Thomas Perry Thornton

Regional Organizations in Conflict Management

The end of colonialism and the decline of Cold War bipolarity mean that the United States and the Soviet Union must find new ways of relating to a Third World that is growing increasingly influential and is seeking ways to be master of its own destinies. Over the past decade and more, there has been a marked growth in regional organizations within the Third World designed to deal with the related problems of solving internal disputes and reducing the role of outside powers in regional affairs. These organizations have mixed records, and some could pose threats to broader global interests, including those of the United States and the USSR. Nonetheless, the trend toward regionalization is pervasive, and in many cases regional groupings can deal with problems that the superpowers no longer can or want to handle. Moscow and Washington must judge each case on its own merits, but their general approach should be to let regional groupings carry as much of the burden as possible.

A View from Washington

American attitudes towards the Third World are passing through a critical period. Especially because of the Vietnam experience, Americans are plagued with self-doubts and disillusioned with the results of previous involvement. America cannot, however, turn its back on the Third World; it finds important interests there, as well as a pressing humanitarian challenge. The present trend in United States policy involves a rejection of the role of world policeman, tempered by a realization that our power and near-omnipresence place unavoidable responsibilities on us. In establishing a new role for ourselves, we will have to reduce the intensity of our involvement and look more toward multilateral arrangements. Despite the easing of the cold war, there are major problems at stake in dealing with the Soviet Union and communism as an ideology of modernization. In a world in which violence will be widespread but in which our power imposes limitations on our actions, we shall have to develop strong nerves. The major challenge comes in the economic field, at a time when our resources are badly strained. Problems involving investment, trade, and the growing needs of the poorer countries make urgent the development of a new and more productive approach to foreign aid.