Latin America in Focus: Recent Episodes
AS/COA Online
Go in depth on the latest trends in Latin American politics, economics, and culture in this podcast series by Americas Society/Council of the Americas.
The Dominican Republic’s Luis Abinader is one of the most popular leaders in Latin America, if not the world, so it may come as little surprise that Abinader appears to be on comfortable footing to win in the first round of the country’s presidential vote on May 19. But then again, the country’s political climate differs from that of the rest of Latin America in that presidents tend to be popular, elections don’t usually go to runoffs, and polarization levels remain low. In this episode, Temple University Professor Emeritus Rosario Espinal talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis, providing a larger context to this Dominican electoral cycle.
This is the fourth episode in our 2024 election series. Prior episodes covered the economic agenda for Panama’s next president, the youth vote in Mexico, and Nayib Bukele’s global reach. Get this content and more electoral insight in this year guide at www.as-coa.org/2024. Access a poll tracker for the Dominican presidential race.
We will host President Abinader at the 54th Washington Conference on the Americas. Learn more about the May 8, 2024 event: https://www.as-coa.org/wca2024Read an Americas Quarterly profile of the president: https://americasquarterly.org/article/the-rare-popular-incumbent/
Jon Orbach produced this episode. Maria Despradel contributed reporting. Carin Zissis is the host. Get other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
The music in this podcast is "Pacholí” performed by Pedro Martínez for Americas Society. Watch the full performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIwKjvpkzN8
Find out about upcoming concerts at: www.musicoftheamericas.org
Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.
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An old adversary of Latin America is back: Dengue. The current outbreak of the mosquito-transmitted disease is the worst in years. Across the region, from Argentina to Brazil to Puerto Rico, images of hospitals filled with patients are coming into view. Four years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, how well-equipped is the region to tackle this one—or those to follow? In this episode, we hear from Dr. Mariangela Simão, the head of the Brazilian Instituto Todos pela Saude and formerly of the WHO. In a conversation with AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison, she covers the outbreak, the strengths and liabilities Latin America has in battling pandemics, and what advice she’d give Brazil’s president.
Learn about AS/COA’s Healthcare Series: https://www.as-coa.org/healthcare
Visit www.as-coa.org/podcast to subscribe at your preferred platform and so you don’t miss future episodes. Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via X at @ASCOA.
The music in this podcast is performed by Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band for Americas Society.
Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org
Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.
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Panama is facing a moment of uncertainty amid an electoral race with eight candidates, droughts affecting the Panama Canal, and fallout over massive 2023 mining protests. But Felipe Chapman, chairman and managing partner of economic and financial advisory firm INDESA, remains optimistic about his country’s future. In a conversation with AS/COA Vice President Randy Melzi, he says Panama’s challenges are “fixable” as he outlines the economic agenda for the next administration.
This is the third episode in our monthly series on 2024 elections in Latin America. Listen to the first episode on Nayib Bukele’s global reach and the second episode on Mexico’s youth vote.
See our Panama election poll tracker at: www.as-coa.org/panama-polls
Get election coverage in our guide at: www.as-coa.org/2024
Visit www.as-coa.org/podcast to subscribe at your preferred platform and so you don’t miss future episodes.
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via X at @ASCOA.
The music in this podcast is "Cadenza con pajarillo,” performed by Eddy Marcano & Trío Acústico for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org
Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.
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Just hours before Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere Brian A. Nichols joined AS/COA in an event covering the state of U.S. policy in the Americas. In a conversation with AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth, Ambassador Nichols laid out the administration’s positions on regional quagmires, such as Haiti’s humanitarian and political crises and the fairness of Venezuela’s July elections. But he also delved into opportunities in the region like partnering on critical minerals and renewable energy with Argentina or deepening already strong economic ties with Mexico. What will Washington do if the Maduro regime doesn’t allow opposition candidate María Corina Machado to run? How will Mexico’s election affect the bilateral relationship? All this and more are covered in this episode.
Watch the video of this event: https://www.as-coa.org/BrianNichols2024
Visit www.as-coa.org/podcast to subscribe at your preferred platform and so you don’t miss future episodes.
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via X at @ASCOA.
The music in this podcast is Arrecife Urbano, performed by Cuarteto de Guitarras de Costa Rica for Americas Society. Watch the performance: https://youtu.be/jUHzWiavG1o?si=0gUQiE_jmUjeNZ8g
Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org
Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.
Follow us on social media:
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In Mexico’s 2024 vote, more than a quarter of eligible voters are under 30 and nearly half are under 40. That means younger voters have an opportunity to play a major role in an election not only for president, but one that will see more than 20,000 seats up for grabs. But they have to participate if they want to have an impact. Me Veo, an organization focused on getting out the vote in this election, is seeking to do just that. Its director, Alexandra Zapata, joined the podcast to spells out ways to get Mexico’s young voters engaged. And in the opening segment, Professor Noam Lupu of Vanderbilt University’s LAPOP Lab explains the latest AmericasBarometer report, which shows Latin America’s young voters may be more committed to democracy than previously thought.
Access the 2023 AmericasBarometer report: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/
This is the second episode in our monthly series on 2024 elections in Latin America. Listen to the first episode on El Salvador’s expat votes and Nayib Bukele’s reach: http://t.ly/H0Lnd
Get more election coverage in our guide at: www.as-coa.org/2024
See our Mexico election poll tracker at: http://t.ly/NPtoz
Visit www.as-coa.org/podcast to subscribe at your preferred platform and so you don’t miss future episodes.
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via X at @ASCOA.
The music in this podcast was performed by Ernest Ranglin at Americas Society. Watch the performance: t.ly/9wmDJ Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org
Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.
Follow us on social media:
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When it comes to corruption perceptions, Latin America is stagnating. And what’s one major obstacle to improvement? Judiciary independence, explains Transparency International’s Luciana Torchiaro. In this episode, she dives deep into how the region fared in her organization’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index, released in January 2024, and tells AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme why attempts to weaken the judiciaries in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Honduras are hindering the battle against corruption. But the news isn’t all bad. She explains how steps taken in the Dominican Republic serve as a model, and why Chile has an opportunity to restore its standing as a regional transparency leader.
Access the Transparency International 2023 report: http://t.ly/nvrSP
Read Luciana Torchiaro’s analysis on the challenges to independent judiciaries in Latin America: http://t.ly/1Q3ZW
AS/COA also monitors corruption progress in Latin America. See our 2023 Capacity to Combat Corruption Index, published in partnership with Control Risks: https://www.as-coa.org/CCC2023
The music in this episode is “Compay” by Ártemis Duo. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRxcjm2Sia4 Find out about upcoming concerts at: www.musicoftheamericas.org
Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: www.as-coa.org/podcast
We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
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2024 will be a big year for Latin American elections, and the first one takes place in El Salvador. Popular President Nayib Bukele is likely to win a race that showcases his regional—and global—influence. Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas’ Roberta Braga explains how Bukele’s social media strategy spreads beyond El Salvador’s borders and calls for a rethink of how online disinformation. Virginia Commonwealth University’s Michael Paarlberg delves into how that message is being received in the large Salvadoran diaspora, which is expected to vote in record numbers this year.
This episode will be the first in a series exploring the year’s elections and the forces shaping them. Catch the series and learn about 2024 elections via our guide at: www.as-coa.org/2024
Read our Explainer: El Salvador's 2024 Presidential and Legislative Elections
This podcast was produced by Executive Producer Luisa Leme with support from Jon Orbach. Carin Zissis is the host.
The music in this podcast is “Receitas de Samba” by C4 Trio and was recorded for Americas Society.
Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.
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2024 doesn’t just mark Mexico’s biggest elections ever, but the tenth anniversary since Morena, the party of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, became an official party. And it now faces a test: will it build on its expanding control or find itself reined in by Mexican voters in June 2024? In this episode, long-time pollster Lorena Becerra and CIDE political scientist Javier Aparicio cover whether Morena could become a hegemonic party akin to the PRI, the challenges for López Obrador’s chosen successor Claudia Sheinbaum and the opposition’s Xóchitl Gálvez, and where Mexico sits in Latin America’s anti-incumbency arc. “Morena’s Achilles’ heel is for them to become part of the old party system at some point,” Becerra tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis. “And that can happen if they don't prove to be different.”
This podcast was produced by Executive Producer Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host.
AS/COA Online will be covering Mexico’s elections. Get regular updates at: www.as-coa.org/mexicoelects2024
Check out our poll tracker at: https://www.as-coa.org/articles/poll-tracker-contenders-mexicos-2024-presidential-vote
Learn about other 2024 elections in our guide at: www.as-coa.org/2024
This podcast was produced by Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host.
The music in this podcast was recorded for Americas Society and includes: “La danza del camalote” by José Caro, https://bit.ly/3GIzaYa as well as "Cheni" and "Nostalgia" by La Bruja de Texcoco. https://bit.ly/48fEkX7
Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.
Follow us on social media:
Twitter/X: @ASCOA
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Earlier this year, Latin American literature lost a champion when Edith Grossman, one of the foremost Spanish language translators, passed away. Grossman not only translated some of the region's master writers, but she advocated for her profession and for the value of reading in translation. In this episode, two acclaimed translators, Megan McDowell and Esther Allen, speak about her legacy, the titles grabbing attention in the United States, the role of women authors in a current Latin American boom, and the connection between books in translation and events in the region today.
Below is a list of authors and titles available in English mentioned in this podcast:
- Why Translation Matters, by Edith Grossman
- The Silentiary, by Antonio di Benedetto, translated from Spanish by Esther Allen, introduction by Juan José Saer
- Zama, by Antonio di Benedetto, translated from Spanish by Esther Allen
- The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, by Mariana Enríquez, translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell
- The Words That Remain, by Stênio Gardel, translated from Portuguese by Bruna Dantas Lobato; Winner, National Book Awards 2023 for Translated Literature
- Seven Empty Houses, by Samanta Schweblin, translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell; Winner, National Book Awards 2022 for Translated Literature
- Ways of Going Home, by Alejandro Zambra, translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell
The music in this episode was performed for Americas Society and includes:
- “Fiesta Manka,” performed by Dario Acosta Teich & Eleanor Dubinsky. https://bit.ly/3uNqRas
- “Editus and "Danzón," performed by Ricardo Ramírez and Edín Solís. https://bit.ly/46CvLo4
- "Isla," performed by Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna https://bit.ly/3T5QJc2
Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org
This episode was produced by Chase Harrison and Executive Producer Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host.
Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast
We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.
Follow us on social media:
Twitter/X: @ASCOA
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/
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On October 29, Colombians voted for mayors and governors across the country, and President Gustavo Petro’s candidates fared poorly in an election that many say served as a referendum on his leadership. Sergio Guzmán, director of Colombia Risk Analysis, talks with AS/COA Online’s Jon Orbach about what we can learn from mayoral races in Bogotá and Medellín, how the overall results provide a window into the mood in Colombia, and why Washington should pay attention to the country’s domestic politics.
This podcast was produced by Jon Orbach. Carin Zissis is the host. Luisa Leme is the executive producer.
Learn more about this year’s Latin American elections at: www.as-coa.org/2023
The music in this episode is “Gentil Montaña” performed by the Fabian Forero Trio. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/OsE9ENAq12Y?si=9B4TStMwJNPf3aK1 Find out about upcoming concerts at: www.musicoftheamericas.org
Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: www.as-coa.org/podcast
We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.
Follow us on social media:
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October was a busy month for Venezuela. The United States eased sanctions on the country’s oil sector, the opposition and the Maduro regime sketched out an electoral roadmap, and María Corina Machado triumphed in the opposition primary. What does all this mean for the country’s energy sector?
