illusion that snubbing the United States will do for Latin American integration what 200 years of history failed to do."[17]

First summit [edit]

ESO exhibition area at the CELAC–EU summit in Santiago. [22]

CELAC's inaugural summit was due to be held in mid-2011, but was postponed because of the ill-health of Hugo Chavez, president of the host nation, Venezuela. The summit was instead held on 2 and 3 December 2011 in Caracas.[23] It primarily focused on the global economic crisis and its effects on the region. Several leaders, including presidents Cristina Fernandez, Dilma Rousseff and Juan Manuel Santos, encouraged an increase in regional trade, economic development, and further economic cooperation among members in order to defend their growing economies.[19][20]

Chavez, and other leaders such as Rafael Correa and Daniel Ortega, expressed hope that the bloc would work to further Latin American integration, end U.S. hegemony and consolidate control over regional affairs.[19] Chavez, citing the Monroe Doctrine as the original confirmation of U.S. interference in the region, openly called for CELAC to replace the OAS: "As the years go by, CELAC is going to leave behind the old and worn-out OAS."[20] Correa called for a new human rights commission to replace the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Other leaders argued that the organisation should be used as a tool to resolve regional disagreements and uphold democratic values, but not as a replacement of the OAS.[19][20] Santos stated that he would like to see dialogue within the group over whether existing counter-drug regulations should be revised.[19] The president of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) said he expects that Parlatino will become the main legislative institution of CELAC.[24] Amongst the key issues on the agenda were the creation of a "new financial architecture," sanction for maintaining the legal status of coca in Bolivia and the rejection of the Cuban embargo by the U.S.[25]

The next two summits are scheduled to be held in Chile in 2013 and Cuba in 2014.[26]

Indicators [edit]

The following table shows various data for CELAC member states, including area, population, economic output and income inequality, as well as various indices, including human development, viability of the state, perception of corruption, economic freedom, state of peace, freedom of the press and democratic level.

