From The Think Tanks
The Woodrow Wilson Center on Latin America’s new publication, In the Wake of War, assesses the impact of civil war on democratization in Latin America, with a special emphasis on state capacity. Contributors concentrate on seven countries—Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru—where state weakness fostered conflict, and where state reconstruction presents multiple … Read more
Candidate Quotes
Boliviarianism “The Bolivarian movement threatens U.S. allies such as Colombia, has interfered with regional cooperation on […] illicit drugs and counterterrorism […] provided safe haven for drug traffickers […] encouraged regional terrorist organizations, and […] invited Iran and foreign terrorist organizations like Hezbollah into the region.” —Mitt Romney Venezuela “I will launch a campaign to … Read more
Folk on the Rocks
If you’ll go anywhere for great folk music, put Yellowknife, in Canada’s Northwest Territories (NWT), on your July itinerary. But a warning: it will test your limits. Yellowknife is where Folk on the Rocks holds its annual festival. Founded by Rod Russell and his band in 1980, the three-day festival takes place every third weekend … Read more
Venezuelans Abroad: When Every Vote Matters
The October 7 elections pitting President Hugo Chávez against Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (Coalition for Democratic Unity—MUD) candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski promises to be close, and every vote will count. With almost 700,000 eligible voters overseas—215,000 of them in the U.S.—mobilizing the expat community is key, particularly for the opposition: nine out of 10 … Read more
10 Things to Do: São Paulo, Brazil
São Paulo is a challenge if you’re in a hurry. At first glance, it’s a city of traffi c jams, tall buildings and endless concrete with no green space—not much charm at all. Or you can pause and amaze yourself with the treasures you’ll find. From great restaurants to museums, a buzzing nightlife to fine … Read more
Crossover Film
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent loudly repeats his question: “Do…You…Speak…American?” Cowboy hat in hand, the humble Mexican rancher glances down before responding, “No señor, no hablo americano.” This scene, from the recently released film Casa de mi Padre (March 2012), could be depicting a tense moment at the U.S.–Mexico border—except that the Mexican cowboy … Read more
The Art of Peruvian Cooking
Now that Peruvian cuisine has become a worldwide rage, it’s hard to believe there was ever a time when people didn’t know about Peru’s culinary treasures. In 2000, Peruvian businessman and president of Lima’s Fundación Custer Tony Custer helped introduce Peruvian cooking to the world with the publication of his best-selling The Art of Peruvian … Read more
Humanitarian Interventionism Brazilian Style?
Brazilian attitudes toward national sovereignty and non-intervention are in a state of flux. Leaders in Brasília are seeking to actively take part in the current global rethink about the future of humanitarian intervention, and are increasingly willing to deploy men in uniform to distant lands when the lives of civilians are at stake. The change … Read more
Plan Colombia: A Retrospective
At first glance, perhaps the most notable feature of Plan Colombia has been its longevity. Given the current divisiveness in Washington, the bipartisan support it has received across three administrations now seems remarkable. After 12 years, the plan is gradually winding down, but the U.S. allocated more than $300 million under the program in 2012 … Read more
Ask the Experts: Women and Corporations
Stephanie George answers: When I started my career over 30 years ago, there was strong resistance among companies to take a chance on a young woman whose nurturing and collaborative style seemed foreign to the traditional corporate culture. But I was lucky enough to work at two trendsetting companies, Disney/ABC and Time Warner, both of which … Read more
The Paradox of Girls’ Educational Attainment
Women’s socioeconomic and political progress advanced dramatically across the globe in the last half of the twentieth century, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. Yet gender disparities remain high, and bridging those gaps has been a slow process. This is partly explained by negative stereotypes and misguided perceptions of gender roles—both still prevalent in … Read more
The Future of PEMEX
The time is ripe for a historic transformation of Mexico’s energy sector. The 2008 Reforma Energética (Energy Reform)—a congressionally-approved presidential initiative that established or modified seven laws—highlighted the significant challenges facing the Mexican oil industry and the economic implications of a decline in oil production. The problem: it didn’t resolve them. With the exception of … Read more
Cholera and the Road to Modernity: Lessons from One Latin American Epidemic for Another
Haiti is currently battling the world’s largest cholera epidemic in half a century. An integrated, comprehensive response—including case-finding and rapid treatment, water and sanitation efforts, and vaccination—could bring cholera to heel on Hispaniola and help prevent its spread elsewhere in the region.1 But the local and international response has, to date, fallen short. Tens of … Read more
Women’s Rights & U.S. Foreign Policy
When I attended the first Summit of the Americas in Miami in 1994, only two female heads of state represented their countries: Dominica and Nicaragua. This past April at the Sixth Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, five of the presidents and prime ministers representing the 33 participating countries were women: from Argentina, Brazil, … Read more
Beyond Equal Rights
Women’s political and economic participation strengthens democracy, equality and the economy. And while women’s empowerment and full participation in society are important goals in themselves, they are also vital for reducing poverty, achieving universal education, improving maternal and child health, and fulfilling other development goals. Increasing the presence of women in politics not only responds … Read more
