Politics, Business & Culture in the Americas

Q&A: Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on the “Lula Doctrine”

An exclusive interview with Brazil’s top diplomat, on the relationship with China, the U.S., the need for multilateral reform, and more.

Susan Segal: Lula’s Opportunity to Lead the Region

Brazil’s president is in a unique position to direct the region towards an integrated and productive future, writes AS/COA’s president.

Thinking Abroad: Latin America’s Foreign Policies

AQ tracks priorities in external relations, including positions on Venezuela and China, in eight countries.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 18: The president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador led a protest rally during the commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the oil expropriation, thousands of people gathered in the main square in Mexico in Mexico City, on March 18, 2023.

Why Mexico Is a Quiet Presence on the World Stage

Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s insular foreign policy, in the region’s second-largest economy, is a missed opportunity.

Brazil Needs a Feminist Foreign Policy

Diplomacy has a major role to play in advancing a gender-conscious approach to trade—its benefits will impact the whole economy.

Colombia's Defense Minister Iván Velásquez has to contend with armed guerrillas and military corruption.

Iván Velásquez Is Facing His Toughest Challenge Yet

As Colombia's defense minister, the former anti-corruption crusader is challenging criminal groups—and the military tasked with confronting them.

Government troops march toward a battle they would lose to a commander who then abolished Costa Rica's military.

Why Did Costa Rica Really Abolish Its Military?

Politics, not pacifism, led the country to eliminate its armed forces in a decision that still resonates today.

One Year Later: Slow Progress on a Key Migration Initiative

A year after AQ’s report on the Summit of the Americas, an agreement on migration risks missing the chance for true regional cooperation.

Cultura

Fernanda Melchor’s Gritty Dispatches from Veracruz

In a darkly humorous collection of stories and “crónicas,” the Mexican writer channels life in this chaotic port city.

The Intergenerational Heartbreak of Bolivia’s Urbanization

Alejandro Loayza Grisi’s “Utama” looks at the human side of environmental crisis in the Bolivian highlands.

Cândido Rondon, Brazilian explorer and general, pictured in 1930.

The Complex Legacy of Brazilian Explorer Cândido Rondon

The general was an early advocate for Indigenous people—but reality has fallen brutally short of his ideals.

Who Gets to Map Latin America’s Natural World?

A Peruvian artist’s ghostly landscapes raise questions about objectivity and authority in documenting the region’s environment.

AQ’s Spring Playlist: A “Most Unconstitutional” New Album Roundup

This selection of recent releases features desert-inspired guitars from Ecuador, folk wisdom from Chile and tongue-in-cheek Brazilian wordplay.

A digital model of Chile's first wooden skyscraper towers over the city of Coyhaique.

Q&A: The Chilean Architects Building High-Rises—Out of Wood

A 12-story wood building in Patagonia will be the first of its kind in the country.

Photo Essay: What Lithium Extraction Looks Like in Rural Argentina

In Catamarca province, multi-billion-dollar projects are bringing changes to daily life for rural and Indigenous communities.

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