Carlos Saavedra Lamas: A Vision for Peace

Abstract

As the first Latin American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, this chapter examines Carlos Saavedra Lamas’ contributions to International Relations and Peace Studies and his significant impact on addressing international conflicts on the periphery of European-dominated world affairs. The chapter argues that while de League of Nations collapsed at the onset of the Second World War, it is worth bringing into the study of International Relations the role of Saavedra Lamas as a Latin American actor in regional and global peace. The chapter focuses on three significant contributions to the Latin American understanding of peace and conflict resolution: an understanding of negative peace based on a legalist approach; an alignment with pacifist, liberal internationalist ideas to avoid war through the development of international treaties and multilateral organizations; and the consultation and mediation as means to resolve active or latent conflicts.