Colombia
Colombia’s Peace Needs a Local Touch
Leer en español At the heart of Colombia’s peace agreement with the FARC is an earnest effort to improve life in its long neglected countryside. A series of national programs for education, health, electrification, housing and credit for the agricultural sector, built into the agreement, are designed to help close a woeful development gap between … Read more
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¿Cómo pagar para la paz?
Este artículo está adaptado de la edición impresa de AQ sobre la paz y oportunidad económica en Colombia | Read in English Pese a una fuerte polarización entre los sectores que representan la institucionalidad tradicional del país, Colombia ha logrado un acuerdo de paz con las FARC tras más de medio siglo de conflicto. Los … Read more
AQ Events
Watch: AQ’s Launch Event on Peace and Economic Opportunity in Colombia
On Nov. 30, Americas Quarterly traveled to Bogotá to celebrate the launch of our special report on peace and economic opportunity in Colombia. The launch event included an interview with Colombia’s High Commisioner for Post-Conflict Rafael Pardo and closing remarks from Inspector General Fernando Carrillo. The event also included expert panels on how to encourage … Read more
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Brazil’s How-Not-To Guide on Trade
A look at the sugar and ethanol industry shows why trade barriers are not the best response to globalization’s pressures.
Chile
Chile Votes for (Steady) Change
If the Nov. 19 elections are a guide, Chileans want a leader who can deliver on their unpopular president’s vision for reform.
Ecuador
Ecuador’s New President Strikes Out on His Own
Lenín Moreno’s moves against Rafael Correa – including a referendum planned for early 2018 – could have profound effects on Ecuador’s democracy.
Chile
Chileans Are Frustrated With Politics, Too
A surprise in Sunday’s first-round presidential election suggests Chile isn’t immune to Latin America’s anti-establishment mood.
Argentina
These Guys Were Argentina At Its Best
A tribute to the special Argentine talent for life-long friendships, in the wake of the New York terrorist attack.
Energy & Environment
How Latin America’s Next Oil Power Can Avoid the Resource Curse
It’s an oft-stated parallel that is worth repeating: A big oil discovery in a country is like winning the lottery. And what happens to lottery winners? Almost 70 percent of them declare bankruptcy within seven years. Something similar happens to some countries after they strike it rich with natural resources. Massive inflows of money combined … Read more
Infrastructure
How the Caribbean Can Prepare for More Violent Hurricanes
This article has been updated The hurricanes that battered the Caribbean this summer left few communities untouched. But the approximately 4.4 million people living in low-elevation coastal zones (LECZs), coastal areas less than 10 meters above sea level, paid a particularly heavy price. Hurricane Irma, for example, destroyed homes throughout the Turks and Caicos, where … Read more
Elections 2018
Mexico 2018: It’s Not the Economy, Stupid
Emerging media consensus is that Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) will likely name Treasury Secretary José Antonio Meade as its candidate for president in 2018. Such a move would serve the unpopular ruling party on two fronts: it would muffle inherent opposition to the PRI as an institution (Meade is not a party member), and … Read more
Venezuela
Venezuela’s Default: What Is Maduro Thinking?
The Venezuela debt saga continues to confound investors, with many wondering what exactly the government is hoping to accomplish with its current strategy. The possible explanations range from a search for a new scapegoat for the ongoing economic crisis (with the initials DJT), to a savvy maneuver to reduce the country’s liabilities. Trying to read … Read more
Finance & Economics
What to Make of Venezuela’s Last-Minute Debt Negotiations
AQ spoke to a debt expert on what a default means for Venezuela and the world.
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How a Mall Became a Prison – and a Symbol of Venezuela’s Collapse
The tragic history of Venezuela’s El Helicoide speaks to the promise and privation of a nation in decline.
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Trump’s New Cuba Sanctions Miss Their Mark
After two years of restored diplomatic ties, new U.S. regulations on Cuba are bringing back a thicket of travel, financial and trade restrictions – and a tougher stance toward the island. The goal of these restrictions, according to U.S. President Donald Trump, is to starve the Cuban government of money from travel, remittances and commercial … Read more