"I estimate that instead of getting half a billion dollars per month, they will be getting closer to a billion dollars per month. So, it's a very important amount of money that Maduro could use to improve his electoral chances by spending money for electoral purposes," says Francisco Monaldi, a fellow and the director of the Latin American Energy Program at Rice University’s Baker Institute. He spoke with AS/COA Venezuela Working Group Director Guillermo Zubillaga about the outlook for the sector and Venezuela's 2024 elections.
This podcast was produced by Jon Orbach. Carin Zissis is the host. Luisa Leme is the executive producer.
Listen to an Americas Quarterly’s interview with the White House’s Juan Gonzalez that is mentioned in the episode: t.ly/foX6f
The music in this episode is “Pasa Mi Padre” performed by Jorge Torres. Watch the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgJUwTOsK1w
Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org
Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: www.as-coa.org/podcast
We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Follow us on social media:
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As the world falters in its 2015 Paris Agreement goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Brazil is helping turn the tide. As the country’s Senate approved a bill that would regulate companies releasing more than 10,000 tons of CO2 per year, it looks to start making a profit on emissions too. In this episode, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro’s Emilio La Rovere talks to Luisa Leme about the benefits of putting a price on emissions, Brazil’s comparative advantage, and why Latin America needs to work with industrialized countries to get the world closer to a net-zero economy.
The music in this episode is "Samba do lago" performed by Diego Salvetti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPAmkg-VTtQ Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. https://www.as-coa.org/music
This podcast was produced by Luisa Leme and Jon Orbach. Carin Zissis is the host. Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: https://www.as-coa.org/podcast
We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Follow us on social media:
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Argentines face a three-horse race when they vote for a president on October 22. Each contender has distinct ideas for resolving the country’s economic and security woes. One of those candidates— libertarian Congressman Javier Milei—has brought back the idea of dollarizing the country’s economy. Are voters open to the idea? In this episode, Reuters Correspondent Anna-Catherine Brigida speaks from Buenos Aires about how each candidate is pitching themselves to voters and the interplay between their supporters. “There is a break from some of the traditional parties and left-right,” she told Chase Harrison.
Learn about Argentina’s 2023 vote with our election guide at: www.as-coa.org/2023
Check our Argentina poll tracker at: as-coa.org/ARGpolls
The music in this podcast was performed by Alejandro Brittes Baroque Ensemble for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Watch the performance for Americas Society.
This podcast was produced by Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host. Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: www.as-coa.org/podcast
We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Follow us on social media:
Twitter/X: @ASCOA
Instagram: @ascoa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/
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With Mexico’s two main political alliances selecting Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez as their 2024 contenders, it’s looking likely that the country’s next president will be a woman. But already in Mexico, women hold a range of top political seats and have achieved gender parity in Congress. In this episode, Mónica Tapia talks with Carin Zissis about the history of how Mexican women carved a path to rising political representation, the role of a resurgent women’s movement, and the two women competing for the presidency. Tapia—co-founder of Aúna, an accelerator that helps women gain political roles across Mexico—also explains the next steps, saying: “What needs to happen is that women not only become governor or president, but that they really have their power.”
Learn about Mexico’s elections at: www.as-coa.org/2024
Find out about AS/COA’s Women’s Hemispheric Network at: www.as-coa.org/women
The music in this episode was performed by La Bruja de Texcoco at Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org
This podcast was produced by Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host. Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: www.as-coa.org/podcast
We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Follow us on social media:
Twitter/X: @ASCOA
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Artificial intelligence may spark job loss fears across the Americas, but businesses and people in the region are increasingly adopting the technology. Ángel Melguizo, partner at Argia and Latin America advisor to UNESCO on ethics and AI, outlined what countries need to do to benefit from the AI revolution without leaving people behind. He also covers the urgent need for a “coalition of the good” in terms of AI regulation, and where Latin America stands on the matter.
Learn more about the AS/COA Tech Series: www.as-coa.org/tech
Read Ángel Melguizo on opportunities to advance technology in Latin America: https://angelmelguizo.wixsite.com/angelmelguizo
Hear our previous episode with Melguizo about the China Belt and Road initiative.
https://bit.ly/3KvWjPV
The music in this episode is "Thakita” by Ganesh Anandan, performed by Alejandro Escuer and Felipe Perez Santiago for Americas Society. Learn more about upcoming concerts: musicoftheamericas.org
This episode was produced by Executive Producer Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host.
Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via Twitter: @ASCOA
The second half of 2023 will see Spain take over several EU leadership posts, and Madrid has pledged to deepen its focus on EU-Latin American relations. Could this lead to aflourishing regional relations? Ahead of the EU-CELAC summit in July, author Michael Reid explained the roadblocks to trans-Atlantic integration. From Ukraine to a Mercosur-EU free trade agreement to Venezuela, Reid explains how a lack of a unified Latin American front affects its relationship with Europe and beyond.
The music in this podcast is “La pollera colorá” by Carlota Santana for Americas Society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slc6K5cE44o
Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
In a world struggling with geopolitical uncertainty, how can North America offer a secure environment and economic stability? In this episode, conducted in collaboration with the U.S.-Mexico Foundation (USMF), we explore the answer to this question and more. USMF Managing Director Enrique Perret interviews AS/COA’s Susan Segal about how Canada, Mexico, and the United States can build on 30 years of free-trade ties to drive exponential trade growth. The conversation emphasizes the need to eliminate North American barriers to labor mobility, how the 2026 World Cup gives the region the chance to amplify cultural relations, and how 2024 elections in both the United States and Mexico offer a chance to reframe the discussion around bilateral ties.
Susan Segal is co-chair of USMF’s North Capital Forum this year, taking place in Mexico City in October 2023.
Learn more: https://www.northcapitalforum.com/
The music in the intro and outro of this podcast was recorded for Americas Society.
For more about upcoming concerts, visit: www.musicoftheamericas.org
Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback and comments at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Guatemalans head to the polls June 25 with their country’s democracy at a crossroads. Despite nearly two dozen presidential candidates on the ballot, three key contenders were eliminated and dozens of the country’s corruption-battling prosecutors and journalists face exile or imprisonment. What does this mean for the election? What is the U.S.’s role? How do Guatemala’s youth see their country’s prospects? Veteran journalist Juan Luis Font, a radio anchor with ConCriterio covering his country’s politics in exile, talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis,
Learn more about Guatemala’s elections.
Poll tracker: t.ly/aBnKf
AS/COA’s election explainer: t.ly/YW6g
Guide to 2023 Latin American Elections: www.as-coa.org/2023
The music in this episode is "El arpómetro de Carlos," by P. Coulon and H. Martínez, performed by Ángel Tolosa for Americas Society. Learn more about upcoming concerts: musicoftheamericas.org
This episode was produced by Executive Producer Luisa Leme and Associate Producer Jon Orbach. Carin Zissis is the host. Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via Twitter: @ASCOA
Ecuador’s Guillermo Lasso chose to do something unprecedented on May 17, invoking a constitutional clause that dissolved the National Assembly and triggered a new set of elections for the executive and legislative branches. Now that he’s Lasso ruling by decree, what can Ecuadorans expect in this period of uncertainty? And who are the big players ahead of the upcoming election?
Atrevia’s Quito-based Carmen Sánchez-Laulhé talks with AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison about the road ahead as the Andean country heads into uncharted territory.
The music in this episode is "Yumbo," by Gerardo Guevara, performed by Ensamble InConcerto for Americas Society.
Watch the performance: https://youtu.be/S3Bqxo0hdwg
Find out about upcoming concerts: musicoftheamericas.org
Read our recent coverage of Ecuador’s impeachment process https://tinyurl.com/27cwchvz and timeline of events: https://tinyurl.com/y45b4357
Stay up on what might come next in our 2023 Election Guide: www.as-coa.org/2023
This episode was produced by Jon Orbach. Luisa Leme is the executive producer. Carin Zissis is the host. Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via Twitter @ASCOA
Arthur Bispo do Rosario never intended to become an artist. But he’s now recognized as a pioneering force in Latin American art. After experiencing hallucinations at the age of 29, he was checked in to a psychiatric institution where he spent the rest of his life. While there, he heard voices that told him to recreate all existing materials on earth. It’s from this idea that Americas Society drew the name for its exhibition, Bispo do Rosario: All Existing Materials on Earth. In this episode, we hear a conversation with the four curators exploring Bispo’s life, art, influence, and first U.S. solo show.
The show is open in New York City at Americas Society through May 20. See images, videos, and a pocket book about the exhibition at: www.as-coa.org/bispo
The music in this podcast was "Sexteto Místico" by Heitor Villa-Lobos, performed at Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org
The voice of Bispo do Rosario you hear in this episode comes from the documentary O Prisioneiro da Passagem, by Hugo Denizart. You can watch the film on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/8MzFTaOvsCQ
Check out other episodes at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
We’d love your feedback! Write us at latamfocus@as-coa.org with comments, questions, and ideas.
With Honduras having switched sides to Beijing in March 2023, only 13 countries worldwide recognize Taiwan over China. More than half are in Latin America and the Caribbean. Why are so many of Taipei’s allies based in the region? What happens after a country chooses China? And what do upcoming elections in Paraguay and Guatemala—the two biggest economies that still recognize Taiwan—mean for the future of this East Asian diplomatic tug of war? Florida International University’s Leland Lazarus, who served in U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. foreign service, answers these questions and more in a conversation with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis.
Learn more about upcoming elections with AS/COA’s 2023 guide: www.as-coa.org/2023
Hear about elections in Guatemala in a prior episode: t.ly/1vU2q
Read about Paraguay’s elections: t.ly/Qhb8
Read our guest’s research:
Red Flags among Golden Passports—An Analysis of Chinese Influence in Five Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Program at FIU t.ly/iCPX
What Taiwan Can Learn from Honduras’ Switch to China, Foreign Policy, co-authored with Ryan C. Berg t.ly/Srxo
The music in this episode is “El Choclo” performed by Sergio Reyes and Emilio Teubal for Americas Society. Watch the performance: https://youtu.be/czRjMxxM_eM
Find out about upcoming concerts: musicoftheamericas.org
This episode was produced by Jon Orbach. Luisa Leme is the executive producer. Carin Zissis is the host. Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at ascoa.online@as-coa.org or via Twitter @ASCOA.
Latin America’s startups have spent the past three years navigating the tricky macroeconomic environment wrought by the pandemic. Now, they’re fending with high interest rates, a tightening pool of venture capital, and—oh yeah!—the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. AS/COA CEO and President Susan Segal explains why the collapse won’t rattle Latin America’s markets and how the region’s startups can thrive amid uncertainty, and she offers her short-term macroeconomic concerns.
- Check out other episodes at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
- The music in this podcast is "Las dos milongas" performed by Estefanía Melonio (https://youtu.be/KMu5nVWZlFY) and “Descarga Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga” performed by Uzzo Ismael (https://youtu.be/28MeIwqw4y4). Learn more and find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org
When thinking about challenges for U.S.-Mexico ties, corn might not be the first thing to come to mind. But a simmering trade dispute over a potential Mexican ban of GMO corn could have enormous consequences for these intertwined economies. In this episode, North American trade expert Diego Marroquín tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about the potential impact of such a ban and why the case is a “litmus test for Mexico’s commitment to USMCA.”
The music in this podcast is performed by Tembembe Ensemble Continuo for Americas Society.
Watch the video of this performance: https://youtu.be/MHA33RgI51o
Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org
Other music in the podcast was performed by Botellita de Jerez and Nostalgia Huasteca.
