The British colonies in North America won their independence as a loose
confederation of sovereign states. After war's-end in 1783, they were
able to form a regional federation: the United States of North America.
Despite their efforts, they were unable to include Canada, which was
under strong French influence. British colonials in Asia and Africa
after 1943 were less fortunate. After winning their independence as
Indians or Burmese, they were unable to take the next step and organize
a United States of Southern Asia.
The Bandung Conference (in 1955) of representatives from Asia and
African countries failed to realize the hopes of its conveners. After
prolonged deliberations it was able to go no further than the "five
principles" of self-determination and co-existence, under which the
independence of each participating nation was reaffirmed and each agreed
not to interfere in the internal affairs of its neighbors. The
conference adjourned without establishing any form of organization or
making provision for further meetings.
After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, hopes ran high for the establishment
of a bloc of Latin American States, led by the elected president of
Brazil, Joao Goulart, that might act as a bulwark against further
"yankee aggression" in Latin America. In 1962 a military coup overthrew
Goulart, drove him into exile, jailed and disenfranchised his supporters
and lined up Brazil, largest and most populous nation of Latin America,
solidly behind the Monroe Doctrine of United States supremacy in the
Americas, implemented by Washington's burgeoning "Pentagon diplomacy.
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