A Watershed Moment for Guatemala’s Democracy? Part 2
Guatemala’s 2023 electoral process will most likely dodge a bullet, and the presidential runoff election between Bernardo Arévalo of SEMILLA (Movimiento Semilla) and Sandra Torres of UNE (Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza) will take place on August 20, 2023. The runoff campaign itself will be highly polarized, and in the broader picture, there are huge challenges ahead for governability in the short-run and for Guatemala’s democracy in the long-run.
Security Implications of The China-Cuba Alliance
After the Cold War, Cuba and China developed a strong and comprehensive alliance. Today, their collaboration is two-fold. Firstly, the economically-dependent Cuba helps China advance its myriad of interests in Latin America and the Caribbean. Secondly, the alliance meets China’s strategic needs in two broad areas: military-intelligence and biotechnology/neurosciences.
A Watershed Moment for Guatemala’s Democracy? Part 1
When Guatemalans went to the polls on election day on June 25, 2023, the electoral process itself had been questioned nationally and internationally because of the exclusion of three presidential candidates… However, turnout was not the biggest surprise on election day. More remarkable were the choices made by Guatemalan voters, which stunned the Guatemalan political establishment as well as domestic and international observers.
To Understand Mexico’s Tragedy, be Wary of the Strongman Theory
The causes and explanations of how Mexico has regressed to a far more dysfunctional country lie in the somewhat hidden, not-so-thrilling everyday representations of weakness and impotence—the day-to-day stories of stranded and neglected citizens trying to survive government corruption and incompetence. The challenge of being treated as citizens, not thanks to but despite the government, reveals Mexico’s dysfunction
The Impact of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion on Latin America
Today, the impact of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and its ongoing military activities against Ukraine’s population and infrastructure to occupy the country is consistent with the relationship Latin America has had with Europe historically. The effects flowing from that interdependence have been significant and multifaceted against a backdrop of a region-making an effort to distance itself from them.
The Advance of China and Authoritarian Populism in Honduras
In Latin America, it is strategically important that the United States distinguish between principled left-oriented democratic regimes versus those which seek to manage the alarm of Washington and Western investors as they pursue a fundamentally anti-democratic, anti-market, anti-U.S. course. It is time for Washington to recognize that the Honduran regime of Xiomara Castro, Mel Zelaya, and their Libre movement, are on the latter path.
Even When Thinking Regionally, The Inertia of Migration Deterrence Remains Unstoppable
Despite a proliferation of targeted visa restrictions, the reality is that migration has continued. As the option of flights and other regular travel further north has been taken off the board, this has only pushed migrants to take more dangerous paths to the U.S. border, most infamously through the Darien Gap.
The Banker to Dictators: A Call to Elect Accountable Leadership at CABEI
If CABEI as an institution desires accountability, it should reject Mossi’s bid for a second term. A change at the top is the only way to ensure CABEI reverts to its founding mission and reaches its full potential.
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration Must Bet on Transparency, Democracy, and Human Rights
The region only can overcome its challenges through a comprehensive approach. It is impossible to sustainably overcome economic problems without solid democratic institutions that guarantee the rights and freedoms of citizens.
El Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica debe apostar por la transparencia, democracia y derechos humanos
El BCIE tiene la obligación… de contribuir proactivamente a la integración y el desarrollo de la región, en un marco democrático, inclusivo y de respeto a los derechos humanos. Pero para ello, son necesarias una serie de acciones: