© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

9/19/1961 - Institute of Political Education by Pat M. Holt

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS P MH Institute ofPolitical Education September Carrera Bogota Colombia Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs adison Avenue New York N Y Dear Nolte Imagine school students ranging educational background something short school graduate degrees They include lawyers doctors dentists commercial artists mercantile appraisers office assistants journalists accountants clerks potogra phers teachers typesetters They countries In weeks supposed taught literary style public speaking eonomic political geography political history theory sociology economic development political parties trade unionism cooperative movement public administration international organization Some students faculty matter thers probably But become Prime Ministers cabinet officers This problem promise Institute Political Education San Jose Costa Rica surely challenging experiments political action Western Hemisphere The Institute sponsored group Latin American political parties which variously themselves liberal democratic progressive cases revolutionary The better known include Accion Democraica Venezuela Liberal Party Colombia APR Peru MNR Movimiento Naclonalista Revolucionario Bolivia The purpose train political leaders potential leaders techniques democratic political organization action In respect Institute roughly analogous political workshops conducted United States Democratic Republican parties political AFL CI0 other citizens groups But Institute complex political action group United States The Institute teach techniques peaceful political action teach these techniques applied countries tradition experience action One suspect cases teach students themselves interested acquisition power responsible exercise interested means The Institute second purpose This students least theoretical factual background which enable answer arguments right during political campaigns formulate carry practical forward looking programs power In regard purposes Institute designed which imperfectly existing Latin American institut Latin Americans attracted politics typically fluent discussing philosophy adept organizing precinct Latin American universities typically concerned economic theories economic performance It unhappy Latin American countTies political organizers learned behind Iron Curtain The returns still fragmentary Institute doing terms performance graduates straws blowing right direction The political parties students profess themselves satisfied The students themselves apparently deeply impressed Their comments Institute files emotional Latin American standards Several faculty members remarked independently students mature sophisticated greater sense responsibility course beginning Finally these students according reports reaching Institute themselves organized conducted short courses workshops seminars after their return thereby contributing tiplier effect which Institute really successful One cannot attribute single individual original Institute It meeting accidental according participants Costa Rica middle between President Jose Figueres Costa Rica Smcha Volman Institute International Labor Research New York three Costa Ricans active Figueres National Liberation Party Benjamin Nunez Luis Alberto Monge Daniel 0duber Shortly thereafter Vene zuela biggest party Accion Democratica which headed Figueres friend Romulo Betancourt Joined planning process In November process broadened formalized conference La Lucha Figueres estate outside San Jose At conference there represented parties eight countries Peru Venezuela Costa Rica Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama might expected Castro Cuban parties The sponsoring parties since grown countries Puerto Rico They Bolivia Movimiento Naclonalsta Revolucloario Colombia Partido Liberal Costa Rica Partido Liberacion Naclonal Cuba Frente Nac Democratico Triple A Partldo Revoluclonarlo Cubano Autentlco Dominican Republic Partldo Revolucionario Dominlcano Vanguardla Revolucionaria Dominlcana Ecuador Partido Radical Liberal Guatemala Partldo Revoluclonarlo Honduras Partido Liberal Nicaragua Revolucionarlo Unlficaclon Democratica Panama Grupos Democratlcos Paraguay Partldo Liberal Partido Revoluclonarlo Febrerlsta Peru Partldo Aprista Puerto Rico Partldo Popular Democratlca Venezuela Acclon Democratlca The In stitute International Labor Research which headed Norman Thomas sponsor It noted although Spanish speaking coautries Latin America represented mainly those bordering Caribbean Conspicuous their absence parties Mexico Chile Argentina Uruguay After La Lucha conference financial obtained sponsoring parties United States importantly J M Kaplan Welch Grape Juice New York Kaplan currently underwriting between Institute budget which around The Institute acquired campus renting former night outskirts San Jose October began first course students parties eight countries The first course ended December second conducted students April June third about students began September after I visited Institute unfortunately I opportunity students However I examine records students I talked several members faculty The former night which brave world Latin America being planned bears little resemblance other night clubs which planning activities forever taking place The original building somewhat rearranged enlarged through addition wings seres buildln conbaining library cafeteria administrative faculty offices living quarters lounge Two bu1dns architecturally reminiscent quasl temporary Army barracks constructed living quarters classrooms There house grounds living