Dante Caputo
Encyclopedia
Dante Caputo is an Argentine
academic, diplomat and politician, who served as the nation's foreign minister under President
Raúl Alfonsín
.
to parents from the Basilicata
Region of Italy
. He graduated in political science
at the Universidad del Salvador
in Buenos Aires in 1966, and subsequently completed a graduate degree at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University
. Between 1968 and 1972, he held various posts at the Organization of American States
, and in 1972, earned doctorate in Sociology
at the University of Paris
. In 1973 he was appointed as an investigator at the Torcuato di Tella Institute
and for six years he headed the centre of investigations on state and administration.
Caputo taught at the Universities of Buenos Aires
, del Salvador, Paris, Quilmes
and La Plata.
In this position:
in 1982, Caputo was chief foreign policy advisor to Raúl Alfonsín; on his advice, Alfonsín did not back the military conflict.
Alfonsín's stand, though unpopular at the time, soon proved correct and was partly responsible for his securing the Radical Civic Union
(UCR) nomination in 1983. Raúl Alfonsín was elected president on October 30, naming Dante Caputo Foreign Minister-designate.
Helping shepherd the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina
to ratification by voters and congress, Caputo was honored with the ceremonial post of UN Assembly President in November 1988.
Following his departure from the foreign minister's desk, Caputo was elected as a national deputy in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
and he served as vice-president of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
In 1992 Caputo represented the OAS and the United Nations
in Haiti
as a special envoy. In 1993 he was appointed the UN Secretary General's representative to Haiti, as a sub-secretary of the UN, and negotiated an agreement to allow democratic transition on the island.
Having been a member of the Radical Civic Union
(UCR), Caputo endorsed the FrePaSo ticket ahead of the 1995 general elections, and joined the centre-left party New Space
(Nuevo Espacio), later that year. He served as Vice President of the Frepaso coalition from 1996 on behalf of New Space. In 1997, he was once again elected a deputy. He left New Space after personal differences with Carlos Raimundi, and in 1998 joined the Popular Socialist Party
, remaining as vice-president of FrePaSo until 2000. In 1999, he sought the FrePaSo nomination for election as Mayor of Buenos Aires, but lost to Aníbal Ibarra
, who went on to win in 2000.
In 2000, Caputo joined the government of Fernando de la Rúa
, who had won the Presidency at the head of the UCR-FrePaSo Alliance
, in 1999. Caputo became Secretary of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, resigning in February 2001.
Between June 2001 and September 2004, he directed the Regional Project on democratic development in Latin America
of the United Nations Development Programme
.
He is a member of the Council of the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights
of Argentina and is sub-secretary of the Organization of American States
.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
academic, diplomat and politician, who served as the nation's foreign minister under President
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín was an Argentine lawyer, politician and statesman, who served as the President of Argentina from December 10, 1983, to July 8, 1989. Alfonsín was the first democratically-elected president of Argentina following the military government known as the National Reorganization...
.
Academic activity
Dante Mario Antonio Caputo was born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
to parents from the Basilicata
Basilicata
Basilicata , also known as Lucania, is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south, having one short southwestern coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Campania in the northwest and Calabria in the southwest, and a...
Region of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He graduated in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the Universidad del Salvador
Universidad del Salvador
The Universidad del Salvador is a Jesuit university in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In addition to its main Campus, it has instructional and research facilities in Pilar, Buenos Aires; San Miguel, Buenos Aires; Santa Cruz, Misiones; and Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires...
in Buenos Aires in 1966, and subsequently completed a graduate degree at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
. Between 1968 and 1972, he held various posts at the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
, and in 1972, earned doctorate in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. In 1973 he was appointed as an investigator at the Torcuato di Tella Institute
Torcuato di Tella Institute
The Torcuato di Tella Institute is a non-profit foundation organized for the promotion of Argentine culture.-Overview:The di Tella Foundation and its institute were created on July 22, 1958, the tenth anniversary of the death of industrialist and arts patron Torcuato di Tella...
and for six years he headed the centre of investigations on state and administration.
Caputo taught at the Universities of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
, del Salvador, Paris, Quilmes
National University of Quilmes
The National University of Quilmes is an Argentine national university and the most important one in the Quilmes area.The National University of Quilmes was founded in 1989...
and La Plata.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina (1983-1989)
During the government of Raúl Alfonsín (1983–1989) Caputo served as Minister of Foreign Affairs (canciller) of Argentina and was the only minister to serve most of the President's term in office.In this position:
- He signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and ArgentinaTreaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and ArgentinaThe Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina was signed into agreement at the Vatican on 29 November 1984.It was ratified...
which ended the Beagle ChannelBeagle Channelthumb|right|300px|Aereal view of Beagle Channel. The Chilean [[Navarino Island]] is seen in the top-right while the Argentine part of [[Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego]] is seen at the bottom-left....
conflict, in the course of which Caputo took part in a famous television debate with Peronist Senator Vicente SaadiVicente SaadiVicente Leonidas Saadi was an Argentine Justicialist Party politician. He was a senator and governor for Catamarca Province, and became the patriarch of a family that has dominated Catamarca politics since the 1940s....
