![China reopens its embassy in Managua, Nicaragua, in December 2021.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chinese-Embassy-Managua-300x200.jpg)
Nicaragua’s Flip From Taiwan to China Has Yet to Pay Off
Engaging with Beijing was supposed to anchor the nation’s economy, but the decision has not lived up to expectations.
![President Andrés Manuel López Obrador speaks about judicial reform in June at the National Palace in Mexico City.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2157010103-300x200.jpg)
AMLO’s Judicial Reform Overlooks the Key Weakness of Mexican Justice
Prosecutors’ willingness and capacity to investigate crimes is the nation’s judicial system’s weakest link, writes an expert.
![Private dressmakers working in Old Havana, Cuba in May.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2155469994-300x194.jpg)
La Verdad Sobre el Sector Privado en Cuba
Contrario a ciertas especulaciones, en la isla existe un gran número de empresarios que operan fuera del ámbito del Estado, argumentan los autores.
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Latin America’s Renewed Fiscal Challenges
Many countries are running excessive budget deficits amid slow revenue growth and higher borrowing costs.
![Private dressmakers working in Old Havana, Cuba in May.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2155469994-300x194.jpg)
The Truth About Cuba’s Private Sector
Contrary to some speculation, the island continues to see a large number of entrepreneurs operating outside the umbrella of the state, the authors write.
![Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at a campaign rally in Caracas on July 4. A unified opposition has a real chance to restore democracy on July 28. The U.S. should do everything possible to support the transition.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2159964998-300x200.jpg)
In Venezuela, Is This Time Different?
A unified opposition has a real chance to restore democracy on July 28. The U.S. should do everything possible to support the transition.
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Latin America’s Security Crisis Is a Political Problem, Too
Crime and politics are becoming more entangled, undermining the region’s stability, an expert writes.
![](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AQ0324_online_AI3-300x183.jpg)
Why AI May Be Better for Latin America Than You Think
A new IMF report adds to a sense Latin America may lose less from the AI revolution than previously thought—though its preparedness is lacking.
![](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1614823666-1-300x195.jpg)
In Latin America, the U.S. Is Relying Too Much on its Military
SouthCom has become the most visible bridge for political engagement in the region. That’s a mistake, the authors write.
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Despite a Grim Today, Prosperity Is Still Possible in Haiti
After years of dire events, a new transition offers a window to lay plans for societal success.
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Understanding the Storm in Brazilian Markets
Worries over Brazil’s fiscal deficit and monetary policy have battered the country’s currency in 2024.
![President José Raúl Mulino (L) waves next to National Assembly President Dana Castañeda at his inauguration in Panama City on July 1.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mulino-Inauguration-300x200.jpg)
Panama’s New President Signals an Ambitious Agenda
José Raúl Mulino promises to close the Darién Gap to migration while pushing a major dam to shore up the Panama Canal.
![Soldiers help villagers at an emergency shelter on June 11 after violent conflict in southern Mexico.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-2156655636-300x227.jpg)
For Sheinbaum, a Security Challenge in AMLO’s Home State
Southern states like Tabasco are enduring increased criminal activity. How will Mexico’s next government tackle the pervasive presence of drug cartels?
![Former army commander Juan José Zúñiga is detained in La Paz on June 26.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-2158855246-300x200.jpg)
REACTION: Bolivia’s Failed Coup Attempt and What It Means
The army’s commander, Juan José Zúñiga, tried to seize power before backing down.
![Progress on Reducing Latin America’s Femicides Has Stalled. Women in Mexico protest against gender-based violence during International Women's Day on March 8.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-2068194424-300x200.jpg)
Progress on Reducing Latin America’s Femicides Has Stalled
Much can be done to prevent more murders, but only if decision-makers and society as whole are more proactive in tackling this pressing problem.