John Biehl
Encyclopedia
John Henry Biehl del Río (b. Valparaíso
, 26 August 1939; ˌdʒɒn ˈbiːl) is a Chilean
lawyer, political scientist, and diplomat who served as the cabinet-level Minister Secretary-General of the Presidency
for Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
's administration.
at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso
in his home city, and later national development
in the Netherlands
, and finally political science
at the University of Essex
, where he received his Master's degree
.
Biehl was the founder and director of the Institute of Political Science at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
.
, he is considered more of a Christian Democrat
due to his exile
after the 1973 Chilean coup d'état and Pinochet's rise to power
. He gained diplomatic experience acting as an advisor to various governments. These included that of Óscar Arias
in Costa Rica
, where he worked as a policymaker and speechwriter; The New York Times
referred to him as Arias' "closest confidant" and "alter ego". Biehl also led the successful campaign for Arias' 1987 Nobel Peace Prize
. As a United Nations
official working for the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), Biehl also lived in Honduras
, Mexico
, and Panama
. However, Biehl was forced out of the UN in 1987 after demands by the United States
government, due to unhappiness in the Reagan administration
over his part in Arias' opposition to funding of the Contras
.
During the administration of President
Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
, Biehl was appointed Chile's ambassador to the United States
. He was then appointed Minister Secretary-General of the Presidency
, a cabinet-level role which serves as the link between the executive and the legislative. He served from 1998 to 1999.
(OAS), in the Department of Political Affairs. Among other things, he was named by the Secretary General
, fellow Chilean José Miguel Insulza
, special envoy to direct the mission to observe the regional and presidential elections in Nicaragua
, conducted March 5 through November 5, 2006.
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, 26 August 1939; ˌdʒɒn ˈbiːl) is a Chilean
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
lawyer, political scientist, and diplomat who served as the cabinet-level Minister Secretary-General of the Presidency
Ministry General Secretariat of the Presidency (Chile)
The Ministry General Secretariat of the Presidency is the cabinet-level administrative office which serves in an advisory role to the President of Chile and her or his ministers in the governments' relations with the National Congress of Chile, the development of the legislative agenda, and...
for Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
Eduardo Alfredo Juan Bernardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle is a Chilean politician and civil engineer who was President of Chile from 1994 to 2000. He is currently Senator for Los Ríos and was President of the Senate from 2006 to 2008. He attempted a comeback as the candidate of the ruling Concertación...
's administration.
Early life
Biehl is of Danish ancestry. He studied lawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso
Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso
The Pontificial Catholic University of Valparaíso , is a university of approximately 11,000 students located in Valparaíso, Chile....
in his home city, and later national development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and finally 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 University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
, where he received his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
.
Biehl was the founder and director of the Institute of Political Science at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is one of the six Catholic Universities existing in the Chilean university system and one of the two Pontifical Universities in the country, along with the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. It is also one of Chile's oldest universities and...
.
Diplomatic and political career
Although Biehl had never registered for any political partyPolitical party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, he is considered more of a Christian Democrat
Christian Democrat Party of Chile
The Christian Democratic Party is a political party in Chile and governs as part of the Coalition of Parties for Democracy coalition. In the 2009 election it won 19 congress seats and 9 senate seats....
due to his exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
after the 1973 Chilean coup d'état and Pinochet's rise to power
Chile under Pinochet
Chile was ruled by a military dictatorship headed by Augusto Pinochet from 1973 when Salvador Allende was overthrown in a coup d'etat until 1990 when the Chilean transition to democracy began. The authoritarian military government was characterized by systematic suppression of political parties and...
. He gained diplomatic experience acting as an advisor to various governments. These included that of Óscar Arias
Óscar Arias
Óscar Arias Sánchez is a Costa Rican politician who was President of Costa Rica from 2006 to 2010. He previously served as President from 1986 to 1990 and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end civil wars then raging in several other Central American countries.He is also a...
in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, where he worked as a policymaker and speechwriter; The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
referred to him as Arias' "closest confidant" and "alter ego". Biehl also led the successful campaign for Arias' 1987 Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
. As a 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...
official working for 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...
(UNDP), Biehl also lived in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. However, Biehl was forced out of the UN in 1987 after demands by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government, due to unhappiness in the Reagan administration
Reagan Administration
The United States presidency of Ronald Reagan, also known as the Reagan administration, was a Republican administration headed by Ronald Reagan from January 20, 1981, to January 20, 1989....
over his part in Arias' opposition to funding of the Contras
Contras
The contras is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing Nicaragua's FSLN Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction government following the July 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle's dictatorship...
.
During the administration of President
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
Eduardo Alfredo Juan Bernardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle is a Chilean politician and civil engineer who was President of Chile from 1994 to 2000. He is currently Senator for Los Ríos and was President of the Senate from 2006 to 2008. He attempted a comeback as the candidate of the ruling Concertación...
, Biehl was appointed Chile's ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was then appointed Minister Secretary-General of the Presidency
Ministry General Secretariat of the Presidency (Chile)
The Ministry General Secretariat of the Presidency is the cabinet-level administrative office which serves in an advisory role to the President of Chile and her or his ministers in the governments' relations with the National Congress of Chile, the development of the legislative agenda, and...
, a cabinet-level role which serves as the link between the executive and the legislative. He served from 1998 to 1999.
After the government
Currently, Biehl works for the Organization of American StatesOrganization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
(OAS), in the Department of Political Affairs. Among other things, he was named by the Secretary General
Secretary General of the Organization of American States
According to the Charter of the Organization of American States:-Secretaries General of the OAS:-Assistant Secretaries General of the OAS:*William Manger *William Sanders...
, fellow Chilean José Miguel Insulza
José Miguel Insulza
José Miguel Insulza Salinas is a Chilean politician and statesman. He is currently the Secretary General of the Organization of American States. He is nicknamed El Panzer, for his tank-like drive and reputation due to his ability to take political heat with little apparent damage...
, special envoy to direct the mission to observe the regional and presidential elections in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, conducted March 5 through November 5, 2006.