Robert Pastor
Encyclopedia
Robert Alan Pastor is a former US national security advisor and writer on foreign affairs.
and a Masters of Public Administration and Policy (MPA), with a concentration in International Economics from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
. He also holds a PhD from Harvard in the field of political science. He served in the US Peace Corps
in Malaysia where he learned Malay/Indonesian. He also was a Fulbright Professor at El Colegio de México
in Mexico where he taught courses on U.S. Foreign Policy.
, with whom he has two children. He lives in Washington, D.C.
on Latin America and the Caribbean during the administration of President Jimmy Carter
from 1977-81.
Pastor was nominated by President Bill Clinton
in 1994 to serve as the Ambassador to Panama. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved his nomination by a vote of 16-3, but Senator Jesse Helms prevented the full Senate from voting. After the Republicans won control of the Senate in November 1994, Helms became Chairman of the Committee and refused to permit a vote on Pastor, who then requested that President Clinton withdraw his nomination. The main reason that Helms opposed the nomination was that he held Pastor accountable for negotiating the Panama Canal Treaties.
He served as a Senior Fellow at the Carter Center
, where he established the programs on Latin America and the Caribbean, democracy and election-monitoring, and Chinese village elections. He was also Goodrich C. White Professor of Political Science at Emory University
.
Pastor was Vice President of International Affairs at American University
in Washington, D.C. from September 2002-December 2007. During his time at American, he helped establish the American University of Nigeria, transformed and expanded the study abroad program and introduced the "Abroad at AU" program, bringing students from around the world to study for a semester or year at AU. He also founded and heads the university's Center for Democracy and Election Management, and the Center for North American Studies and was Executive Director of the Carter-Baker Commission on Federal Election Reform.
Pastor was Vice Chair of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America, which is sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations
in association with the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives
. http://www.cfr.org/publication/7912/creating_a_north_american_community.html#author
has been the subject of heated controversy, with individuals like Jerome Corsi
calling him the Father of a North American Union
. While Pastor has refuted any advocacy of a NAU, he does propose a North American Community, "whose premise is that all three sovereign countries benefit when each of the countries makes progress, and all suffer when one fails". He distinguishes this community from a union as being, "composed of three sovereign governments that seek to strengthen bonds of cooperation. Each government – according to its constitutional procedures – retains the power to decide whether and how to cooperate".
Pastor is featured in the 2010 Canadian documentary film Water On The Table
, in which he refers to the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) and debates water rights issues.
Pastor has published extensively his theories of a North American Community, including Toward a North American Community: Lessons from the Old World to the New.
Through the Independent Task Force on North America
he has released the reports Building a North American Community http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/NorthAmerica_TF_final.pdf and "Creating a North American Community", both released in 2005. http://www.cfr.org/publication/7912/creating_a_north_american_community.html
Education
Pastor earned his bachelor's degree in History from Lafayette CollegeLafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
and a Masters of Public Administration and Policy (MPA), with a concentration in International Economics from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He also holds a PhD from Harvard in the field of political science. He served in the US Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in Malaysia where he learned Malay/Indonesian. He also was a Fulbright Professor at El Colegio de México
El Colegio de México
El Colegio de México, A.C. is a prestigious Mexican institute of higher education, specializing in teaching and research in the social sciences and the humanities...
in Mexico where he taught courses on U.S. Foreign Policy.
Personal life
Pastor is married to the former Margaret McNamara, daughter of former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamaraRobert McNamara
Robert Strange McNamara was an American business executive and the eighth Secretary of Defense, serving under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson from 1961 to 1968, during which time he played a large role in escalating the United States involvement in the Vietnam War...
, with whom he has two children. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Work history
Pastor was the U.S. national security advisorNational Security Advisor
A National Security Advisor serves as the chief advisor to a national government on matters of security. He or she is not usually a member of the Cabinet but is usually a member of various military or security councils....
on Latin America and the Caribbean during the administration of President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
from 1977-81.
Pastor was nominated by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in 1994 to serve as the Ambassador to Panama. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved his nomination by a vote of 16-3, but Senator Jesse Helms prevented the full Senate from voting. After the Republicans won control of the Senate in November 1994, Helms became Chairman of the Committee and refused to permit a vote on Pastor, who then requested that President Clinton withdraw his nomination. The main reason that Helms opposed the nomination was that he held Pastor accountable for negotiating the Panama Canal Treaties.
He served as a Senior Fellow at the Carter Center
Carter Center
The Carter Center is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter. In partnership with Emory University, The Carter Center works to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering...
, where he established the programs on Latin America and the Caribbean, democracy and election-monitoring, and Chinese village elections. He was also Goodrich C. White Professor of Political Science at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
.
Pastor was Vice President of International Affairs at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, D.C. from September 2002-December 2007. During his time at American, he helped establish the American University of Nigeria, transformed and expanded the study abroad program and introduced the "Abroad at AU" program, bringing students from around the world to study for a semester or year at AU. He also founded and heads the university's Center for Democracy and Election Management, and the Center for North American Studies and was Executive Director of the Carter-Baker Commission on Federal Election Reform.
Pastor was Vice Chair of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America, which is sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
in association with the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives
Canadian Council of Chief Executives
The Canadian Council of Chief Executives is an organization in Canada of chief executive officers of roughly 150 major Canadian corporations. The organization was founded in 1976 as the Business Council on National Issues, but renamed itself in 2001. The council actively comments on public...
. http://www.cfr.org/publication/7912/creating_a_north_american_community.html#author
North American Community
Pastor's advocacy of North American integrationNorth American integration
North American integration refers to the process of economic and political integration in North America particularly integration of Canada, Mexico, and the United States.- The North American Accord :While Ronald Reagan was organizing his run for the 1980 U.S...
has been the subject of heated controversy, with individuals like Jerome Corsi
Jerome Corsi
Jerome Robert Corsi is an American author, political commentator and conspiracy theorist best known for his two New York Times bestselling books: The Obama Nation and Unfit for Command...
calling him the Father of a North American Union
North American Union
The North American Union is a theoretical economic union, in some instances also a political union, of Canada, Mexico, and the United States...
. While Pastor has refuted any advocacy of a NAU, he does propose a North American Community, "whose premise is that all three sovereign countries benefit when each of the countries makes progress, and all suffer when one fails". He distinguishes this community from a union as being, "composed of three sovereign governments that seek to strengthen bonds of cooperation. Each government – according to its constitutional procedures – retains the power to decide whether and how to cooperate".
Pastor is featured in the 2010 Canadian documentary film Water On The Table
Water On The Table
Water on the Table is a Canadian documentary film directed, produced and written by filmmaker Liz Marshall. The film explores Canada’s relationship to its freshwater resources and features Canadian activist Maude Barlow in her pursuit to protect water from privatization...
, in which he refers to the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA) and debates water rights issues.
Published works
He is well published on US foreign policy, having written or edited 16 books, including Exiting the Whirlpool: US Foreign Policy Toward Latin America and the Caribbean, Democracy in the Caribbean: Political, Economic and Social Perspectives and Limits to Friendship: The United States and Mexico.Pastor has published extensively his theories of a North American Community, including Toward a North American Community: Lessons from the Old World to the New.
Through the Independent Task Force on North America
Independent Task Force on North America
The Independent Task Force on the Future of North America advocates a greater economic and social integration between Canada, Mexico, and the United States as a region...
he has released the reports Building a North American Community http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/NorthAmerica_TF_final.pdf and "Creating a North American Community", both released in 2005. http://www.cfr.org/publication/7912/creating_a_north_american_community.html