Country Area[1]
(km²)
2010		 Population[1]
2011		 GDP (PPP)[1]
(Intl. $)
2011		 GDP (PPP)
per capita[1]
(Intl. $)
2011		 Income
inequality[1]
1992-2010
(latest available)		 HDI[27]
2012		 FSI[28]
2012		 CPI[29]
2012		 IEF[30]
2013		 GPI[31]
2012		 WPFI[32]
2013		 DI[33]
2012
 Antigua and Barbuda 440 89,612 1,657,106,143 18,492 N/A 0.760 58.9 N/A N/A N/A N/Ad N/A
 Argentina 2,780,400 40,764,561 715,585,957,536 17,554 44.5 0.811 46.5 35.0 46.7 1.763 25.67 6.84
 Bahamas, The 13,880 347,176 11,102,156,089 31,978 N/A 0.794 55.1 71.0 70.1 N/A N/A N/A
 Barbadosa 430 273,925 5,269,589,713 19,320 N/A 0.825 52.0 76.0 69.3 N/A N/A N/A
 Belize 22,970 356,600 2,379,197,925 6,672 53.1 0.702 67.2 N/A 57.3 N/A N/A N/A
 Bolivia 1,098,580 10,088,108 51,440,192,613 5,099 56.3 0.675 82.1 34.0 47.9 2.021 32.80 5.84
 Brazil 8,514,880 196,655,014 2,289,009,200,340 11,640 54.7 0.730 64.1 43.0 57.7 2.017 32.75 7.12
 Chile 756,090 17,269,525 298,940,314,486 17,310 52.1 0.819 43.5 72.0 79.0 1.616 26.24 7.54
 Colombia 1,141,750 46,927,125 470,821,380,636 10,033 55.9 0.719 84.4 36.0 69.6 2.625 37.48 6.63
 Costa Rica 51,100 4,726,575 57,458,849,749 12,157 50.7 0.773 49.7 54.0 67.0 1.659 12.08 8.10
 Cuba 109,890 11,253,665 N/A N/A N/A 0.780 73.1 48.0 28.5 1.951 71.64 3.52
 Dominica 750 67,675 899,251,143 13,288 N/A 0.745 N/A 58.0 63.9 N/A N/Ad N/A
 Dominican Republic 48,670 10,056,181 98,511,611,256 9,796 47.2 0.702 74.1 32.0 59.7 2.068 28.34 6.49
 Ecuador 256,370 14,666,055 127,135,646,048 8,669 49.3 0.724 80.1 32.0 46.9 2.028 34.69 5.78
 El Salvador 21,040 6,227,491 42,537,657,373 6,831 48.3 0.680 74.4 38.0 66.7 2.220 22.86 6.47
 Grenada 340 104,890 1,136,691,960 10,837 N/A 0.770 65.0 N/A N/A N/A N/Ad N/A
 Guatemala 108,890 14,757,316 72,717,635,145 4,928 55.9 0.581 79.4 33.0 60.0 2.287 29.39 5.88
 Guyanab 214,970 756,040 2,594,037,797 3,438 44.5 0.636 71.4 28.0 53.8 1.937 27.08 6.05
 Haiti 27,750 10,123,787 11,858,703,823 1,171 59.2 0.456 104.9 19.0 48.1 2.179 24.09 3.96
 Honduras 112,490 7,754,687 31,382,455,258 4,047 57.0 0.632 78.5 28.0 58.4 2.339 36.92 5.84
 Jamaicac 10,990 2,709,300 18,771,740,693 7,083 45.5 0.730 65.8 38.0 66.8 2.222 9.88 7.39
 Mexico 1,964,380 114,793,341 1,752,459,224,980 15,266 48.3 0.775 73.6 34.0 67.0 2.445 45.30 6.90
 Nicaragua 130,370 5,869,859 22,373,697,929 3,812 40.5 0.599 79.6 29.0 56.6 2.006 28.31 5.56
 Panama 75,420 3,571,185 55,669,921,237 15,589 51.9 0.780 56.1 38.0 62.5 1.899 32.95 7.08
 Paraguay 406,750 6,568,290 36,130,534,356 5,501 52.4 0.669 70.9 25.0 61.1 1.973 28.78 6.26
 Peru 1,285,220 29,399,817 300,876,158,488 10,234 48.1 0.741 73.5 38.0 68.2 1.995 31.87 6.47
 Saint Kitts and Nevis 260 53,051 913,851,750 17,226 N/A 0.745 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/Ad N/A
 Saint Lucia 620 176,000 2,041,039,921 11,597 42.6 0.725 N/A 71.0 70.4 N/A N/Ad N/A
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 390 109,365 1,171,868,852 10,715 N/A 0.733 N/A 62.0 66.7 N/A N/Ad N/A
 Surinameb 163,820 529,419 4,140,115,371 7,891 52.9 0.684 71.2 37.0 52.0 N/A 18.19 6.65
 Trinidad and Tobago 5,130 1,346,350 33,757,994,924 25,074 40.3 0.760 64.4 39.0 62.3 2.082 23.12 6.99
 Uruguay 176,220 3,368,595 50,791,965,187 15,078 45.3 0.792 40.5 72.0 69.7 1.628 15.92 8.17
 Venezuela 912,050 29,278,000 373,257,633,515 12,749 44.8 0.748 77.3 19.0 36.1 2.278 34.44 5.15
CELACe,f 20,413,300 591,038,580 6,944,793,382,234 12,014 49.6 0.721 68.2 42.7 59.7 2.054 29.62 6.36
Country Area
(km²)
2010		 Population
2011		 GDP (PPP)
(Intl. $)
2011		 GDP (PPP)
per capita
(Intl. $)
2011		 Income
inequality
1992-2010
(latest available)		 HDI
2012		 FSI
2012		 CPI
2012		 IEF
2013		 GPI
2012		 WPFI
2013		 DI
2012
  • a GDP data are for 2009.
  • b GDP data are for 2010.
  • c GDP data are for 2005.
  • d No country specific figure is provided. However a figure of "19.72" is assigned to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, of which this country is a member.
  • e CELAC total used for indicators 1 through 3; CELAC weighted average used for indicator 4; CELAC unweighted average used for indicators 5 through 12.
  • f GDP per capita figure does not include Barbados, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica and Suriname.
Note: The colors indicate the country's global position in the respective indicator. For example, a green cell indicates that the country is ranked in the upper 25% of the list (including all countries with available data).
Highest quartile Upper-mid (2nd to 3rd quartile) Lower-mid (1st to 2nd quartile) Lowest

Summits [edit]

CELAC Summits
Summit Year Host country Host city
I 2011  Venezuela Caracas
II 2013  Chile Santiago

See also [edit]