. - He was one of the promoters of the Grupo de Apoyo a Contadora, which later took the name of Rio GroupRio Group- List of Summit meetings :- See also :* Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, possible successor of the Rio Group* Union of South American Nations...
, for joint and multilateral action by Latin American countries in order to preserve peace and democracy in the region. - He was one of the leaders of the Cartagena Group with the object of taking joint action by indebted countries towards the creditors of the foreign debt.
- During his period in office, accords were agreed with UruguayUruguayUruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and Brasil which formed the basis of MercosurMercosurMercosur or Mercosul is an economic and political agreement among Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Founded in 1991 by the Treaty of Asunción, which was later amended and updated by the 1994 Treaty of Ouro Preto. Its purpose is to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people,...
. - In 1988 he presided over the 43rd General Assembly of the United Nations.
Political activity and public service
During the Falklands WarFalklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
in 1982, Caputo was chief foreign policy advisor to Raúl Alfonsín; on his advice, Alfonsín did not back the military conflict.
Alfonsín's stand, though unpopular at the time, soon proved correct and was partly responsible for his securing the Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
(UCR) nomination in 1983. Raúl Alfonsín was elected president on October 30, naming Dante Caputo Foreign Minister-designate.
Helping shepherd the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina
Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina
The Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina was signed into agreement at the Vatican on 29 November 1984.It was ratified...
to ratification by voters and congress, Caputo was honored with the ceremonial post of UN Assembly President in November 1988.
Following his departure from the foreign minister's desk, Caputo was elected as a national deputy in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
and he served as vice-president of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
In 1992 Caputo represented the OAS and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
as a special envoy. In 1993 he was appointed the UN Secretary General's representative to Haiti, as a sub-secretary of the UN, and negotiated an agreement to allow democratic transition on the island.
Having been a member of the Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
(UCR), Caputo endorsed the FrePaSo ticket ahead of the 1995 general elections, and joined the centre-left party New Space
New Space (Argentina)
New Space of Entre Ríos is an Argentine political party from Entre Ríos Province. -External links:*...
(Nuevo Espacio), later that year. He served as Vice President of the Frepaso coalition from 1996 on behalf of New Space. In 1997, he was once again elected a deputy. He left New Space after personal differences with Carlos Raimundi, and in 1998 joined the Popular Socialist Party
Popular Socialist Party (Argentina)
The Popular Socialist Party was a political party in Argentina formed in 1972 with the merger of the Argentine Socialist Party, the Movimiento de Acción Popular Argentino and other minor groups....
, remaining as vice-president of FrePaSo until 2000. In 1999, he sought the FrePaSo nomination for election as Mayor of Buenos Aires, but lost to Aníbal Ibarra
Aníbal Ibarra
Aníbal Ibarra is an Argentine lawyer and politician who served as mayor of Buenos Aires from 2000 to 2006.-Biography:Ibarra was born in Lomas de Zamora, a district located in the southern region of Greater Buenos Aires. His father was a Paraguayan member of the PLRA who left his country during the...
, who went on to win in 2000.
In 2000, Caputo joined the government of Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa is an Argentine politician. He was president of the country from December 10, 1999 to December 21, 2001 for the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education ....
, who had won the Presidency at the head of the UCR-FrePaSo Alliance
Alliance for Work, Justice and Education
The Alliance for Work, Justice and Education was a party coalition in Argentina around the turn of the third millennium...
, in 1999. Caputo became Secretary of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, resigning in February 2001.
Between June 2001 and September 2004, he directed the Regional Project on democratic development in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
of the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
.
He is a member of the Council of the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights
Permanent Assembly for Human Rights
The Permanent Assembly for Human Rights is an Argentine non-governmental human rights organization; founded in 1975.- History :...
of Argentina and is sub-secretary of the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
.
Publications
- El rol del sector público en el cambio de la sociedad Argentina entre 1930 y 1958. Doctoral thesis. Sorbonne. París. 1972
- El proceso de industrialización argentino entre 1900 y 1930. Institute of Latin American Studies. París 1970
- El poder militar en Argentina (1976-1981). In collaboration. Verlag Klaus Dieter Vervuert. Frankfurt. 1982
- Así nacen las democracias. In collaboration. Emecé. Buenos Aires, 1984
- Democratic culture and governance. Unesco-Hispamérica. 1992
- América Latina y las democracias pobres. Ediciones del Quinto Centenario. Madrid 1992.
- Frepaso, alternancia o alternativa, with Julio Godio. Editor. Buenos Aires. 1996.
- Argentina en el comienzo del tercer milenio. In collaboration. Editorial Atlántida. Buenos Aires
- La democracia en America Latina, 2004, PNUD, (Editor)
- Contribuciones al debate de la democracia en América Latina, 2005, PNUD, Santillana.
External links
- Los debates prohibidos de América Latina, by D. Caputo, at Project Syndicate.
- Dante Caputo: Official biography by OAS