When Mexico Tried a Different Approach to Drugs—and Washington Said No
In 1940, a major reform envisioned treating drug addiction with regulated dispensaries, until the U.S. helped put a stop to it.
Argentina’s Biggest Challenge
It’s not inflation, or a dead politician.
The Monroe Doctrine Turns 200. Why Won’t It Go Away?
The infamous U.S. policy went from being celebrated in Latin America to despised. Today, its chief legacy is confusion.
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.
How Mexico’s “Undefeated Caudillo” Met His End
Álvaro Obregón was victorious in the Mexican Revolution, but his lust for power left deep scars on the country’s politics.
Brazil’s Improbable Journey to Win the 1970 World Cup
The story behind victory in Mexico City shows that then, as now, politics is never far from the “beautiful game.”
Se atrevió a postularse: La improbable historia de Prudencia Ayala
Dos décadas antes de que las mujeres salvadoreñas pudieran votar, Prudencia Ayala se convirtió en la primera mujer que se presentó como candidata presidencial en América Latina.
She Dared to Run: The Unlikely Story of Prudencia Ayala
Two decades before fellow Salvadoran women could vote, Prudencia Ayala became the first woman to run for president in Latin America.
“Los 41”: The Queer Dance Party That Changed Mexico
An upcoming film reflects efforts by LGBT Mexicans to reclaim a dark chapter in history.
Revisiting Brazil’s Public Health Rebellion (A Century Before Bolsonaro)
What do 1904’s smallpox vaccination riots in Rio de Janeiro tell us about today’s Brazil?
When Caracas Was a Safe Haven From Tyranny
Under the Betancourt Doctrine, Venezuela became a refuge for Latin Americans fleeing dictatorship.
The Emperor and the Abolitionist: A Brazilian Royal Visits the U.S.
The possibility of an encounter between Brazil’s Dom Pedro II and Frederick Douglass in 1876 raises questions about what might have been.
Argentina’s Forgotten Guru
Long before Brazil’s Bolsonaro took cues from a YouTuber, a controversial “prophet” was calling the shots in Argentina.
Allende’s Strange Plan to Connect Chile, Long Before the Internet
Prior to the coup, an early computer network sought to more closely monitor Chile’s economy.
Long View: The 16th-Century Trade Route That Brought China to Mexico
The Middle Kingdom is hardly new to Latin America. One trade route dates back to the 16th century, and had major historical implications.