Learn more about Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast
March 5, 2023 marks 10 years of President Nicolás Maduro’s rule in Venezuela. Maduro has overseen a decade of economic turmoil, democratic backsliding, and a mass exodus of more than seven million Venezuelans. How does the government operate? And what will the 2024 elections bring? Bloomberg journalist Fabiola Zerpa and Amherst College professor of political science Javier Corrales discuss Venezuela’s political history and prospects with AS/COA Senior Director Guillermo Zubillaga.
Check out other episodes at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
The music in this podcast is: “Zumba Cum Laude” by C4 Trío. https://youtu.be/F_pdNY_wz5k
Learn more at: musicoftheamericas.org
After his phone was hacked with Pegasus spyware four times, El Farojournalist Roman Gressier and 21 colleagues at the Salvadoran outlet decided to sue a software manufacturer in a U.S. court. His lawsuit is part of a growing effort to regulate the exploding market for digital surveillance worldwide. But can anything stop governments from using these tools? Gressier tells AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison about the case, the role of Pegasus in Central America, and why he is pessimistic about the future of spyware.
Check out other episodes at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
The music in this podcast is: “Epílogo para Jazmín” by Monique Fernandez. https://youtu.be/KwI1mtzOOwA
Learn more at: musicoftheamericas.org
What’s the mood on the ground in Guatemala and Argentina, both of which hold presidential elections this year? Given voter dissatisfaction, will they follow the regional trend of backing the other side and bucking the status quo? Universidad del Valle de Guatemala’s Marielos Chang tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis why voters in the Central American country are frustrated by corruption and a dizzying array of political parties. Meanwhile, Cefeidas Group’s Juan Cruz Díaz talks with AS/COA’s Luisa Leme about what to watch in the race for the Casa Rosada and why runaway inflation will play a role in the outcome.
For more on this year's Latin American elections, visit our guide: www.as-coa.org/2023
The music in this podcast is:
“Descarga Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga” performed by Uzzo Ismael
“Admonición” performed by Fátima Abramo and Asunción Cantero
Learn more at: musicoftheamericas.org
Hear some of the uncovered stories of the year. Sofía Ramirez Aguilar of México ¿Cómo Vamos? details why Mexicans, who long had one of the lowest vacation rates in the world, got some good news in time for the holiday season. Claudio Ruiz of Derechos Digitales explains Chile’s moves to be a digital rights pioneer. And journalist Simeon Tegel talks about the controversial Mayor-elect of Lima Rafael López Aliaga, who has his eyes on the presidency. The music in this podcast is Eric Kurimski Quartet performing “Ya.” Watch the video: https://youtu.be/PbrXlWnGtFoLearn more about Latin America in Focus at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
It could cost up to $6 trillion a year to finance the transition away from a carbon-intensive economy. That’s triple the current yearly global commitment. What would it take to rapidly expand the amount of financing available for decarbonization, sustainable infrastructure, and compensation for the effects of climate change? The UN’s Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez and Marsh McLennan’s Amy Barnes explains how the public and private sector are funding decarbonization and the transition to a green economy. Listen to the music included in this episode performed by Alejandro Escuer: http://y2u.be/ARW3j2Vyslw.
The U.S. dollar is stronger than it’s been in decades against currencies around the world. But that’s not true across Latin America where, in some cases, smart policies by governments and central banks have helped keep domestic currencies steady. XP Investment’s Alberto Bernal tells AS/COA Vice President Randy Melzi which countries have been successful and which are at risk.
This episode features a quiz! Get the answers to the lightening round of currency trivia at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
The music featured in this episode is "Adiós Fulana" (A.M. Peñaloza) performed by La Manga for Americas Society. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/bP7pC7Fd_XU Learn more at: https://musicoftheamericas.org
In January, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will start a third term as Brazil’s president two decades after he began his first—and in a remarkably changed world. In this episode, former U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Thomas Shannon tells Executive Producer Luisa Leme what Lula’s comeback means for Latin America, U.S. relations, China, and the world.
To learn more about this year’s Latin American elections, visit: www.as-coa.org/2022
The music in this episode is "Tarde de Chuva" by Paulo Moura, performed by Cliff Korman Ensemble for Americas Society. Learn more at: www.musicoftheamericas.org
In September, a group of hacktivists known as Guacamaya sparked reverberations across much of Latin America when it released millions of documents and emails from the military and police forces of Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, and Peru. In this episode, UC San Diego’s Cecilia Farfán Mendez explains the impact of the leaks in Mexico, which accounts for six of the 10 terabytes of data released. And Cybersecurity expert Juan Pablo Castro explains why Latin America’s militaries were so susceptible to attacks and whether the identity of Guacamaya matters at all.
Learn more about Mexicans’ views of their military: t.ly/9SG1
Hear a recent Latin America in Focus episode about how cyber attacks in Costa Rica expose a regional threat. https://bit.ly/3zoFZuq
Listen to the music included in this episode performed by Julio Cobelli https://youtu.be/ER52AFZct5E and Trio Miramar https://youtu.be/8lWSqRZjkmo
On October 2nd, Brazilians split the ballots—and the country—between former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Quaest pollster Felipe Nunes talks about whether the polls got the first round wrong, how Lula and Bolsonaro are now dueling for the battleground state of Minas Gerais, and why Lula needs to fight against voter abstention to secure a win in the October 30 runoff.
Listen to our previous episode with Felipe Nunes on Brazil's first-round vote. https://bit.ly/3yHpJoh
For a Brazil runoff poll tracker and more on this year’s Latin American elections, visit: www.as-coa.org/2022
The music in this episode is “Galopada” by Itiberê Zwarg, recorded for Americas Society. Learn more at www.musicoftheamericas.org.
Every election cycle, both Democrats and Republicans are reminded of the power of the Latino voter—who are now the second largest demographic group in the electorate. However, is either party’s approach to this group effective? And are Latinos really a cogent voting bloc? Two experts, Clarissa Martinez-De-Castro of UnidosUS and Sabrina Rodriguez of The Washington Post, discuss Latinos’ top issues, how to perform effective outreach to this group, and how the landscape of Latino politics changes between South Florida and Texas.
UnidosUS national poll of Latino voters: t.ly/Jv7W AS/COA Online Latino vote tracker: t.ly/8IxE Access reporting by Sabrina Rodriguez via The Washington Post: t.ly/SxFn Music by Quinteto Latino for Americas Society: https://youtu.be/jBQn-DwzMPs
From the presidential state of the union to Independence Day, September in Mexico is a politically momentous time. This year, it saw President Andrés Manuel López Obrador usher through a deepening military control over public security just in time for independence celebrations. In this episode, political analyst Carlos Bravo Regidor talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about AMLO’s military moves, the building of his legacy, and how it all relates to a 2024 presidential race that’s already well underway.
Listen to a prior episode with Bravo Regidor about AMLO’s first 100 days in office: t.ly/BFOZ
Hear other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
The music in this episode is Cantos de México by Carlos Chávez performed by Orquesta Pasatono for Americas Society.
Pollster Felipe Nunes talks with AS/COA Online about swing votes, electoral issues, and what’s at stake for the Lula and Bolsonaro presidential campaigns ahead of the October 2 presidential election. In addition, John Hopkins University’s Beatriz Rey explains why Congress matters more than ever to the next president of Brazil.
Access polls and learn more about the Brazilian election at: www.as-coa.org/2022
The music in this podcast was “Sarará” by Yamandu Costa performed for Americas Society. Watch the video of “Sarará.” https://youtu.be/xI2oMLOkUbI Learn more about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org.
Latin America in Focus is taking a break to recharge and we’re reissuing one of our favorite episodes this year. We hope you get a chance to take time off and that you can join us for new episodes soon about Brazil’s elections, Chile’s constitutional vote, and more.
Demand for lithium is expected to keep growing exponentially in the race to ensure we can power our smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. That could be a boon for Latin American economies, home to the lithium triangle countries of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. But of course, things aren’t always that simple. Luna Lithium’s Emily Hersh talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about statist approaches, environmental worries, community concerns, and prospects for a lithium OPEC.
The music featured in this podcast is “Labyrinth” (Pinna) by Franco Pinna for Americas Society En Casa series. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/HlgK96H9zLU
Starting in April, Costa Rica experienced a debilitating cyberattack that crippled the government and the private sector’s ability to operate. It also served as a warning to countries across Latin America about how high the stakes are on digital crimes. On the podcast, AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison talks to Belisario Contreras, the former head of cybersecurity for the Organization of Americas States, about how prepared the region is to protect its digital assets.
The music in this episode is Costa Rica’s Manny Oquendo performing at the Americas Society. Learn more at: musicoftheamericas.org
As economies around the world face inflationary pressures, they may want to check the Latin American playbook. Otaviano Canuto, fellow at the Policy Center for the New South and former World Bank president, talks about why the region is positioned to avoid the runaway inflation woes of the past. But he also warns of social unrest on the horizon amid a shift toward populist leaders who make promises they just can’t keep.
Also in this episode, AS/COA Vice President Brian Winter covers the results of the 2022 Capacity to Combat Corruption Index and why Latin America’s anti-corruption drive is alive and well.
Access the CCC Index https://www.as-coa.org/ccc2022
The music featured in this episode is “Mamãe Oxum,” recorded by Alexandre and Douglas Lora, and “Tarde,” performed by the Cliff Korman Ensemble. Watch the videos of "Mamãe Oxum" https://youtu.be/b7CXYzQNoLw and "Tarde" https://youtu.be/c_BT3ud-V88
Colombians dealt a blow to the political status quo by picking two anti-establishment candidates to face off in the second round of their 2022 presidential election. The Washington Post’s Bogotá Bureau Chief, Samantha Schmidt, tells AS/COA Online’s Jon Orbach who they are, what they’re proposing, and tales from a recent trip to one of their hometowns.
Election guide: www.as-coa.org/2022 Runoff poll tracker: https://bit.ly/3H7VgT4
The music in this episode is Nilko Andreas Guarín performing “Guitar Prelude No. 4 (H. Villa-Lobos)” for the Music Program at Americas Society. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/UIcEcfAXK8U
It’s been a bumpy road to the June 2022 Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, which comes as the hemisphere faces challenges like pandemic recovery, spiking inflation, and waning support for democracy. In this episode, AS/COA Senior Director Steve Liston, former U.S. deputy national coordinator for the Summits of the Americas, compares this round to its historic predecessors, explains what distinguishes the event from other summits, and covers what’s needed to make future ones a success.
Read Americas Quarterly’s Special Report on the Summit: t.ly/-gD8 Get the who, what, where, when, why of the Ninth Summit: t.ly/UOn7 Check the guest list: t.ly/C9By
The salsa music in this podcast was recorded by Uzzo Ismael for Americas Society. Watch him perform “Descarga Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga” on YouTube. https://youtu.be/28MeIwqw4y4
In her first 100 days, Honduran President Xiomara Castro has taken some steps forward on campaign pledges, but her leadership has been overshadowed by two former presidents: her outspoken husband and Juan Orlando Hernández, who was extradited the United States on charges of narcotrafficking. Can she take control of the reins? AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison spoke to journalist Jeff Ernst, who covers Honduras.
The music in this episode is Aurelio Martínez performing at the Americas Society. Watch a video of his performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAZav1XOz7w
The choice of a running mate gives a presidential hopeful a chance to widen the net, solidify a profile, or win over a rival’s supporters. What can we glean from vice-presidential choices in Brazil and Colombia, both of which hold game-changing elections in the coming months? In this episode, we hear from Colombia Risk Analysis’ Sergio Guzman on VP choices for the top three candidates, as well as how Gustavo Petro’s running mate Francia Márquez reframed the race. Then Fundação Getulio Vargas’ Thomas Traumann explains Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s vice-presidential play for the center and why incumbent Jair Bolsonaro’s ticket is all about him.
