Latin America

The Rise of Corporation-Based Parties in Latin America: Evidence from Panama

By William Barndt
October 12, 2016

While most eyes have been on the (re)emergence of viable leftist movements, parties, and governments in Latin America, new developments in the region’s conservative politics have gone unnoticed.1 Over the past quarter-century, a new conservative politics has emerged in Latin America, a politics in which powerful businesses – breweries, retail chains, industrial and agro-industrial firms, and financial and media conglomerates – are constructing their own parties and party factions.2 Parties sponsored by particular firms or conglomerate

US Foreign Policy on Cannabis in Latin America Needs Reform

By Connor Weber
October 12, 2016

As a result of the elections this November the legalization of marijuana has increased to four states in the U.S. as well as the nation’s capital. More than 17 million people can now use the drug recreationally, not factoring the 19 other states that have passed medicinal cannabis legislation. Reform advocates saw the election as a win and momentum for the legalization in more states to come. 

The Ebb and Flow of the Pink Tide

By Mike Gonzalez
October 12, 2016

The ‘pink tide’ refers to the group of progressive governments elected in Latin America in the first decade of the 21st century. But it is an odd metaphor to use about elections. With its sense of powerful forces moving across the landscape, it is descriptive of how these new governments came to power – carried into the state by mass mobilisations from below. The question, however, is how far and in what direction can these governments go in transforming the region?

World AIDS Day: its Treatment in Latin America

By Madeline Townsend
October 12, 2016

On December 1st, people across the globe raised consciousness about HIV/AIDS through World AIDS Day. This year’s theme, “Close the gap for an AIDS-free generation,” is a reason to celebrate in Latin America since antiretroviral treatment has reached over 600,000 people in the past decade. The Pan American Health Organization recently released a press report that states that cases of antiretroviral treatment have increased from 210,000 in 2003 to 795,000 in 2013.1

Civil Society and Democracy in Times of Political Crisis

By Jami Nelson Nunez and Carew Boulding
October 11, 2016

Last year, the Obama administration announced a new civil society initiative, Stand with Civil Society, calling for support of civil society groups across the world and acknowledging the role they play in pushing for citizen engagement, equity, transparency and accountability.  These positive perspectives of civil society pushing for more democratic governance contrasts with more skeptical views that civil society may actually negatively impact the prospects for d

In Defense of the King: Observations on Spanish American Royalism in the Era of Independence

By Rene Jose Silva
October 10, 2016

Among historians, Latin American independence has been and continues to be a thoroughly researched field. Beginning with the personal accounts of participants in the wars of independence published in the first half of the nineteenth century, decade after decade historians have produced a steady stream of scholarship on the events which gave birth to the multiple nations of the Americas.

As China's Economy Shifts, Will Latin America Be Affected?

By Connor Weber
October 10, 2016

A recent report published by the Deutsche Bank revealed that China is rebalancing their economy, creating potentially devastating effects for Latin America. The report highlights the declining growth of real GDP as China shifts from a production to consumption based economy. The shift will have the largest effect on countries that primarily trade natural resources with China. The lessening of dependence on Latin America for metals such as iron ore, copper and crude oil will specifically hurt Chile and Venezuela.

Economists and their Influence on Latin America’s Policies and Social Analysis

By Consuelo Uribe
October 5, 2016

Starting in the 70s, during the 80s and, more decisively in the 1990s, most Latin American countries implemented reforms conducive to the instauration of neoliberalism, as much in an macroeconomic and institutional frame as in the organization of key social services. This included the privatization of public companies, removing foreign exchange controls, reducing import tariffs, reforming labor law, liberating capital markets, reforming the market for services and goods and negotiating free trade agreements.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Latin America