quarters thatched which discussion groups during season The buildings clean freshly painted adequate rather austere basis Students somewhat larger college dormitory rooms United States The faculty administrmtlve offices appear cramped The grounds cover about acres allow ample expansion The students effect nominated their political parties selected Institute There rigid requirements beyond student vouched party This guard against infil tration Institute The student about about because Institute student transportation costs which naturally dependin where student comes The includes student board while Institute laundry cleaning miscellaneous expenses including allowance month spending money If student family responsi bilities needs additional financial month family stays There quotas students party cuntry number students party dependent party contribution Institute In selecting students Institute deliberately centrated countries shakiest political structures weakest parties The students second course predominantly Central America those third almost entirely Dominican Republic Directors Institute plaints score larger parties Liberal Latin American political parties Institute official explained great sense hemisphere solidarity fraternity APRA example almost concerned about situation Nicaragua about Peru While Institute students whose average second course already political positions responsibility under regimen would almost certainly provoke rebel among United States undergraduates The following excer Internal Regulations Institute flavor place Students remain confined intern Campus except Indlcgted excursions special permission granted Meetings visits which Institute organizes educational recreational purposes obllgmtory students unless present serious reasons obtain permission participate Students receive visitors permission Prefect Discipline hours recrea It considered grave offense invite persons alien Institute visit Campus after night Students carry their possession Inside outside Campus taking alcoholic beverages absolutely prohibited admin istration authorize their limited consumption special occasions Violation article punished expulsion A typical schedule follows Monday Friday Breakfast Class Coffee groups professors Clmss Supervised reading Lunch Free Class Free Class Group supervised reading Free Dinner Special conferences cultural activi reading Saturday I0 Sport I0 I Panel discussions Although schedule theoretically leaves Saturday afternoon Sunday Institute generally takes compulsory activity scheduled those times Pm I These regulations better adapted agers strict military school group presumably mature responsible Not having Institute actual operation I report divergent views among faculty One teacher whose formative years spent Europe characterized students heads there constant disciplinary problems If added regulations would stricter Another teacher accustomed Latin American university students there virtually disciplinary problems Insti students serious dedicated energetic those accustomed It depends I guess In event student expelled Institute The important thing about Institute course students taught after The faculty which numbers about there change course course recognizes frankly experimenting It extremely heterogeneous student nobody tried thing before The general orientation faculty students naturally liberal North Americans might socialist But least respect faculty seems middle feels itself threatened Communists extreme Latin American oligarchies extreme right seems equal pleasure denounced either This political solidarity among faculty Students apparently overcoming heterogeneity student other respects The curriculum undergoing constant change result experience result changing composition student In second course students predominantly Central America there heavy emphasis economics geography politics The faculty third course which students predominantly Dominican Republic crash program possibly elections which promised country May The current Director Institute Juan Bosch Dominican exile TruJillo opponent The faculty member scheduled teach U S Dominlcan relations would subject manner The United States support Trujillo though TruJillo Eisenhower brother dozen Senators payroll TruJillo product United States occupation Santo Domlnge rather Dominican history If U S occupation never occurred TruJillo somebody would power mnyway TruJille collabo Communists stressed Although statements given mildly serious question could hardly documented U S Information Agency would doubtless present subject differently whole U S comes pretty treatment Certainly comes better writings Latin intellectuals would expect In general Institute faculty takes stern towards Latins intellectual otherwise blame their troubles United States In recent issue Combate Institute monthly magazine editors warned their readers against serious error believing that_ misfortunes caused S policies_ consequently solutions problems depend instance change Washington attitude The editorial listed complaints commonly Latin Americans about U S policies threw complaints right Latlns For example pointed U S Ambassador Haiti attend inauguration President Maurice Duvalier protest against fraudulent elections Latin American Ambassador backed Further editorial continued while Latin Americans stabilization Just prices their export products while substantial financial accelerate their economic development contradiction maintaining economically privileged governments oligarchies plutocracies They anything promote indispensable changes The editorial cited reform structures which instead inordinate military expendi tures andmilitary political influence It concluded Let reflect Latin