The North-South Center

The North-South Center was an independent research and educational institution established at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, in 1984. Its work concentrated on relations among the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. Rather than operating as a consumer-facing commercial brand, the center functioned as a policy, research, publishing, and outreach institution whose audience included government officials, scholars, civil-society organizations, business and labor representatives, and other practitioners of inter-American affairs. The center began as a division of the University of Miami's Graduate School of International Studies and was later associated with the university's Center for Advanced International Studies. It was created during a period when inter-American institutions were examining democratic transitions, regional economic integration, security cooperation, migration, narcotics trafficking, and the political and social consequences of development. In 1991, an act of Congress authorized federal financial support for the institute as part of a broader effort to improve relations between the United States and the countries of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada through cooperative research, training, and study. Its programmatic scope was broad. Research and outreach addressed democratic governance, security, trade and economic policy, sustainable development, migration, civil-society participation, narcotics trafficking, public policy, and inter-American business and labor issues. The center also convened collaborative projects with governmental and nongovernmental partners throughout the Americas. This made it both an academic institution and a policy-oriented forum, connecting university research with public debate and institutional decision-making. Publishing was a major part of its identity. From 1984 through 2000, the center served as the academic and operational home of the Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs and its successor, Latin American Politics and Society. Through the North-South Center Press, it issued policy research, commentary, and other works developed by its researchers and partners. Its publications were distributed through Transaction Publishers and Lynne Rienner Publishers. According to the available reference material, a number of the center's works continued to be used in university courses, government agencies, and nongovernmental institutions after the center itself ceased operating. The institution was named the Dante B. Fascell North-South Center in honor of Dante B. Fascell, a former United States congressman and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Ambler H. Moss was the center's first dean and director and remained associated with it until its closure. The center was shut by the University of Miami in December 2003. The closure followed political objections concerning the center's direction, particularly from elements of South Florida's Cuban-American community. Public commentary and Associated Press reporting suggested that some critics believed the center did not place sufficient emphasis on Cuba or did not align with more traditional Cuban-exile positions, including support for the United States trade embargo. The institution therefore ended as a university-based policy center rather than through a commercial bankruptcy, acquisition, or brand transition.

The North-South Center was founded in 1984 at the University of Miami as a research and educational institution devoted to relations among the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. It initially operated within the university's Graduate School of International Studies and was later affiliated with the Center for Advanced International Studies. Its institutional purpose was to promote research, training, and informed policy dialogue on inter-American affairs. The center emerged at a time when governments and academic institutions were addressing democratic change, regional security, economic integration, migration, environmental sustainability, and the role of civil society in the Americas. Its work included studies of democratic governance, security policy, trade and economic policy, sustainable development, migration, narcotics trafficking, public corruption, and inter-American business and labor relations. The center combined academic research with practical outreach, creating collaborative programs involving public agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other partners in the United States and across the hemisphere. In 1991, Congress enacted legislation supporting the center's mission and the institution began receiving federal financial support. The stated federal purpose was to improve relations between the United States and the nations of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada through cooperative study, training, and research. This support reinforced the center's role as a policy institution with a hemispheric rather than narrowly local remit. Publishing and scholarly communication were central to the center's activities. From 1984 to 2000, it served as the academic and operational home of the Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs, which was later succeeded by Latin American Politics and Society. The North-South Center Press published policy studies and commentary, while Transaction Publishers and Lynne Rienner Publishers distributed the center's publications. These activities extended the center's influence beyond its campus and helped circulate research among universities, public institutions, and civil-society organizations. The center's first dean and director was Ambler H. Moss, who remained with the institution through its existence. The institution was later named the Dante B. Fascell North-South Center to honor Dante B. Fascell, a former member of Congress and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The renamed center continued its research, publishing, and outreach work until the University of Miami closed it in December 2003. The closure became politically contentious. Public commentary, including a column by Miami Herald journalist Andrés Oppenheimer, questioned the university's decision. Associated Press reporting described the center as a respected think tank but also reported speculation that some members of Congress had given it limited support because it did not focus sufficiently on Cuba and did not conform to more traditional Cuban-exile positions, including support for the United States trade embargo. The available sources describe political objections and debate rather than a judicial finding of wrongdoing. The center ultimately ceased operations as a University of Miami institution at the end of 2003. Its publications and research continued to be cited and used in educational and policy settings after its closure.

• 2003

  The center closes

  [1]The North-South Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The University of Miami closes the North-South Center in December after political objections concerning its direction.

• 2000

  Journal affiliation changes

  [1]The North-South Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The center's period as the academic and operational home of the Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs ends as the journal's succeeding publication, Latin American Politics and Society, becomes the relevant title.

• 1991

  Federal financial support begins

  [1]The North-South Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Following a congressional act supporting cooperative study, training, and research among the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, the center begins receiving federal financial support.

• 1984

  The North-South Center is established

  [1]The North-South Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The University of Miami establishes the center as a division within its Graduate School of International Studies to conduct research, education, and outreach on inter-American affairs.

• 1984

  Ambler H. Moss becomes the first dean and director

  [1]The North-South Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Ambler H. Moss takes the institution's first dean and director roles and remains associated with the center until its closure.

A university-based, policy-oriented research and educational institution serving as a bridge among academic researchers, government decision-makers, and civil-society organizations working on inter-American affairs.

• Policy publishing

  North-South Center Press publications

  The center's in-house press issued policy research, commentary, and collaborative studies concerning inter-American affairs. The publications addressed subjects such as governance, security, trade, migration, development, and civil society, and were distributed through external publishing partners including Transaction Publishers and Lynne Rienner Publishers.

• Academic journal · 1984

  Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs

  From 1984 through 2000, the center served as the journal's academic and operational home. The publication provided a scholarly venue for analysis of political, economic, social, and international issues affecting the Americas.

• Academic journal · 2000

  Latin American Politics and Society

  Latin American Politics and Society succeeded the Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs during the period in which the North-South Center supported the journal's academic and operational activities.

• 2003

  University closure of the North-South CenterStrategy

  Background

  The University of Miami faced political objections concerning the center's direction. Reporting linked the controversy to criticism from elements of South Florida's Cuban-American community and to claims that the center did not focus sufficiently on Cuba or support more traditional Cuban-exile policy positions.

  Action taken

  The university ended the center's operations in December 2003.

  Aftermath

  The institution ceased to exist as a University of Miami center. Commentary and press coverage debated whether political pressure had influenced the decision, while the center's publications and research continued to be used in academic and policy contexts.

  Source

1. 1The North-South Centeren.wikipedia.org