Peace Programs

The Carter Center Americas Program

The Carter Center established the Americas Program in 1986 when the Western Hemisphere was undergoing dramatic political changes, restoring or establishing democracies and opening economies. Today, when many countries in the region have achieved more than two decades of democratic governance, the program works to ensure that these established democracies work effectively to serve their citizens.   

In some countries, dissatisfaction with democratic performance has been growing, and problems still prevail, including weak political institutions, persistent poverty and income inequality, and unpredictable economic growth. Conflicts are emerging as citizens demand change, calling for expanded political, civil, and social rights as well as redistribution of economic resources.  



Sustaining Democracies and Preventing Crises

The program helps countries facing significant citizen demand for political change to sustain strong democracies and prevent crises by sponsoring open dialogue and mediation, organizing consensus-building exercises, helping to identify reform priorities, and consulting with local actors about issues that may generate conflicts or  could deepen democracy.  In all of this, the Center acts as an unofficial, neutral nongovernmental organization—but one with access at the highest levels of government—to help mitigate potential crises within and between countries.  

Learn more about our current work in Bolivia (since 2002); Ecuador (since 1998); Nicaragua (since 1989); and Venezuela (since 1998) > 



Promoting Democracy through Effective Citizenship

By helping citizens exercise their political and social rights and responsibilities, the program works to enhance the quality of democracy and living standards in specific countries. An overarching program goal is to encourage greater government transparency, through past initiatives to improve campaign finance reform and thwart government corruption and a current effort to improve citizen access to information. The Carter Center views access to information as a fundamental human right, a cornerstone of democracy, and a crucial element in building citizen confidence in democratic governments. The program has worked with regional organizations and in partnership with government and civil society to pass, implement, and enforce ATI laws in Jamaica, Nicaragua, and Bolivia.   .

Read more about the Center's political finance reform efforts,  anti-corruption initiatives, and focus on access to public information (ATI) > 



Building Regional Consensus

The collective defense of democracy is a key challenge and opportunity for countries in the Western Hemisphere. The program works with the Organization of American States (OAS), its associated bodies, the United Nations, and regional civil society networks to help establish consensus on specific international norms to protect and promote democracy and citizenship. It also encourages individual state compliance and regional evaluation mechanisms. The program tracks key issues in inter-American relations and serves as secretariat for the Friends of the Democratic Charter.  The Friends group includes former presidents, prime ministers, and cabinet members from the hemisphere, who visit stressed countries and recommend ways for governments, citizens, and the OAS to prevent tensions from erupting into crises.   

Read the Inter-American Democratic Charter >


 

Download the Americas Program brochure (English Version PDF).

Download the Americas Program brochure (Spanish Version PDF).