Peter DeShazo, visiting professor of Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies at Dartmouth College and former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs: “On the eve of OAS elections, democratic consensus in the region has receded from its high tide in 2001 when the Inter-American Democratic Charter was unanimously approved by OAS members and Cuba was the hemisphere’s sole authoritarian state. Departing Secretary-General Luis Almagro leaves behind a legacy of activism in the cause of regional democracy and human rights. Commitment to the promotion of democratic governance must remain a central orientation of the OAS—as well as a fundamental U.S. policy objective in the Americas. The unheralded but most significant accomplishments of the OAS are precisely in the interrelated areas of democracy and security—coordination on: countering terrorism, crime and drug trafficking, defending human rights, promoting good governance and election monitoring. A vital factor influencing the viability of the OAS will be the level of support it receives from the Trump administration. The United States funds about 50 percent of the OAS’ operating budget, along with…”