For polls and more on this year’s Latin American elections, visit: www.as-coa.org/2022
The music in this episode is Danilo Brito performing Madrigal Merencório for Americas Society. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/KTjGiMJQn9o
One year ago, Guillermo Lasso beat the odds to capture Ecuador’s presidency. After some early successes, Lasso finds himself struggling to work with a fragmented Congress, as security problems mount. What’s the path forward for the business-friendly leader? Paolo Moncagatta of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito explains Lasso’s options.
See AS/COA’s Brazil elections poll tracker: https://bit.ly/3v2H2NU The music featured in this podcast is Santiago Del Curto "Three Smiles for Tracey" by A. Hailstork for Americas Society. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/UeAaxFk-LrE
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has long pledged that voters would get to decide whether he should finish his six-year term. One constitutional reform and millions of signatures later, they’ll get to do just that in a recall vote on April 10. But, given that all signs point to voters of all stripes agreeing he should finish his time in office, why hold it? Journalist and political analyst Fernanda Caso of Gatopardo and Latitud 3°12 shares answers with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis.
See AS/COA’s tracker of AMLO’s approval: t.ly/mH9E Find out about other Latin American votes in our 2022 election guide: https://as-coa.org/2022 Hear Caso on Gatopardo’s weekly podcast: t.ly/Lzyw The music featured in this podcast is Mexico’s Ónix Ensamble performing Charles Halka’s “Por la fuerza las tierras” for Americas Society. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/jWsPOXVYS8I
Jair Bolsonaro drew criticism for meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. Why would the Brazilian president take such a questionable step? One big reason was fertilizer imports that power his country's agricultural sector, but it looks like the trip did little to stem rising food prices. In this episode, Samantha Pearson, São Paulo-based correspondent for The Wall Street Journal tells AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison how the conflict in the Ukraine is being felt economically and politically in Latin America.
The music in this episode is “Menino das Laranjas" performed by Jamile Staevie and Saul Cosme. Watch the video: https://bit.ly/3CFe61S
Read Pearson’s coverage of how the conflict is affecting Brazilian agriculture: https://on.wsj.com/3CAMgUu
In the pandemic, Latin American countries used every bit of fiscal space to stimulate their economies and aid their populations. Now, says Ilan Goldfajn, the director of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department, they face the reality of ensuring fiscal responsibility while also increasing the region’s growth potential and balancing social demands. In a public AS/COA event, he addressed the region’s path forward.
The music in this episode is “New Padjanbel," performed by the Jacques Schwarz-Bart Quintet. Watch the video: https://bit.ly/3LTVyis
Colombians could get three chances to cast ballots for the next president this year: in March’s interparty consultations, May’s first round, and a June runoff. A crowded candidate field ahead of the March elections—which coincide with legislative elections—is indicative of widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo, says Muni Jensen, a former Colombian diplomat now a political analyst with the Albright Stonebridge Group. She gives a rundown of the notable candidates, the mood of voters, and how the new Congress may be reshaped.
More coverage at AS/COA’s 2022 Election Guide: as-coa.org/2022
The music in this episode is “Las Horas,” performed by Colombian trio Trip Trip Trip. Watch the video: bit.ly/3gJfKoZ
Demand for lithium is expected to keep growing exponentially in the race to ensure we can power our smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. That could be a boon for Latin American economies, home to the lithium triangle countries of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. But of course, things aren’t always that simple. Luna Lithium’s Emily Hersh talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about statist approaches, environmental worries, community concerns, and prospects for a lithium OPEC.
We dive into the under-covered but crucial issues facing the region this year. In this episode: AS/COA's Eric Farnsworth gets into how the high number of U.S. ambassador vacancies can upend Washington's Latin America policy, U.S.-Mexico Foundation's Axel Cabrera and Pedro Casas Alatriste cover why a surge in migration to Mexico could prompt a change to the immigration narrative, and the Panama Canal Authority's Ilya Espino de Marotta explains how supply chain delays and climate change affect the hemisphere's busiest waterway.
The presidential runoff between the right’s José Antonio Kast and the left’s Gabriel Boric leaves many voters feeling like “orphans” with no political home, raising a fundamental question about what type of democracy Chile wants, says CNN Chile host and La Tercera columnist Paula Escobar Chavarría. In this interview, she talks about what makes a candidate extreme, the ways Kast and Boric risk alienating female voters, and the parallels between Chile’s 2021 presidential race and the first vote in which she participated: the 1988 referendum.
At November’s COP26 climate conference, countries met to generate stronger action on climate change. In attendance was Institute Talanoa’s Natalie Unterstell, a former Brazilian negotiator at climate summits. Unterstell talks to AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about what happened at COP26, what it means for Latin America, and what more Brazil—the region’s biggest contributor to climate change—can do.
November brings with it two tricky electoral tests in Central America—Nicaragua on November 7 and Honduras on November 28. Both will be major tests for the countries democratic systems and for the ability of citizens to make their voices heard. In conversations with AS/COA Online, International Crisis Group’s Tiziano Breda explains the electoral scenario for both elections while El Milenio’s Juan Pablo Sabillón explains his organization’s efforts to battle young voters’ discontent with democracy.
October 2021 opened with big shifts in areas high on Mexico’s agenda: security and energy. Both issues are, arguably, the most crucial to the country’s future course. In conversations with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis, UC San Diego’s Cecilia Farfán-Méndez covers what’s new—and not so new—in an updated U.S.-Mexico security accord while Montserrat Ramiro, former commissioner of Mexico’s energy regulatory agency, gets into why a new electricity reform is sparking discord.
We're one year out from Brazil's October 2022 presidential vote, but there are a lot of clues about the shape of the race already. IDEIA Big Data’s Mauricio Moura tells AS/COA Online's Luisa Leme how Jair Bolsonaro’s approval ratings, the pandemic, technology, and Brazilians' lack of interest in politics could make—or break—the incumbent’s reelection plans.
On September 7, El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt a cryptocurrency as official legal tender. But while President Nayib Bukele has grown accustomed to high levels of popularity, citizens marked the country’s September 15 bicentennial by protesting his Bitcoin decision. The National Association of Private Enterprise’s Leonor Selva tells AS/COA’s Chase Harrison about implementation missteps and what other Latin American countries are learning from the experiment.
Luis Rubio, president of México Evalúa, joins AS/COA’s Carin Zissis to dig into how President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will work with a newly elected legislature as he shapes his legacy halfway into his presidency, as well as how U.S.-Mexico relations do—and don’t—work as a check on the Mexican leader’s power.
Acquiring hundreds of millions of vaccines is one thing. Getting them in the arms of hundreds of millions of Latin Americans is another. But partnerships with the private sector, existing vaccination networks, and the potential for boosted domestic production could upgrade the pandemic outlook for a region that could use some bullish pandemic projections. Direct Relief’s Thomas Tighe and Dr. Marco Aurelio Sáfadi talk with us about the on-the-ground logistics of vaccine rollout in the region.
Journalist Mitra Taj and legal expert Alonso Gurmendi discuss the bumpy road ahead for Peru’s president elect, who faces opposition in Congress and among Lima’s elite, but whose presidency could change the face of the country’s politics and redefine the left.
In recent years, Latin America’s political pendulum has swung from building strong institutions toward electing strong leaders. The shift weakened the region’s nascent anti-corruption movement, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t bright spots. AS/COA Vice President and Americas Quarterly Editor-in-Chief Brian Winter talks with Luisa Leme about the findings of the 2021 Capacity to Combat Corruption Index and explains why the pandemic only heightens the need to strengthen anti-graft mechanisms.
Read more: www.as-coa.org/cccindex
The 2021 Copa America kicks off June 13 in an almost empty stadium in Brasília. The tournament was slated to take place in Argentina and Colombia, but a combination of Covid-19 and social unrest forced them to give it up. Still, with Brazil struggling to overcome the pandemic, politicians, players, and fans alike are asking: Is now the time to be hosting a major sporting event? Felipe Cárdenas, staff writer for The Athletic, talks with AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison about the controversies surrounding the Copa.
With Mexicans casting ballots for roughly 21,000 seats nationwide, the June 6 elections give voters a chance to assess President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s political movement nearly halfway through his presidency. El Financiero pollster and ITAM political scientist Alejandro Moreno tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis covers what polls show about shifts in support, the pandemic’s impact, polarization, and more.
Learn more about the 2021 Latin American elections at: www.as-coa.org/2021
Chile kicks off its electoral cycle in May with a vote for local, gubernatorial, and constitutional delegates and concludes with the selection of its next president. Isabel Aninat of Universidad Adolfo Ibañez in Santiago joins AS/COA Online’s Luisa Horwitz to discuss what’s at stake in each vote taking place.
The transition to a fully digital world for many Brazilians reaffirmed data protection as a fundamental right. Still, concerns over both data privacy and protection loom large for the country after the recent implementation of a new data protection law and ahead of next year’s general elections. Rafael Zanatta of the Data Privacy Brasil Research Association joins Katie Hopkins to discuss.
Sonarimba, imbaluna, sinusoido, ululante. Joaquín Orellana’s musical sculptures have unusual names, formed by mixing words to describe the sounds they create. Co-curators Sebastian Zubieta and Diana Flatto tell us about the career of Guatemalan composer and artist featured in The Spine of Music.
Learn more about the exhibition: https://www.as-coa.org/orellana Watch and listen to Efluvios y puntos: https://youtu.be/TZpeCMolCAk
Ecuadorans were hoping for something new. Peruvians simply want a government that will work. In both countries, which hold elections on April 11, voters are largely unenthused by traditional politics—but have few viable alternative options. We preview both countries’ April 11 elections in conversations with Professors Alonso Gurmendi and Grace Jaramillo.
There may be few silver linings to the pandemic, but accelerated financial inclusion in Latin America is one of them. In this episode, Luz Gomez and Arturo Franco of Mastercard’s Center for Inclusive Growth tell AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis how COVID-19 compressed a decade’s worth of financial inclusion achievements into one year, and why the progress is crucial in a region that has long battled informality.
“I hate to say this, but democracy is not in good shape at the moment,” says former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, in conversation with ex-White House Chief of Staff Mack McLarty. In light of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the two discuss their thoughts on how the United States can repair its leadership image in the Western Hemisphere, with moderator Eric Farnsworth of AS/COA. Watch the full video of the discussion: t.ly/mmx6
Joe Biden pledged a shift from Donald Trump’s policies when it comes to Central America, particularly on issues like migration, democracy promotion, and corruption. In this episode, we speak to Salvadoran journalist Nelson Rauda of El Faro about the differences between the two presidents' approaches to the region and how that will impact domestic politics in countries like El Salvador and Honduras.
February marks a year since the first coronavirus cases were confirmed in Latin America. Now the pandemic has entered a new phase, one in which countries are trying to roll out vaccines as quickly as they can even as variants threaten to undermine the protection those vaccines offer. In this episode, COVID-19 researcher Dr. Roselyn Lemus-Martin covers vaccine rollout in the region while Doctors Without Borders’ Pierre Van Heddegem gives a ground-level view of a variant-fueled outbreak in Brazil’s Amazonas.
From tensions over the U.S. investigation against a Mexican general to reversing the Trump administration's immigration policy, there are plenty of pressing topics on the U.S.-Mexico agenda. COMEXI President and Mexico’s ex-Deputy Minister for North America Sergio Alcocer tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis how bilateral relations could shake out in 2021 and beyond.
