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.

Web Exclusive

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.

Web Exclusive

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

Web Exclusive

Brazil’s Foreign Policy Isn’t Dead. It’s Just Hibernating.

The government of Michel Temer has dealt Brazilian foreign policy a body blow. Not only has the president traveled abroad less than any of his predecessors since Itamar Franco in the 1990s, but, more importantly, Brazil nowadays contributes remarkably little to dealing with urgent regional challenges. These include the crisis in Venezuela, transnational crime, China’s … Read more

Web Exclusive

Estos chicos representaban lo mejor de Argentina

Read in English Yo era prácticamente un niño, tenía 22 años, cuando me mudé a Argentina en el año 2000 con la loca idea de convertirme en periodista. Increíblemente, el Buenos Aires Herald no se apresuró a contratar a un texano sin experiencia, y la economía parecía estar un poco complicada. Solo conocía a dos … Read more

Web Exclusive

Brazil’s Economy Is Perking Up (If You Know Where to Look)

After weathering the worst recession of a century, Brazil’s economy is showing signs of life. Unemployment is down, GDP is up, and an important sector is enjoying a sustained comeback: The capital markets for initial public offerings, or IPOs, for Brazil-based companies are the most active they have been in at least six years. The … Read more

Web Exclusive

Craft Beer Thrives in a Rio de Janeiro Favela

The bar is small, housed in a converted garage near an entrance to the vast Complexo do Alemão favelas in Rio de Janeiro’s north side. But step inside, and big ambitions are on display: 120 types of beer from places as distant as Belgium line the wall. Despite its outsized aspirations, Bistrô Estação R&R is … Read more

Web Exclusive

Four Takeaways From Argentina’s Game-Changing Mid-Term Elections

Investors wondering whether President Mauricio Macri’s tough austerity reforms had popular support heard a resounding “yes” on Sunday, when voters swept his center-right coalition to victory in Argentina’s five largest voting districts in a crucial mid-term election. While Macri’s success was expected, no party has managed this feat in mid-term elections since 1985.   Here … Read more

Web Exclusive

Venezuela: The Brutal Truth About Maduro’s Election Victory

By any measure, Sunday’s gubernatorial elections in Venezuela did not go well for the opposition. The regime of President Nicolás Maduro took 17 of a possible 23 seats, with, as of this writing, another still up for grabs. Marred by predictable irregularities and government manipulation, the MUD opposition coalition’s decision to participate failed to pay … Read more