New interview series
Global Americans and the Canadian Council for the Americas presents “Two gringos with questions,” an interview series dedicated to the Americas. Your hosts GA Executive Director Chris Sabatini and CCA’s President Kenneth Frankel, two gringos who focus on and work in Latin America and the Caribbean, will ask policymakers, business leaders and cultural movers and shakers about their views on the region and its future. The series provides informal and unexpected information on what’s going on in Latin America and in the Western Hemisphere as a whole. Click here to access the interviews.
New interview series
Global Americans and the Canadian Council for the Americas presents “Two gringos with questions,” an interview series dedicated to the Americas. Your hosts GA Executive Director Chris Sabatini and CCA’s President Kenneth Frankel, two gringos who focus on and work in Latin America and the Caribbean, will ask policymakers, business leaders and cultural movers and shakers about their views on the region and its future. The series provides informal and unexpected information on what’s going on in Latin America and in the Western Hemisphere as a whole. Click here to access the interviews.
On Trump’s Latin America team: Carlos Trujillo considered to replace Kimberly Breier at State Department
According to the Miami Herald, multiple sources have confirmed U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States Carlos Trujillo is being considered as the next assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.
Aiming for net zero emissions could boost economic growth in Latin America
Scaling up climate-related policies and investing in sustainable infrastructure could increase GDP by up to 2.8 percent on average across G20 countries by 2050. Aiming for net zero emissions is not only smart policy, but a growth opportunity for Latin American countries.
The EU-MERCOSUR Association Agreement: The devil is in the details
After two decades, the EU and MERCOSUR nations finally concluded negotiations for a trade agreement that goes beyond strictly commercial topics to also foster dialogue and political cooperation. The bad news? The ratification process could take a long time.
Argentina’s primary election results: Furthering political polarization and economic instability
In a surprising turn of events, Peronist candidate Alberto Fernández and former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner swept Argentina’s primary elections with 47.66 percent of the national vote. Why? And what are the implications for the October elections?
Behind Paraguay’s secret deal and the resulting political crisis over ITAIPU
Christine Folch of Duke University sat down with Pedro Ferreira the technocrat who resigned as head of Paraguay’s public utility company ANDE over a secret agreement deal to sell excess energy to Brazil at below-market prices for profit. He explains the politics behind it and why he did it.
The ITAIPU energy uproar continues on both sides of the Paraná
In an exclusive interview recorded on August 3, 2019 and published for the first time on Global Americans, Ferreira explains why he opposed the Bilateral Act that rocked Paraguay and resulted in his resignation and how Brazil stood to benefit.
The new “New Colossus”
The Trump administration’s new regulation expands on the definition of a “public charge” to include someone who is “more likely than not” to receive public benefits.
An interview with Steven Levitsky, Harvard professor and co-author of “How Democracies Die”
In the nineteenth episode of "Two gringos with questions," hosts Chris and Ken speak to Levitsky about the state of democracy in Latin America, what might have gone wrong in Venezuela, and the future of Argentina.
In Guatemala, Giammattei’s presidency is off to a weak start
Conservative Alejandro Giammattei was elected Guatemala’s new president in a second-round vote last Sunday. With minimum support in Congress and low voter turn, his presidency seems to offer more politics as usual, leaving much-needed reform out of the near future to solve Guatemala’s most pressing issues.
Indigenous women in Guatemala: Leading the call for justice
Indigenous women are leading the fight to ensure crimes against humanity in Guatemala don’t remain unpunished. As we commemorate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we recognize the brave women leading efforts to secure long-standing peace.
Does a non-embargo by any other name smell as sweet to hardliners? Or achieve anything?
The recently announced sanctions on Venezuelan assets aren’t an embargo, but you can’t blame people for thinking so given this embargo-loving NSC. Either way unless used as more than a stick, even these marginal changes are unlikely to achieve their goal.
In Honduras, new evidence sheds light on the close ties between the National Party and drug trafficking
New evidence has surfaced that former and sitting presidents, Porfirio Lobo and Juan Orlando Hernández may have benefitted from drug trafficking. Their eventual extradition to the U.S. seems like a real possibility. But is the country's opposition ready to take over?
An interview with Ingrid Bejerman, Brazilian journalist and Associate Director of Blue Metropolis
In the eighteenth episode of "Two gringos with questions," Chris and Ken speak to Bejerman about the latest trends in the Latin American literary scene, diversity in the industry, and the future of Latin American literature.
Do we have to choose? Argentina’s growing partnership with Beijing and Washington
A new ArgentinaPulse survey conducted by the Wilson Center and Poliarquía indicates that despite U.S. pressure, few in Argentina question economic ties to China.
What the Democratic presidential candidates are saying about Latin America (an ongoing series)
As the 2020 presidential campaigns unfold, Global Americans will be tracking what the candidates say about Latin America. Including comments made after the second Democratic debate.
China’s people-to-people diplomacy
China's efforts to increase its global influence are no surprise. But the devil’s in the details, in how and with whom it seeks to strengthen ties—in this case, with Mexican government officials.
The other face of the trade war
White House subsidies to U.S. farmers to cushion the blow of its trade war with China may well break the ceiling for domestic agricultural aid permitted under the WTO.
IN THE MEDIA
El error de aprender lecciones donde no las hay
El lento crecimiento económico golpea a los gobiernos en el poder y, para volver a ganar, éstos deben cumplir las principales promesas que les dieron en su momento la victoria. Más allá de eso, el caso de Argentina no ofrece muchas lecciones para Chile Vamos y sus posibilidades de seguir a cargo.
El regreso del populismo
Argentina, viviendo una época pendular, parece encaminada (o tal vez ya está dentro) a regresar al populismo.
La desnutrición infantil hipoteca ya el futuro de una generación de venezolanos
Debido a la desnutrición que ha crecido de forma constante en Venezuela, una generación de venezolanos tendrá su futuro hipotecado.
Notas sobre el desarrollo mediático en Venezuela
La llegada de otro gran boom petrolero en el siglo XXI con Hugo Chávez en el poder, no significó un desarrollo significativo de los medios de comunicación