From an absent president to illegal fishing to agro-tech, AS/COA Online dives into under-covered—but important—issues facing Latin America in a year of competing headlines. In this episode: AEI’s Ryan Berg talks about the deepening crackdown on Nicaragua’s opposition, Pew’s Dawn Borg Costanzi covers what the region can do to slow illegal fishing, and Frubana’s Carlos Upegui Echavarría gets into how the pandemic has accelerated change for the region’s food businesses.
Read more: t.ly/mYQn
Latin America should use the current crisis to “push for a greener, digital, and more inclusive future for the region,” said International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. In this conversation with AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal, the economist outlined the structural reforms the region must undertake to avoid stagnation.
With growing climate change concerns and the rising cost of oil extraction and production, governments around the world are considering reactivating their economies with more sustainable and less fossil fuel-reliant investments. IHS Markit’s Steven Knell and Escopo Energia’s Lavinia Hollanda explain what it takes to spur the development of renewable energy in Latin America.
If there isn’t quality, factual content on a topic, trolls and bots will be there to fill the gap with disinformation on online platforms. Claudia Flores-Saviaga, a Facebook fellow and PHD candidate at West Virginia University, tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis what that meant for Latino voters in the 2020 U.S. election and for Spanish speakers overall, as well as ways to stop the spread of disinformation.
Unrest, a pandemic, polarization, and an election. In 2020, we could be referring to a number of countries. But in this episode, we’re talking about Chile’s transformational year, beginning with an October 2019 protest against a transit-fare hike that sparked a movement to rewrite the country’s dictatorship-era constitution. Santiago-based journalist John Bartlett gives an on-the-ground view of what it’s been like to cover the country through it all.
Most Latin American countries have yet to reopen schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. What does it mean for Latin America’s present and future human capital development? Brookings Institution’s Emiliana Vegas and Tinker Foundation’s Caroline Kronley cover the problems, but also the silver linings, of the disruption in schooling.
Remittances help pay medical bills and keep people fed in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In Latin America, where many work informally and don’t have access to government assistance, the cash migrants send to their loved ones can even boost political stability and provide a buffer for national economies. In this episode, we hear about remittance trends in pandemic times from Creative’s Manuel Orozco, NYU’s Roy Germano, and Remitly’s Matt Oppenheimer.
The pandemic is upending education as we know it. But even before COVID-19 hit, political unrest sparked by economic and social inequality proved the desire for a conscientious approach to business. In this episode, Joanne Li of FIU Business and Ignacio de la Vega of Tecnológico de Monterrey’s EGADE tell AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis how their programs are adapting to both COVID-19 and the drive for compassionate leadership.
Watch the deans’ participation in an AS/COA panel on business schools in the Americas: www.as-coa.org/bizeducation
Women were already struggling to achieve gender equity in Latin America. Then along came COVID-19, threatening jobs and bringing new burdens at home. PepsiCo’s Monica Bauer and Think Olga’s Juliana de Faria talk about the hurdles, as well as the opportunities arising for women in the region during the pandemic.
Learn about the AS/COA Women’s Hemispheric Network at as-coa.org/women.
Was President Nayib Bukele’s tough-on-crime approach the reason behind El Salvador’s murder rate dropping 60 percent during his first year in office? International Crisis Group’s Tiziano Breda tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis there’s more to the story.
Read the report co-authored by Breda titled “Miracle or Mirage? Gangs and Plunging Gang Violence” here: https://bit.ly/3jQMi0n
Around the world, tales of pandemic mismanagement abound. But there are success stories as well, such as Uruguay. The country’s PAHO representative, Dr. Giovani Escalante, spoke with AS/COA Online about the country’s quick steps—from voluntary quarantine to an integrated healthcare response—to contain the pandemic.
Earlier this month, as demonstrators across the United States took to the streets to oppose police violence, Mexico was witnessing protests of its own following the extrajudicial killing of a construction worker by police in Guadalajara. Roberto Hernández, a lawyer and co-director of the film Presunto culpable, delves into the findings of World Justice Project report showing the high rate and underreporting of police brutality. As he tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis: “Mexico is using torture and ill treatment as investigative tools.”
Get the WJP report: https://bit.ly/3hDdQW3
If Latin America is now being described as the new coronavirus epicenter, then Brazil’s raging outbreak is a major reason why. But that doesn’t mean solutions don’t exist. Marcia Castro is chair of the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard University and a demographer who has done extensive research on malaria and Zika. She tells AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme that, despite leadership mistakes, “There is still time,” explaining that one answer lies in the country’s teams of community health workers who make up part of Brazil’s universal healthcare system.
Find out more about COVID-19 in Latin America at: www.as-coa.org/coronavirus
“Latino outreach” shouldn’t just be in Spanish. U.S. Latinos are split on deportation policy, and they’re being hit hardest economically by COVID-19. In this episode, AS/COA Online chisels away at the data on the voting bloc with Mark Hugo Lopez of the Pew Research Center.
In Brazil, the coronavirus is a crisis that’s piling up on top of a previous recession, deforestation worries, and political polarization. AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme spoke with three prior Latin America in Focus guests—Mauricio Santoro, Tai Nailon, and Maria Antonia Tigre—to understand the pandemic’s impact on China relations, misinformation campaigns, and the environment.
Past episodes with our guests:
How Asia-Brazil Trade Shifted Bolsonaro's China View https://j.mp/3bPYcn4
Fact-Checking Brazil's Misinformation Crisis https://j.mp/3eWtdHM
Can International Law Save the Amazon? https://j.mp/2VPW6hn
“It felt like doing a movie,” says Cuban-American photojournalist Lisette Poole, talking to AS/COA Online’s Luisa Horwitz about her 51-day journey documenting two Cuban women migrating through 13 countries to reach the United States in 2016, before the end of Washington's “wet foot, dry foot” policy.
“We need to understand that health security is national and global security,” says the University of Miami president, a former health minister of Mexico and dean of Harvard University’s School of Public Health who has held decision-making roles during a number of pandemics. Dr. Frenk tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis that, with a fraction of what’s been lost in the stock market during this pandemic, “we could have competent surveillance and preparedness systems. But again, this is the invisible part of the health system. It’s the thing that we only notice when it fails.”
Learn more about how the pandemic is affecting Latin America: https://www.as-coa.org/covid19 Learn about our Healthcare Series: https://www.as-coa.org/healthcare
Abril, Ingrid, Fátima. It’d take seven more names to get to 10—the average number of women killed daily in Mexico. Though the country poured resources into battling the violence, the femicide rate rose 138 percent from 2015 to 2019. And women are taking to the street to demand action. EQUIS Justice for Women’s Ana Pecova talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about why Mexican institutions have failed to stop rising femicide, as well as the changes needed to turn the tide.
Read Pecova’s award-winning piece, “Derechos de papel.” https://bit.ly/2VFTJOC
Despite challenges like economic hardships and culture wars, the film industry faces big changes in countries such as Brazil and Argentina. Still, Latin America’s booming sector is making its mark in festivals and screens globally. Film critic Ela Bittencourt speaks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about how the world’s perception of cinema from the region is shifting.
Films cited: Bacurau, by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles (Brazil) http://bit.ly/385Ws6d
Zama, by Lucrecia Martel (Argentina) http://bit.ly/391xl69
La Flor, by Mariano Llinás (Argentina) https://nyti.ms/3aavBaW
Coffee with Cinnamon, by Glenda Nicácio, Ary Rosa (Brazil) http://bit.ly/2SYYYqP
The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmão, by Karim Aïnouz (Brazil) http://bit.ly/3a4GTNG
Fintech in Latin America is growing, and Argentine entrepreneur Pierpaolo Barbieri talks with AS/COA Online about how technological innovations in the financial sector are transforming the economy in both his own country and the region at large.
Is Latin America suffering from secular stagnation? Bloomberg's John Authers interviews the IMF's Western Hemisphere Department Director Alejandro Werner on the economic scenario in 2020 as the region—and the world at large—face uncertain times.
In 2020, Brazil's economic woes might be similar to those of last year, but the world around it is changing fast. The Peterson Institute's Monica de Bolle talks about the country's nationalistic government and its efforts to recover growth amid global concerns about Brazilian climate change policy and rising discontent in Latin America.
Ahead of January 26 special legislative elections in Peru, we talk with constitutional law expert Alonso Gurmendi of Universidad del Pacífico about what makes these elections “weird” and how the country’s Magna Carta is holding up amid considerable constitutional strain.
2019 closed with disruption and discontent across much of Latin America. If we didn’t see last year’s wave of protests coming, what are the stories we’re overlooking as 2020 starts? James Bosworth, author of Latin America Risk Report and founder of Hxagon, talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about what to watch in the coming year.
Get the Latin America Risk Report newsletter: https://boz.substack.com/
After his first six months in government, Jair Bolsonaro has been more disruptive when it comes to social issues than tackling Brazil stagnant economy. Can he fix the country’s problems? Economist Monica de Bolle of SAIS and the Peterson Institute for International Economics tells AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about Brazil’s economic growth problems and explains what’s standing in the way as the new government tries to get the country back on track.
As Andrés Manuel López Obrador rounds out his first 100 days in office as president of Mexico, CIDE’s Carlos Bravo Regidor talks with AS/COA's Carin Zissis about his popularity, use of corruption as a political weapon, “omnipresence” through message control, and nostalgia. “He has this fantasy that he’s going to be able to choose his place in posterity,” says Bravo Regidor.
Follow Carlos Bravo Regidor on Twitter: twitter.com/carlosbravoreg Learn more about AMLO’s first 100 days: www.as-coa.org/amlo100
He’s 37, a social media maven, and he won El Salvador’s presidential election without the backing of the country’s two main parties. Nayib Bukele, an ex-mayor of San Salvador, isn’t exactly a political newcomer. But his June inauguration will end 10 years of the leftist FMLN in power. Bukele spoke with CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera our COA’s 49th Washington Conference about U.S. ties, Venezuela, China, and an ambitious promise on immigration.
The #2019WCA conference lineup included U.S. VP Mike Pence, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, and Colombian VP Marta Lucía Ramírez. See what they had to say: www.as-coa.org/wcarecap
After a month of protests, the Chilean government agreed to a major demand of reform-minded protestors: one for a new constitution. Now the challenge is to figure out not only what that constitution will look like, but who will be at the table to write it. In this episode, constitutional lawyer Claudia Sarmiento talks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Horwitz about the importance of female participation in drafting a new magna carta.
One year into his presidency, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, or AMLO, is riding a wave of popularity. But the country’s homicide rate keeps going up while economic growth slows, raising questions about whether AMLO’s approval could take a hit. Pollster Jorge Buendía and IMCO’s Alexandra Zapata explain what could challenge AMLO’s popularity.
President Jair Bolsonaro’s warming to China can be explained by the strong economic ties Brazil has with Asia, but there’s still a learning curve for the Sino-Brazilian partnership. Political scientist Maurício Santoro talks about the growth of Chinese investment in Brazil, the impact of the U.S.-China trade war on Latin American economies, and what Asia ties mean for issues like the Amazon and Mercosur.
Argentina’s 2019 presidential competition ended on October 27, when Alberto Fernández and running mate ex-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner won in the first round, unseating President Mauricio Macri. Buenos Aires-based Special Advisor to AS/COA Juan Cruz Díaz talks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Horwitz about Macri’s legacy, the importance of the presidential transition, and the future of Argentine foreign relations.
