Fernando Villavicencio and the Self-Destructive Collaboration Between China and Populist Regimes
Fernando thus had a plausible path to the Ecuadoran presidency, creating a risk of him working from a position of authority to dismantle webs of corruption involving not only Rafael Correa, his cronies, and the Chinese companies he built his presidential administration around but also the broader penetration of the Ecuadoran economy and political system by international criminal organizations.
Ecuador: The Next Domino to Fall to Autocracy?
The U.S. and other like-minded democracies have an obligation to assist Ecuador in combatting criminality while preserving essential civil liberties. Enduring democratic leadership in Ecuador and the world will have to bring both effective law enforcement and civil liberties to douse the fire.
Mexico’s Surge in Violence
Last week, widespread arsons, hijackings, and shootings prompted the government to deploy federal and national guard troops across Mexico. Mexico’s Security Cabinet reported 260 people died during the four days that armed gangs shot civilians, conducted “narco blockades,” and set fire to shops, buses, and cars.
Hate against Venezuelans in Colombia is a ticking time bomb
The risk of violence against Venezuelan migrants in Colombia is increasing as the immigrant population continues to put additional stress on already impacted health, education, and economic systems.
Do not forget October 2
Hoy recordamos la masacre de Tlatelolco, ocurrida el 2 de octubre de 1968 y reflexionamos sobre lo que ha cambiado y lo que sigue igual 52 años después.
Collective Corruption: The Breakdown of Civil Society in Venezuela
Colectivos, or groups of self-organized citizens, have often served to push common causes. In Venezuela, collectives perform the exact opposite function, acting as one of many of Maduro’s tools to divide the country and silence dissenters.
Hear no evil, see no evil: Daniel Ortega in the midst of a crisis
Daniel Ortega has dug in his heels against a mediated solution to the crisis in Nicaragua. His intransigence and the politicization of the state makes it difficult to find a mediated exit to a looming civil war.
Violence in Central America: Do no harm, Mr. Trump
Crime and violence in the Northern Triangle is a regional issue that requires a collective response to the structural factors driving it: weak state capacity, corruption within police forces and the judiciary, and insufficient data. Deporting refugees back to the region doesn’t help.
The 2016 top 10 LGBT stories from Latin America and the Caribbean
This was the year of “politicized backlash” against LGBT rights and tolerance. And yet, the region continued to make enormous strides in the rights and visibility of the LGBT+ community.
The price of normalizing gender violence
Violence against women is a pervasive reality in the Americas. While the state has a primary responsibility in providing protection to women, what role do regular citizens play in the normalization of gender violence?