News and Politics

Political Integration as a Strategy of Conflict Resolution: The FARC in Colombian Elections

By Rachel Bierly
April 18, 2018

The FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) as they were originally called, have functioned as a Marxist-Leninist guerilla group founded in 1964, composed mainly of farmers and laborers whose goal was to fight the inequality and repression in Colombia. Mainly operating in rural areas, the FARC had an estimated 20,000 active fighters at the height of their power in the early 2000s. The FARC were a part of a dark period of Colombia’s history, when guerilla groups, paramilitaries, and drug lords provoked violence across the nation.

Who is actually meddling in Mexico's elections? Russia or the U.S.?

By Rachel Rozak
April 17, 2018

As Mexico’s July elections quickly approach, many are raising concerns regarding potential foul-play from Russia.  In December of last year, the U.S.’s former National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster alarmed Mexicans and internationals alike when he announced in a speech to the Jamestown Foundation in Washington that evidence of Russian meddling in Mexico’s elections had already been uncovered (Garcia & Torres 2018).  

Analysis of US-Venezuela Economic Relations and US President Trump’s Decision to Ban the Petro

By Brian Lander
April 16, 2018

This article was written as part of the course “Latin American Economic Development” offered by Professor Marla Ripoll, Department of Economic, University of Pittsburgh.

 

The United States Treasury Secretary announced on last March that President Donald

Trump signed an executive order banning all transactions within the United States or by US

citizens that involve Venezuela’s new cryptocurrency. The petro, which was Venezuelan

president Nicolás Maduro’s plan to combat the rising hyperinflation and devaluation of the

Lula’s Arrest for Numerous Charges of Corruption

By Rachel Bierly
April 11, 2018

Brazil’s former President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has been in the media’s spotlight for quite some time. President for two terms, from January 1, 2001 to 2011, he was once one of Brazil’s most popular presidents. Coming from a humble background, Lula was born into poverty. He trained to be a metal worker outside of São Paulo and became involved in activism through work with the trade union. After being elected leader of the metal workers’ trade union, it was only a short time until he helped to create Brazil’s first major socialist party, the Worker’s Party.

Two Politicians Murdered in Rio in the First Weeks of Increased Military Power

By Rachel Bierly
April 5, 2018

Just days after Rio councilwoman Marielle Franco was assassinated, leftist councilman Paulinho Henrique Dourado was murdered in a similar fashion. Dourado was in his car when he was shot multiple times, killing him and injuring another passenger in the car. These assassinations are two of 15 political assassinations that have occurred in Brazil since 2017 and are the first two politically driven murders following Brazilian President Temer’s decree to put Rio’s police forces under the military’s control (Telesur, 2018).

Colombian parliamentary votes set stage for presidential election

By Rachel Rozak
April 4, 2018

Earlier this month, Colombia held a historic parliamentary election, as it included candidates from the former militarized guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).  The success of the election and its results may be a projection of the upcoming presidential election at the end of May, as well as a hint to outside investors of the country’s ability to maintain a stable economic sphere.  

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