Uruguay’s 2019 race might not yield major political shifts, but the next president will still face unknown territory, says American University’s Arturo Porzecanski. With the first-round vote on October 27, the professor and international economist tells AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme what is driving voters’ desire for change, how a new right-wing party entered the scene, and steps his country should have and could still take to become a Singapore-style success story.
Marie Arana’s Silver, Sword, and Stone takes the readers from pre-Columbian times through the region’s conquest, independence movements, dirty wars, and right down to the present. In doing so, the book explores three driving forces in the region’s history: mining—and particularly mining, violence, and religion through the tales of three contemporary Latin Americans. In this episode, the award-winning author tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis why she wrote this sweeping history now. Find out more about her work at www.mariearana.net.
The Amazon fires have sparked international calls to curb deforestation, but the nine countries that are home to the region need to make a coordinated effort, says Maria Antonia Tigre, an environmental attorney and doctoral candidate at PACE University. “There needs to be practical guidebook of what [governments] plan and want to do.”
Half of all peace agreements fall apart within five years. Three years after signing a storied deal, ex-FARC rebels say they’re taking back up their arms. The situation—compounded with election violence and a tense situation with neighboring Venezuela—is sobering, says Muni Jensen of the Albright Stonebridge Group, but Colombia nonetheless has a pragmatic president in office and a relatively solid economy.
Brazil is a vast country. But how open is it actually? To examine this question, four architects set out to show what is often hard to see, creating a series of ten oversized, interdisciplinary maps in the exhibition, Walls of Air: The Brazilian Pavilion at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale, on display now at Americas Society. In this episode, architects Laura González Fierro and MIT's Gabriel Kozlowski speak with AS/COA Online's Luisa Leme about the maps, which show how things like immigration, climate change, housing, and more are shaping architecture and urban development in Brazil today.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador made a campaign pledge to stop using the military for policing. But last month, he inaugurated a National Guard—a force he plans will be 150,000 strong. But does it offer something different from prior security policies? UC San Diego’s Cecilia Farfán-Méndez explains the National Guard to AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis.
After his first six months in government, Jair Bolsonaro has been more disruptive when it comes to social issues than tackling Brazil stagnant economy. Can he fix the country’s problems? Economist Monica de Bolle of SAIS and the Peterson Institute for International Economics tells AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about Brazil’s economic growth problems and explains what’s standing in the way as the new government tries to get the country back on track.
Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexican goods is over—for now. The next question is how a U.S.-Mexican deal seeking to stem migration will take shape. Mexico Security Initiative’s Stephanie Leutert tells host Carin Zissis why Mexico might succeed at slowing Central American migration—if only in the short term.
Listen to our previous episode with Leutert covering the migrant caravan crisis: https://bit.ly/2yv74wz
It’s become known as the week that changed everything, or at least everything in Guatemala’s presidential race. In mid-May, two of the country’s three leading presidential candidates were disqualified from running. That leaves one woman, Sandra Torres, standing as the frontrunner. But she doesn’t necessarily have it in the bag. Political scientist Marielos Chang tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis who’s in and who’s out ahead of the June 16 vote.
On May 15, Brazil's new government saw its first national protests since Jair Bolsonaro took office as thousands across the country protested new budget cuts. But the 40-million-students system has challenges that go beyond ideological or budgetary battles. In this episode, Nova Escola’s Leandro Beguoci talks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme and gives a perspective from the ground on how education is becoming part of Brazil’s civil society debate, where performance gaps exist, and lessons from countries that invested in education during periods of economic hardship.
He’s 37, a social media maven, and he won El Salvador’s presidential election without the backing of the country’s two main parties. Nayib Bukele, an ex-mayor of San Salvador, isn’t exactly a political newcomer. But his June inauguration will end 10 years of the leftist FMLN in power. Bukele spoke with CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera our COA’s 49th Washington Conference about U.S. ties, Venezuela, China, and an ambitious promise on immigration.
The #2019WCA conference lineup included U.S. VP Mike Pence, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, and Colombian VP Marta Lucía Ramírez. See what they had to say: www.as-coa.org/wcarecap
From Pinar del Rio to Havana, Paris to New York, Cimafunk is taking his Afro-Cuban sound on the road. AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez sat down with the emerging musician and AS/COA Music Director Sebastián Zubieta to discuss the evolution of Cimafunk’s sound at home and abroad. Hear more Cimafunk at www.cimafunk.com. Learn more about upcoming Americas Society concerts at www.musicoftheamericas.org.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega running down his political and economic capital, says former U.S. Ambassador John Feeley in this conversation with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland on the one-year anniversary of when civil unrest first broke out in the Central American country. The ex-diplomat also talks about his firsthand experience of the diplomatic tug-of-war between Taiwan and China in the Central America.
Viewed as the outsider candidate in Brazil’s election last year, President Jair Bolsonaro took office January 1 with promises to address some of the country’s biggest problems: economic growth, corruption, and security. But running as an outsider and governing are proving to be two very different things. AS/COA Brazil experts Brian Winter and Roberto Simon take stock of Bolsonaro’s performance negotiating pension reform with Congress, warming up to the United States, and fighting crime and corruption.
As Andrés Manuel López Obrador rounds out his first 100 days in office as president of Mexico, CIDE’s Carlos Bravo Regidor talks with AS/COA's Carin Zissis about his popularity, use of corruption as a political weapon, “omnipresence” through message control, and nostalgia. “He has this fantasy that he’s going to be able to choose his place in posterity,” says Bravo Regidor.
Follow Carlos Bravo Regidor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlosbravoreg Learn more about AMLO’s first 100 days: www.as-coa.org/amlo100
In an effort to deliver law and order for voters doubting democracy, President Jair Bolsonaro promised to renew politics in Brasília. The problem with that plan? Brazil’s multiparty system—also known as Congress. Fundação Getulio Vargas’ Carlos Pereira talks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about the new president’s legislative strategy—and the headaches he faces.
For more on the start of the Bolsonaro government, visit: http://www.as-coa.org/bolsonaro100
Just as Cuba’s Revolution marks its 60-year anniversary, the country is preparing to vote on the biggest constitutional overhaul since 1976. Cuba analyst Michael Bustamente and Cuba Working Group (CWG) head Alana Tummino sat down with AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez to discuss the changes and the online debate taking place ahead of the February 24 constitutional referendum. Learn more about the AS/COA CWG at as-coa.org/cuba
If a crisis was already simmering in Venezuela, in the past month it’s boiled over. Guillermo Zubillaga, head of the AS/COA Venezuela Working Group, talks with Holly K. Sonneland about everything from China’s calculus in the current political standoff, the generosity of Colombia and Canada, and how we might yet be surprised as to how this all ends.
“Latin Americans are not thrilled with democracy, but there’s very little evidence that…voters prefer any alternative,” says Steven Levitsky, co-author of How Democracies Die. In this interview with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland, the Harvard professor talks about Brazil’s election, strategies for the Venezuelan opposition, and the lack of female authoritarians.
Since Andrés Manuel López Obrador won the election by a landslide in July, observers have been looking for clues about whether the incoming president, who takes office December 1, will end up being a populist or a pragmatist. Former Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis why Donald Trump and AMLO have gotten along so far—and what might burst the bubbles. Plus, Speyside Mexico’s Amy Glover explains why AMLO is giving the private sector the jitters, but why we should give the new administration a chance.
Follow Sarukhan for commentary: https://twitter.com/Arturo_Sarukhan Read Glover’s column: https://bit.ly/2P50h2l Find out more about Mexico’s 2018 election and transition: www.as-coa.org/mxelex
Was Brazil’s presidential election the epicenter of fake news crisis? Aos Fatos’ Tai Nalon spoke with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about how misinformation on social media and closed messaging applications such as WhatsApp can interfere with democracy, and what that means on a global scale. Learn more: www.as-coa.org/brazil2018
Brazil elected far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro as president and the markets are rallying. “It is a change in route in the Brazilian economy that is much appreciated, considering that we have been in a recession for a very long time,” says J.P. Morgan’s Emy Shayo of the economic platform proposed by Bolsonaro’s pick for economic minister, Paulo Guedes. Learn about the country’s economic prospects under Brazil’s next administration. Get more information about Brazil’s election at: www.as-coa.org/brazil2018
Thousands in a migrant caravan are making their way on foot, through tear gas, and over rivers to get from Central America to the United States. "They know what they're facing when they hit Mexico, they know what they're facing with the Trump administration…and they keep moving forward," Stephanie Leutert, Mexico Security Initiative director at UT Austin’s Strauss Center, tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis in an episode that takes stock of Mexico’s migration policy as it prepares for a new president.
What worries Peru’s leaders? They don’t want to go to jail, says past and future presidential candidate Julio Guzmán of the Purple Party in this interview with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. Guzmán also talks about the opportunity he finds in everything from the Pacific Alliance, to Peru’s youth, to the reversal of Alberto Fujimori’s pardon.
The Trump administration disputed the Hurricane Maria death toll. We went to the source. AS/COA Online’s Brian Harper interviewed epidemiologist Dr. Ann Goldman, part of the team on the George Washington University report on excess mortality in Puerto Rico after the storm. “Using excess mortality as an indicator in a disaster situation is a good, fast way to start to get a handle on it,” said Dr. Goldman, who herself is from the island.
Access the GW report: https://bit.ly/2wwqEqF
“This is a country that has been through massive traumas over the last couple of years. And you might say ‘okay, so they’re going to bottom out, things couldn’t get worse.’ Things could get worse.” In this podcast episode, AS/COA Online interviews two in-house Brazilian experts, Americas Quarterly Editor-in-Chief and AS/COA Vice President Brian Winter and new AS/COA Senior Director of Policy Roberto Simon, on what’s at stake ahead of the October 7 first-round vote, candidates’ advantages and disadvantages, and the overlooked congressional elections.
Learn more about the Brazilian elections at as-coa.org/brazil2018 Get the poll numbers at as-coa.org/brazilpolls
For decades, Venezuela welcomed immigrants. Now, it’s Latin America’s time to welcome the 2.3 million migrants who’ve fled the country in the last five years, says Human Rights Watch Senior Researcher Tamara Taraciuk Broner, lead author of the report, The Venezuelan Exodus. She tells AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland about the report's findings and regional recommendations.
Access the HRW report: https://bit.ly/2x17ZnV Learn more about AS/COA’s Venezuela Working Group at: as-coa.org/vwg
On September 1, Mexico witnessed the historic opening session of a new federal Congress. Why historic? Because it represented an upending of the prior party system. With sweeping wins in the July elections, MORENA, the party of incoming President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, holds a solid majority in both houses. Odracir Barquera, who served as a chief of staff in the last Senate, talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about changes in the legislature, who can be a counterweight, and gender parity in Congress.
For more on Mexico’s elections, visit: www.as-coa.org/mxelex
Cuba’s private sector has made a significant leap since its opening, counting nearly 600,000 micro-businesses owners, or cuentapropistas, today. Among its best-known entrepreneurs are the founders of Clandestina, Cuba’s first independent fashion label. AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez spoke to Idania del Rio and Leire Fernandez about their experience launching their business, the implications of the latest private-sector reforms, and the future of same-sex marriage on the island.
This conversation took place at an AS/COA Young Professionals of the Americas event. Find out more at: www.as-coa.org/ypa
Since protests broke out in April, the number of Nicaraguans killed in clashes between the government and protesters—now over 300—is greater than the number of protestors killed in Venezuela in all of 2017. How did this small Central American country, lauded for having the second-fastest growing economy in the hemisphere, get to this point? Political analyst Javier Arguello tells AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez how President Daniel Ortega systematically consolidated power over the last 40 years and how Washington might in fact be Managua’s best hope these days.