Americans responsibilities possibilities To delude ourselves Washington Moscow against progress liberation comfortable excuse avoid battle station which belongs conquest destlny PMH On theory school library reflects character I spent going Instltute library catalogue which contains sundry helpful bibliographical notes One these recommends political biographies future political leaders The biographies available mostly present political leaders Figueres President Arturo Frondizl Argentina President Adolfo Lopez Mateos Mexlco Victor Raul Haya Torre APRA leader Peru The Latin Americans represented Abraham Lincoln Leon Trotsky Other books library represent range ofauthors Among those I recognized Harrison Brown Lewis Hanke Salvador Madarlaga T Lynn Smith Kingsley Davis John Collier Erich Fromm Harold Laskl Walter Lippman Samuel Eliot Morrison G D H Cole Pierre Mendes France Victor Alba James Burnham Eron Kirkpatrick Victor Krav chenko Lenin Jules Moch John Reed Bertrand Russell Jacques Maritaln George Orwell M K Gand Dan James Sidney Hook Adol Berle Stuart Chase Nymour Harris Gunnar Myrdal Robert R Nathan Raul Preblsch John Dewey Philip Taylor Theodore Schultz Chester Bowles N O Padel G A Lincoln Charles Wagley C Wright Mills Jules Dubois Another bibliographical notes point One basic errors political Latin America ruling class tried institute foreign standards which majority population could understand As result funda mental constitutional structure Latin American nations copied constitution United States generally system government copie France legal system contlnutlon Spanish version Roman The popular parties which first realized began governments Latin American countries reflect needs country instead being Span Po rtugal France England United States And there Russia But copies would suffer weakness character Latin America The Institute Political Education trying something which character Latin America After actual operation Institute views itself going concern though exist corporate entity It applied Costa Rican Government recognition oersgna_ PMH jurldica forthcoming opinion least Institute official because Figueres opposition incumbent Costa Rican Government The InstStute directors faculty ambitious defined plans future Expansion Institute proper avoid between courses accommodate students This would avoid waste involved leaving Institute facilities December April between first second courses June September between second third courses It would course multiply Institute Impact Expansion publications program which limited Combate circulation occasional pamphlets brochures mainly about Institute itself Combate potentially could standing quality serious magazine Spanish current tional international affairs Latin American intellectuals Some faculty members Institute production audlo vlsual materials Institute associated political partles The establishment independent center political research probably Mexico Such center thoroughly objective scholarly could important contribution Latin American political development In present state social sciences process politic development Latin America mention Asia Africa poorly understood The sponsors Institute recognize research subject effective useful completely independent research center divorced Institute They frankly admit their political parties close objectivity The fulfillment these plans course depends sponsors Institute frankly hopeful obtaining foundation other private funds United States either through contributions through scholarships students teaching fellowships professors The institute badly wants American fessor especially could teach U S political organi zation U S history He Spanlsh speaklng liberal political Transportation himself family provlded San Jose month month allowance The Institute interested having three Americans among student Two students University Kansas second course hoped others found future The price includes living expenses San Jose The directors Institute frank saying U S governmental support Institute itself would little dangerous They apparently fears about financial support Latin American governments controlled their sponsoring parties U S Government contribution political research operation established They their relations American Embassy San Jose close friendly frequently borrow films other materials USI What appear money closer generally minded political groups United States They suspicious American business which tends reciprocate They identify American business support status Latin American oligarchies which trying overthrow least reform alternative their communism They completely enthusiastic about Alliance Progress forgiving about Cuban invasion their criticism Bastistianos included looked attempt restore status At stage Institute development seems advisable avoid blanket judgments There measure Institte impact But chances better Institute conservative estimate Institute sponsors doubts score And stays influence likely diminish It represents legitimate piece Latin American initiative field political development aimed social economic reforms called Act Bogota Charter Punta Este As consistent United States urging Latin America The United States Government hsral become involved because might bestow death because political parties making Institute avowedly trying defeat governments which United States maintains friendly relations PMH Ii Responsible private groups United States under inhibitions course It would helpful Institute attairent overall U S foreign policy objectives Latin America groups established closer connections Institute important advice cooperation shaping Institute policies future course development Sincerely Pat M Holt Received New York September