VJ Home: Archive: Abstract Article (1999) 3 VJ 1, 41-60 International Arbitration in the Latin American Context - A Comparative Look at Arbitration in Mexico and the United States Jeanne M Cook* Arbitration has not been popular in Latin America despite a culture that often looks for extra-legal solutions to problems. In recent years, the use of arbitration has become an expected, often preferred practice among North American disputants. Latin American countries are slowly beginning to overcome their mistrust of arbitration procedures and have begun to build institutions to accommodate both domestic and international arbitration. This paper argues it is up to the private sector to promote the inclusion of arbitration clauses in commercial contracts and to help build institutional frameworks for carrying out various types of commercial arbitration. * Jeanne M Cook MA JD is currently a graduate research fellow at the Carter Center in Atlanta (United States) (JCook1@aol.com).