Net undocumented migration from Mexico to the United States ended a decade ago, says Princeton sociologist Douglas Massey in this interview with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. And even though Central American migration of families is expected to continue, there’s just not the demographic potential for it to become what Mexican migration was, due to smaller populations and lower birth rates.
At 64, Mexico’s presidential frontrunner Andrés Manuel López Obrador is the oldest candidate, but that’s not stopping 51 percent of millennials from backing him. Their support matters: They have the potential to account for nearly half of the electorate, explains Nación321’s Pancho Parra. From the Wikipolítica movement to how viral humor has defined the race, we cover how the country’s youth are looking at politics and their futures.
For more on the Mexican election go to: www.as-coa.org/mxelex Check out Nación321’s 2018 millennial poll: https://bit.ly/2KdlgT6 Listen to our first podcast with Pancho Parra on millennials and the future of Mexican elections: https://bit.ly/2N2MucI
The closer we get to Mexico's July 1 vote, the more Andrés Manuel López Obrador's poll lead grows, and some 3,400 seats are up for grabs-about 60 percent more than in the 2012 vote-which helps MORENA, AMLO's political party. "MORENA will have a lot of jobs to offer," pollster Jorge Buendía told AS/COA's Carin Zissis in Mexico City. "And the question here is, then what are going to be the checks and balances on López Obrador?"
Check out Oraculus' "poll of polls." https://oraculus.mx/ Access our Mexico Election Guide. http://www.as-coa.org/mxelex Check the poll tracker. https://bit.ly/2s1fvMl
Separating fact from fiction is a growing challenge in an era of fake news and "infoxification," given that we consume four times the amount of information that we did in 1986. Moreover, citizens are increasingly turning to peers over leaders, explained Partner and COO of Latin America for Llorente & Cuenca Luisa García. Listen to her conversation with AS/COA's Alana Tummino at a June 2018 Young Professionals of the Americas event in New York. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2sOYsgU
In this special episode of Latin America in Focus, we travel to Cuba to meet with cuentapropistas, Cuban entrepreneurs faced with the challenges of evolving policies in both Washington and Havana. This episode is in Spanish.
El anuncio de Donald Trump el junio pasado, la suspensión de las licencias para negocios privados en Cuba, el huracán Irma, la reducción del personal en ambas embajadas, son todos parte de la serie de eventos de la segunda mitad del 2017 que culminó con una caída turística devastadora para los cuentapropistas en Cuba. Leani Garcia y Elizabeth Gonzalez de AS/COA entrevistaron a emprendedores durante una visita a la isla.
Aprenda sobre el Grupo de Trabajo de Cuba de AS/COA: www.as-coa.org/cuba Suscríbase a nuestra serie de podcast: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Some 80% of Latin Americans live in cities—more than twice 1950’s rate. How did these urban areas become the metropolises we know today? In this two-segment episode, we look at the history and future of Latin American cities. First, 100 Resilient Cities’ Eugene Zapata-Garesché explains how cities are leading public policy today. Then the Getty Research Institute’s Maristella Casciato and Idurre Alonso walk us through The Metropolis in Latin America, 1830–1930, an exhibition running through June 30, 2018, at the Americas Society gallery.
Listen to an AS/COA Online podcast with Zapata-Garesché about Mexico’s September 2017 earthquake. https://bit.ly/2DL2TNe
Learn more about The Metropolis in Latin America exhibition at http://www.as-coa.org/metropolis and if you can’t make it to the show in New York, check out a video here: https://youtu.be/PAy_1U-2CR8
With the May 20 presidential vote unlikely to bring regime change, the international private sector might be more effective than sanctions at putting pressure on Nicolás Maduro, Northwestern University’s Daniel Lansberg-Rodríguez tells AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. If and when Venezuela’s recovery comes, he says, it’ll be quicker and more robust than many expect, due in no small part to a highly educated, entrepreneurial diaspora. Learn about our venezuela working group at www.as-coa.org/venezuela and see the latest AQ issue on "Rebuilding Venezuela" at https://bit.ly/2wMskQh.
In 1994, the first Summit of the Americas took place just after the Cold War amid growing faith in democracy. But, over time, the Summit became increasingly marked by divisions. As the VIII Summit takes place in Lima, AS/COA’s Eric Farnsworth offers this quick take on the issues on the table and ways the event can become more effective.
We hope you enjoy this podcast. If so, write us a review and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, or Stitcher.
It’s election time in Mexico, and that means mudslinging and memes. It also means an unhappy electorate. A study found that Mexicans are more distrustful of their government than people in any of the other 27 countries surveyed, Edelman México’s Mariana Sanz tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis. But certain sectors shine in Mexicans’ view and one is civil society. Gabriela Hernández Cardoso of Méxicos Posibles explains a new citizens’ initiative and its hope to tackle the country’s problems of illegality, insecurity, and inequality.
Access Edelman’s 2018 Trust Barometer: https://bit.ly/2GdgNwS Find out about Méxicos Posibles: https://bit.ly/2GhG74O Write us a review and subscribe to our podcast series: http://www.as-coa.org/podcast
Iván Duque and Gustavo Petro are leading the presidential race, but both will have their work cut out for them to expand their bases ahead of the May 27 first vote and June 17 runoff, says legal analyst Alvaro Forero Tascón. The country is both fragmented and divided, AS/COA’s Adriana La Rotta tells colleague Holly K. Sonneland—but that’s actually a sign of just how healthy Colombia’s democracy is in 2018.
In Chile, center-right Sebastian Piñera replaces center-left Michelle Bachelet as president on March 11. Meanwhile, El Salvador’s March 4 legislative and municipal elections saw conservative parties picking up seats at the governing party’s expense. But, in both cases, to what degree did voters turn right and to what degree did they turn against the parties in control? Carin Zissis speaks with American University’s Héctor Silva Ávalos about what El Salvador’s election means for next year’s presidential race and Elizabeth Gonzalez talks with NYU’s Patricio Navia about what Piñera will seek to accomplish in his first 100 days.
For more about Latin American elections, visit www.as-coa.org/2018.
The music in this podcast was recorded at an Americas Society concert. visit www.musicoftheamericas.org for more information about upcoming performances.
How has the #MeToo movement made 2018 the year of the woman and what does it mean in a Latin American context? We speak with Dr. Felicia Knaul, director of the University of Miami's Institute for Advanced Studies of the Americas, and Susan Segal, president and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas, about how #MeToo has created a space for dialogue about women in the workforce, from being what Knaul calls "passionate professionals" to giving women, particularly in Latin America, "the right space to thrive," says Segal. Both women share insights from their careers in the spheres of public health and banking.
Both women will speak at AS/COA's Women's Hemispheric Network forum in Miami on February 22. Join the conversation at: www.as-coa.org/miami2018
Segal talks about what inspired her to launch the network. Learn more about the initiative and hear women share their experiences at: www.as-coa.org/women
During the podcast, Dr. Knaul speaks about findings from a report on women and health for The Lancet. That study can be downloaded for free here: http://bit.ly/1BUcn1j.
Just before taking off on his Latin America tour this month, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned about China's growing engagement in the region. But with the TPP off the table and the future of NAFTA in doubt, there's more room than ever for China to fill the vacuum left by United States. The OECD's head of the Latin America and Caribbean unit Ángel Melguizo speaks with AS/COA Online's Elizabeth Gonzalez about how the region can shape its relationship with Beijing. Listen to our first podcast with Melguizo at as-coa.org/newchina and watch the full AS/COA panel on sharp power at as-coa.org/sharpower
On the eve of February 4 general elections, the greatest bloc of Tico voters are still undecided about who they’re going to pick for president. No fewer than six candidates have legitimate chances at making it into the Easter Sunday runoff, say pollsters Felipe Alpízar and Ronald Alfaro of the University of Costa Rica’s Center for Research and Political Studies in this episode with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. A January 9 court ruling on gay marriage is only fueling voter anxieties, especially among conservatives.
Get the background on the election, top candidates, and more on the 2018 Costa Rica elections at https://www.as-coa.org/cr2018 and find out about Latin America’s big year of elections at https://www.as-coa.org/2018.
If 2017 was the year that changed the United States, 2018 will be the year that could change Latin America. A wave of elections will wash across the region, with voters choosing between the status quo and a rising tide of outsiders. All of this takes place as the United States increasingly looks inward, sparking questions about NAFTA’s fate and China’s global role. AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis hosts our first podcast of the year in which Luisa Leme talks with Americas Quarterly’s Brian Winter about the region’s packed electoral calendar, Eric Farnsworth of COA’s Washington office explains why trade will be a headline issue, and Venezuela Working Group head Guillermo Zubillaga tells Holly K. Sonneland that Caracas needs an intervention.
If you like this podcast, please subscribe, review us on iTunes, and hit share to tell your friends about the series. We’ll be covering elections all year, so head to www.as-coa.org/2018 for more on Latin America’s packed electoral calendar.
Improbably, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is still in power at the close of 2017. But he'll lose "handily" in the 2018 presidential election—provided it's a remotely free and fair contest—said Mark Feierstein. The NSC senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the Obama administration talked with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland about electoral strategies, sanctions, and baseball.
“If there is any silver lining to this crisis, it might be that finally we will see a new political class emerging,” says Edwin Meléndez, Director of CUNY’s Center for Puerto Rican Studies, in this podcast with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme.
Chileans vote for president November 19, though the chance that they’ll have to vote again in a December 17 runoff is almost certain. So far, former President Sebastián Piñera has a 20-point lead against his closest competitor, former news anchor Alejandro Guillier, but turnout will be the final determining factor. Political scientist Patricio Navia tells AS/COA’s Elizabeth Gonzalez why.
Venezuela has invited bondholders to Caracas on November 13 to renegotiate $66 billion in external debt—but restructuring is not going to be possible under the administration of Nicolás Maduro, says Siobhan Morden, head of Latin America fixed income strategy at Nomura Securities International, in this podcast with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland.
On September 19, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook Mexico City to its core, but also showed strides made since the last big one in 1985. “There is, of course, always room for improvement,” says 100 Resilient Cities’ Eugene Zapata-Garesché. He talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about how the capital can learn from the most recent disaster to ready itself for inevitable future quakes.
2017 has been turbulent for Mexico, thanks in part to a new occupant in the White House. From NAFTA negotiations to presidential elections, there’s much at stake in the coming year as well. Victor Herrera, the former office head for S&P’s Global Ratings in Mexico City, speaks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about Mexico’s big issues to watch.
Chile’s economy is slowing down, and the governing party may pay the price when the November 19 presidential election comes around. Former Finance Minister Felipe Larraín, who is now heading candidate Sebastián Piñera’s economic platform, talks with AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez about tax reform, youth unemployment, copper, and more.
The Peterson Institute’s Gary Hufbauer talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about the ins and outs of NAFTA renegotiations, covering everything from rules of origin to trade deficits, as well as explaining how U.S. President Donald Trump could actually make good on his threats to withdraw from the 23-year-old deal.
Con las elecciones primarias para el congreso el 13 de agosto, el Gobernador de Córdoba Juan Schiaretti comparte su perspectiva sobre el panorama político y el rol internacional de Argentina.
Para o Procurador Geral da República Rodrigo Janot, as ações da Lava Jato contra a corrupção no Brasil são irreversíveis, mas a resposta para a crise política no país deve vir do Congresso e eleitores durante as eleições de 2018. Em entrevista a Luisa Leme do Conselho das Américas em Nova York, Janot falou sobre o poder das delações premiadas e como o Ministério Público está trabalhando com outros países da América Latina. Read an English translation of this interview: as-coa.org/janot
More than 11 percent of Venezuelan children now suffer from moderate to severe malnutrition, which puts the country at crisis levels, says health and nutrition expert Susana Raffalli, who spoke with AS/COA's Guillermo Zubillaga about how the government is squarely responsible for the crisis and could fix it in as little as six weeks—if it wanted to.
Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement might make Latin American countries more competitive in the global shift towards a clean economy. Brown University's Guy Edwards spoke with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about how the region can attract investments for clean energy and resilient infrastructure while playing a global role in the climate change fight.
Brazil’s political crisis does not mean there aren’t new economic opportunities in the country. Prospectiva Consulting’s Ricardo Sennes spoke with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about how the government is attracting new investments amid corruption scandals and what presidential candidates need to do to be successful in the upcoming elections.
It’s election season in Chile, marking the start of a long electoral cycle across some 10 Latin American countries voting for president through 2018. Chile’s first-round vote isn’t until November 19, but presidential hopefuls are already prepping ahead of the July 2 primary. Political scientist Patricio Navia spoke to AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez about the top issues and candidates in the race.
Francisco Goldman spent nearly two decades living off and on in Mexico City when he decided to take on a daunting task: learning to drive in the biggest megalopolis in the Americas. In a conversation with poet Mónica de la Torre at the Americas Society, the writer talks about his memoir The Interior Circuit, wending his way through his driving adventure, politics and crime in the capital, and the city’s circus-like energy.
Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) has taken on the role of arbiter when it comes to negotiating U.S. agricultural trade to Cuba, sponsoring a bill that allows U.S. firms to let Cuba pay for exports with credit. The legislator has been working with Cuban-American lawmakers to widen the base of support on Capitol Hill and line up with the White House's trade agenda. “This fits very well in the Trump model: bilateral trade deals, and jobs, and America first,” he told AS/COA Online's Elizabeth Gonzalez in this interview.
Brazil’s pension reform delay is an obstacle for the country to regain its investment-grade credit rating, Fitch Rating’s Rafael Guedes told AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme. The head of the ratings agency in Brazil explains the rocky road for rising investor confidence to translate into sustained economic growth.
“Signing an accord is really not the key. Implementing the accord is the key,” says Virginia Bouvier, a senior advisor for peace processes at the U.S. Institute of Peace. She tells AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland which agenda items are still pending, the role of the international community, and how everything from elections to the weather affects Colombia’s landmark deal.
En Latinoamérica, al menos cuatro países hoy en día han legalizado matrimonios del mismo sexo. Sin embargo a pesar de esto, los avances en los derechos de la comunidad LGBT están rezagados en comparación con la opinión pública en la región. Jaime Parada Hoyl, el primer político abiertamente gay elegido en Chile, conversa con Elizabeth Gonzalez de AS/COA Online sobre los desafíos que enfrenta su país y la región en general.
Tras haber sido una de las regiones del mundo con mayor representación femenina en la política, el hemisferio occidental podría quedarse sin ninguna presidenta o primera ministra en el 2018. Violeta Domínguez del banco de desarrollo CAF habló con Elizabeth Gonzalez de AS/COA Online sobre los avances alcanzados y los obstáculos que impiden cerrar la brecha de género en las Americas.
What’s the next step for Mexico in its 10-year-old drug war? What would it take to end the country’s corruption epidemic? Who will win the 2018 presidential election? Jorge Castañeda, ex-foreign secretary of Mexico, spoke with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis, sharing answers to these questions and how they relate to turbulence in U.S.-Mexican ties under the Trump administration.
China’s growing middle class is an opportunity for Latin American economies, but the region has to be proactive about it, says Angel Melguizo. The head of the Latin American and Caribbean Unit in the OECD’s Development Center tells AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez about the changing relationship with Beijing, from rising trade with Mexico to Venezuela's loans.
Something surprising happened with the Mexican peso since Donald Trump took office. The currency, which took a beating during the U.S. election, started making gains. So what’s ahead for the Mexican economy? Jorge Suárez-Vélez, a columnist with El Financiero, tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis what’s working for and against Mexico as we begin the Trump era.
Despite uncertainty facing North America over NAFTA, there are positive trends across Latin America, from the biggest to the smallest economies, says Alejandro Werner, the fund's Western Hemisphere director, in this podcast with AS/COA Online's Holly K. Sonneland.
After a year of political and economic turbulence in Brazil, Maurício Santoro of the Rio de Janeiro State University spoke with AS/COA Online's Luisa Leme about what the rise of political outsiders and a global protectionist tone mean for the country in 2017 and beyond.
El general retirado Antonio Rivero es uno de los pocos militares venezolanos que ha salido de los rangos del chavismo. Y ha pagado cara su defección. En este episodio, el general habla con Holly K. Sonneland de AS/COA Online sobre el nivel de descontento entre los cuadros militares en Venezuela, la probabilidad de que haya una salida “de fuerza” a la crisis actual y las diferencias entre el Presidente electo de EE.UU. Donald Trump y el fallecido Presidente de Venezuela Hugo Chávez.
How will Cuba change after Fidel Castro’s death and with a new U.S. president taking office? Richard Feinberg shared his insights with AS/COA’s Alana Tummino at a launch for his new book Open for Business: Building the New Cuban Economy.
While pundits piece together what was behind a Trump win in the U.S., Mexicans are looking ahead to their 2018 presidential vote. The results could be just as hard to predict, thanks to shifting political views held by millennials. Nacion321’s Alejandro Moreno and Pancho Parra tell AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis why Mexico’s next election belongs to that generation.
The worst thing about Venezuela's crisis? It's that there's nothing left from the trillions of dollars reaped during the oil boom, says Caracas Capital's Russ Dallen. In this podcast, Dallen, also a lawyer and journalist, analyzes the country's latest swap deal, production figures, and more with AS/COA Online's Holly K. Sonneland.
Cristina López was 29 when she and a group of women colleagues defied a gender norm and started a law firm. Nine years later, it’s become one of Panama’s leading legal firms and continues to be run by women. López spoke with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about what sets apart an all-female firm.
What makes Medellín the Silicon Valley of Latin America? For tech entrepreneur Nelson Almanzar, it’s the talent, technology, and business resources. In an interview with AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez, Almanzar talks about opening up shop for Talos Digital in Colombia’s second-largest city.
Earthquakes. Floods. Traffic. Pollution. Mexico City is prone to its fair share of hazards. But how does a metropolitan area that's home to 20 million people not only respond to them but also prepare to mitigate the risks? With a resilience strategy. AS/COA Online's Carin Zissis spoke with Mexico City's Chief Resilience Officer Arnoldo Matus Kramer about the capital's new resilience plan, starting with how to explain the concept in the first place.
Florida's changing Latino demographics are turning the swing state blue. The Miami polling firm’s Anthony Williams talked with AS/COA Online's Holly K. Sonneland about Donald Trump's "astronomically" low approval rating among Hispanic voters and how Hillary Clinton should focus on making sure people actually get out of bed and vote for her on Election Day.
In Venezuela, since the government no longer follows the Constitution, calls to practice civil disobedience in fact seek a return to order, says congressional opposition leader Julio Borges. The Justice First party leader talks with AS/COA Online's Holly K. Sonneland about the recall referendum against President Nicolás Maduro, the September 1 march on Caracas, and telling his young quadruplets why government supporters beat him.
More: http://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-focus-julio-borges-civil-disobedience-venezuela
Venezuelan oil production is at its lowest point in 13 years, and that means Cuba risks taking on a $1.3-billion deficit if oil shipments from Caracas were to stop. University of Texas at Austin's Jorge R. Piñon talks with AS/COA Online's Elizabeth Gonzalez about whether the island's economy can handle the shock.
Getting ready for the Olympics brought big changes to Rio, but the city was already going through a transformation. Rio-based Julia Michaels, author of RioReal blog, talks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about what cariocas have gained from mega-event preparations, even as Brazil tackles corruption scandals and economic woes.
Diego Gómez Pickering spoke with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about the message that Mexico is working to get out about close ties with the United States. “Nowadays we cannot talk of the Mexican economy and the American economy separately,” he says. “If jobs are lost here, jobs are lost in Mexico. If we create jobs in Mexico, jobs are created here in the United States.”
Days after British voters backed Brexit, the heads of state of Canada, Mexico, and the United States meet for the North American Leaders' Summit. Integration's benefits count as one issue on their full agenda, explains Council of the Americas' Eric Farnsworth to AS/COA Online's Carin Zissis.
What do you do when a U.S. presidential candidate makes bashing your country a campaign centerpiece? Try to set the record straight. Agustín Barrios Gómez, Mexico Image Foundation president and former Mexican congressman, talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about the risks involved with damaging the U.S.-Mexican relationship.
Foreign direct investment in Colombia stands to triple in a post-conflict era. Simón Gaviria speaks with AS/COA Online’s Holly Sonneland about how Colombia's government is financing peace in the anticipation of an agreement with the FARC.
As Cuba continues to expand its private sector, AS/COA Online talks with Josefina Vidal, Cuba’s director of foreign affairs with the United States, on the country’s economic reforms. Vidal offers a Cuban perspective on the U.S. presidential elections and bilateral policy priorities, and challenges Cuban-Americans' interpretation of changes on the island.
Argentina’s economy will expand 3.5 percent in 2017, but that’s after a few bumps and a recession in 2016. AS/COA Online's Elizabeth Gonzalez spoke to economist Fernando Navajas of the Buenos Aires-based think tank Fundación de Investigaciones Económicas Latinoamericanas about the government's economic agenda ahead of the 2017 midterm elections.
Frank Pearl, a negotiator in peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC and ELN, talks with AS/COA's Adriana La Rotta about what comes next once the peace deal is signed. He addressed how Colombians perceive the peace process and the potential success to reintegrate millions of people affected by the conflict.
The IMF's executive director outlines where economic policy went wrong and draws lessons from Brazil's worst crisis in decades, saying the process could lead to a new relationship between the private and public sectors.
Luz Mely Reyes, cofundadora del medio noticioso comunitario y colaborativo Efecto Cocuyo, habla con Guillermo Zubillaga sobre su carrera, el rol de las redes sociales en la democracia venezolana y por qué su página lleva el nombre de un insecto fosforescente.
Para más del grupo de trabajo sobre Venezuela de AS/COA, diríjase a: www.as-coa.org/venezuela
Alejandro Hope, El Daily Post’s security editor, speaks with Carin Zissis about how national-level changes in drug policy in the Americas have an impact on global policy. He predicts a large portion of the legislation that underpins marijuana prohibition in Mexico today will eventually be declared unconstitutional.
Harvard's Steven Levitsky talks with Holly K. Sonneland about Peru's 2016 presidential election, the candidates, and the ups and downs of the race.
For more content from AS/COA, go to www.as-coa.org.
Trade is good business for both the U.S. and Cuban economies, says Arkansas Republican Rick Crawford, who talks with Elizabeth Gonzalez about a bill he introduced that would ease trade restrictions between Washington and Havana.
Get more content on Cuba from AS/COA's Cuba Working Group: www.as-coa.org/cuba
Ricardo Gandour, director of Grupo Estado, speaks with Luisa Leme about the “perfect storm” of events putting Brazil in crisis mode. His proposed solution? A new constitution. Hear what the head of one of Brazil’s largest media companies has to say.
Moody's Jaime Reusche talks with Holly K. Sonneland about Venezuela's upcoming bond payments, its complicated relationship with China, and what oil price will keep the budget in the black.
Get more content on Venezuela from AS/COA here: www.as-coa.org/venezuela