The Guard Changes in Argentina – A Quick Snapshot
Milei, the candidate, is now President-Elect Milei. His agenda is radical, to put it mildly.
Scott B. MacDonald
November 21, 2023
Chile’s New Lithium Policy, White Gold, and Geopolitics
Chile holds a significant position in the global economy. As the world shifts from a dependence on fossil fuels to clean and renewable sources of energy, batteries have become a key part of the transition.
Scott B. MacDonald
May 19, 2023
On the Trail of Suriname’s Illicit Gold Proceeds
While gold plays an important role in Suriname’s economy, it has downsides, some of them related to transnational criminal activities, which benefit from relatively porous borders, stretched government resources (related to a lengthy economic crisis) and corruption.
Scott B. MacDonald
May 9, 2023
Suriname’s Tough Road Ahead
The February 2023 riots reflect the pains of a country going through a profound transition. Suriname is struggling through economic difficulties while still waiting for its oil taps to open meaningfully…
Scott B. MacDonald
March 9, 2023
A Global Americans Review of Escaping the Governance Trap
According to Shenai, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala are entangled in a governance trap, which he defines as “a path-dependent equilibrium in which weak states with contested authority fail to penetrate civil society and achieve self-sustaining economic growth
Scott B. MacDonald
February 7, 2023
The Geopolitics of South America’s Lithium Triangle
The United States, China, Japan, and most advanced economies are actively engaged in attempting to secure new sources of lithium—a key element in the transition of the global economy from fossil fuels to renewables.
Scott B. MacDonald
January 17, 2023
A New Age for South America’s Lithium Triangle?
As the world looks for an energy revolution, Latin America’s lithium triangle—Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile—is estimated to hold close to 60 percent of global lithium reserves.
Scott B. MacDonald
December 22, 2022
A Global Americans Review of Managing New Security Threats in the Caribbean
Chami, Teelucksingh, and Anatol have produced a timely and thought-provoking book that has taken a step forward in pulling together broad strands of international developments that are redefining the international security landscape and the Caribbean’s place in these shifts.
Scott B. MacDonald
November 21, 2022
Suriname’s Frustrated Path to Better Governance
While a relatively isolated society can avoid dealing with corruption, Suriname’s increasingly open economy and globally-connected youth are accordingly less forgiving of the old systems of patronage in government.
Scott B. MacDonald
October 19, 2022
A Global Americans Review of Beef, Bible and Bullets: Brazil in the Age of Bolsonaro
Lapper’s Beef, Bible and Bullets provides an excellent guide through Brazil’s current political complexities and the man who would be Trump. It is strongly recommended.
Scott B. MacDonald
September 28, 2022