Since 1919, Panama’s economy has thrived on shipping and banking laws that shielded those who wanted shelter. With the revelations of the Panama Papers, can a reform-minded president deliver transparency without undermining the country’s economy?
The net effect of these new bodies has been to create parallel forums more favorable to the interests of autocrats. That may be OK for Venezuela and others, but why are Brazil and other countries going along? And where are the media?
Latin America has gone global, but not just in its trade and diplomacy. A growing number of governments are copying from autocrats around the world how to restrict democratic civil society. Sadly, democrats in the region have been slow to react.
With corruption scandals, popular protests and the revelations in the Panama Papers, it’s easy to think that corruption in Latin America has suddenly increased. It hasn’t, but Latin American institutions are better prepared to deal with the fallout.
In the past decade, Latin America and the Caribbean’s importance in the international system has changed dramatically. A new book examines the constraints and opportunities for this new era of Latin American foreign policy—and implications for U.S. foreign policy.
In 2015 China’s two development banks provided upwards of $29 billion in loans to Latin American governments with the promise of more to come. The problem is the region has no mechanism to constructively engage China to help direct and manage these funds. Here’s an idea.
Jimmy Morales rode a wave of popular awakening and anger to the presidency. Since coming to power, he’s relied on a dubious group of advisors and the same corrupt tactics of his predecessors.
The “golden decade” of Latin American economic growth and social mobility was not shared equally by indigenous groups. Unfortunately, all the World Bank can offer as an answer is the notion of “development with identity.” What?
Whether MACCIH will have a real impact remains to be seen. But its installation in Honduras offers at least a glimmer of hope that positive changes can begin to take place. Continued pressure and monitoring from civil society, journalists, and international donors will be necessary to ensure that MACCIH reaches its full potential rather than frustrating good-faith efforts in the fight against corruption.
The past two decades of progress in LGBTQ rights in many Latin American countries have helped to extend basic rights of marriage, health care and a security to many in the LGBTQ community—but not all.
