Obama, un cable a tierra

Las memorias del expresidente estadounidense (Una tierra prometida) no entregan grandes impresiones acerca de las luchas políticas que debió enfrentar durante sus dos mandatos, ni tampoco de las personalidades internacionales con las que trató. Lo que hace grande a este libro es la percepción que Obama (sus análisis y reflexiones, su confianza intuitiva) tiene de las personas comunes y corrientes. ¿No es eso lo que se espera de un líder, la interpretación de los sueños y temores de la ciudadanía? De manera sutil, entonces, la lectura de esta autobiografía es una suerte de clase sobre la democracia y la responsabilidad que implica asumir la representación de otros.

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In Mexico, AMLO’s anti-corruption referendum falls flat

Last Sunday, a popular referendum—and flagship project of President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO)—asked Mexican voters whether ex-government officials should be subject to investigation and prosecution for allegations of impunity and corruption. However, the referendum, a key component of AMLO’s promises to crack down on graft and government impropriety, was a flop, drawing the participation of only seven percent of eligible voters, well below the 40 percent voter turnout threshold required for the referendum result to be legally binding (although over 98 percent of those who did cast ballots voted in favor of facilitating the prosecution of ex-officials).

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Governance and electoral continuity and change in the Caribbean

The Caribbean has long enjoyed a reputation for being one of the most democratic regions in the world. Despite the Caribbean’s seeming confidence in the ballot, however, countries in the region nevertheless face considerable challenges in keeping their democracies alive. Elections alone do not make a democracy; rather, there are many other factors that must be taken into consideration in order to ensure good governance.

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B3W and BRI in LAC: Five steps for healthy competition

Earlier this summer, leaders of the G7 launched the Build Back Better World (B3W) partnership, promising to develop high-quality, sustainable, and transparent infrastructure around the world. The U.S. has framed the B3W as a form of “strategic competition with China” and an answer to China’s infamous Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

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