The governments of most Latin American countries are democratic, a Bush foreign policy adviser told about 500 people packed into the Kennedy School's AARCO Forum last night.

In an Institute Of Politics (IOP) debate with Dukakis's foreign policy adviser--Dillon Professor of International Affairs Joseph S. Nye--Lecturer of Public Policy Richard N. Haass said Peru, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala meet his definition of democracy.

Haass added that he would classify 90 percent of all Latin American countries as democracies because they have a free press, hold fair elections and guarantee access to public institutions.

The Bush advisor added that world democracy, though it may not follow the American model, is nonetheless on the rise. He said that because America is an important influence on Latin America, the success of democracy there suggests that the U.S. is now following an effective foreign policy. Bush would continue such a policy, he said.

But Nye said the veneer of an effective foreign policy was more a reflection of the rise in defense spending and loans from foreign countries under the Reagan administration, rather than making responsible budget cuts.

Nye called on the government to stop supporting the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), calling it a usless program.

But Haass said that although Bush would reduce defense spending to balance the budget, he would retain weapons with "large destroy ratios," like SDI. He said the U.S. defense program could be smaller than the Soviet Union's but equally effective.