Notes [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "[[World Development Indicators]]". World Bank. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2012-07-11.  Wikilink embedded in URL title (help)
  2. ^ "''Mexidata'' (English) March 1, 2010". Mexidata.info. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  3. ^ Acuerdan crear Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños, Associated Press, February 23, 2010.
  4. ^ América Latina crea una OEA sin Estados Unidos, El País, February 23, 2010.
  5. ^ "L. American leaders officially sign CELAC into effect as new bloc". news.xinhuanet.com. December 4, 2011. Retrieved 2013-01-28. 
  6. ^ Gooding, Kerri. "IVCC encouraging bilingualism and cultural integration". The Barbados Advocate (Advocate Co.). Retrieved December 26, 2011. "However, at present much of the integration occurs at the governmental, political and policy level as opposed to the personal, individual level, hence Tutor Jamal Henry added his voice to the plea by the Ambassador to have more persons embracing the culture and learning Spanish. CELAC comprises 33 nations making up an estimated population of 600 million people with five official languages. United and integrated the countries of CELAC can be powerful, “together [the 33 nations of CELAC] are the number one food exporter on the planet,” further commented Ambassador Febres." 
  7. ^ a b MercoPress, 2010 Feb. 24, "Mexico Gives Birth to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States," http://en.mercopress.com/2010/02/24/mexico-gives-birth-to-the-community-of-latinamerican-and-caribbean-states
  8. ^ New York Times, 2010 Feb. 28, "Quake Overshadows Clinton Tour of Region," http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/world/americas/01clinton.html?ref=americas
  9. ^ a b "_ Nuestro Norte es el SUR". Telesurtv.net. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  10. ^ Presidentes constituyen la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños, EFE, February 23, 2010.
  11. ^ CounterPunch, 3 August 2010, Behind the Colombia / Venezuela Tensions
  12. ^ http://www.indymedia-letzebuerg.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44165&Itemid=28 Indymedia (English) February 24, 2010
  13. ^ "Cancilleres del Grupo de Río avanzaron en idea de crear nueva instancia regional". granma.cu. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  14. ^ TeleSURtv.net - Chávez afirma que con nuevo organismo latinoamericano renace el proyecto de Bolívar[dead link]
  15. ^ TeleSURtv.net - Crean nuevo organismo regional en Cumbre de Río[dead link]
  16. ^ Clovis Rossi Latin American Unity Cannot Be Dependent on Excluding the U.S. Folha, Brazil, via translation from WorldMeets.US (English) February 22, 2010.
  17. ^ a b EDITORIAL In Latin America, Rhetoric Triumphs Over Reality Estadao, Brazil, via translation by WorldMeets.US (English) February 25, 2010.
  18. ^ TeleSURtv.net - Correa confía en la recién creada Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños[dead link]
  19. ^ a b c d e Rueda, Jorge; James, Ian; Toothaker, Christopher (3 December 2011). "Leaders at Americas talks: world economy top worry". Seattle pi (Hearst Communications Inc.). Associated Press. 
  20. ^ a b c d Staff writers (3 December 2011). "Venezuela hosts first CELAC summit". PressTV. 
  21. ^ Raúl Zibechi Latin America's Inexorable March Toward 'Autonomy from the Imperial Center' La Jornada, Mexico, via translation by WorldMeets.US (English) February 26, 2010
  22. ^ "ESO exhibition area at the CELAC–EU summit in Santiago". ESO Press Release. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 
  23. ^ "Latin American summit re-run to test Chavez health". Reuters. 30 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  24. ^ Staff writers (2 December 2011). "Parlatino Interested in Being CELAC Legislative Organization". Prensa Latina. 
  25. ^ "Obama in Cartagena: No change, dwindling hope - Opinion". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  26. ^ Staff writers (2 December 2011). "CELAC Summit Votes for Cuba to Host 3rd Meeting". Prensa Latina. 
  27. ^ "Human Development Report 2013". United Nations Development Programme. 2012-03. Retrieved 2013-03-21. 
  28. ^ "The Failed States Index 2012". The Fund for Peace. 2012-06. Retrieved 2012-06-21. 
  29. ^ "Corruption Perceptions Index". Transparency International. 2012-12. Retrieved 2013-03-21. 
  30. ^ "Country Rankings: World & Global Economy Rankings on Economic Freedom". Heritage Foundation. 2013-01. Retrieved 2013-03-21. 
  31. ^ "Global Peace Index 2012". Vision of Humanity. 2012-06. Retrieved 2012-06-13. 
  32. ^ "Press Freedom Index 2013". Reporters Without Borders. 2013-01. Retrieved 2013-03-21. 
  33. ^ "Democracy Index 2012" (PDF). The Economist. 2013-03. Retrieved 2013-03-21. 

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