The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution on Venezuela. Here’s why that’s noteworthy

Ecuador

Human Rights & Multilateral Organizations

The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution on Venezuela. Here’s why that’s noteworthy

By William Naylor / wm_naylor / October 3, 2018

Though it’s unlikely to change anything, this is the first time the body has passed a resolution on Venezuela. There was also one shocking yes vote.

Democracy & Elections

Lenin Moreno and the struggle for the soul of Ecuador’s (and Latin America’s) left

By Evan Ellis / REvanEllis / August 2, 2018

While a significant portion of the Latin American left continues to be driven by an anti-U.S., personalistic agenda, Lenin Moreno represents a principled branch of that left. The U.S. can and must learn to deal with leaders like him in a constructive fashion.

Politics

Does inequality drive corruption and unethical behavior?

By Benjamin Waddell / May 31, 2018

Like their conservative predecessors, left-leaning presidents in Latin America have shown a tendency to fall for the vice of corruption. Recent studies argue the causes stem from more than just an absence of ethics but also high levels of inequality.

Democracy & Elections

Lenín Moreno is transforming Ecuador’s presidency. Can he transform Ecuador’s democracy?

By William Naylor / wm_naylor / January 26, 2018

Ecuador still has a long way to go to recover from a polarizing ten years under populist Rafael Correa, but the first eight months of Lenín Moreno’s presidency have re-confirmed the importance of succession and regularly held elections.

Democracy & Elections

Ecuador under President Moreno: Rethinking the U.S. relationship

By Evan Ellis / REvanEllis / May 26, 2017

President Moreno may not be a newfound ally for the U.S., but he is a reminder that today the greatest challenges to U.S. interests in the region aren’t ideological but criminality, poor governance and populism.

Democracy & Elections

Ecuadorians elect a new president but questions over the process remain

By Andrés Felipe Osorio Quevedo / April 20, 2017

The controversies swirling around the victory of Lenin Moreno’s narrow victory demonstrate why it’s important to have credible professional electoral observers.

Democracy & Elections

The art of letting go: A dispatch to Ecuador

By Grant Alan Burrier / March 29, 2017

Soon Rafael Correa will be an ex-president. Will he go calmly into presidential retirement or noisily wait in the wings for a future return?

Just the Facts

No, NATO is not claiming a beachhead in South America

By Mishella Romo / March 2, 2017

Let’s be clear: NATO isn’t encroaching in the hemisphere, nor does China represent a stable path out of dependency for Latin America. The former is a convenient, traditional boogey man and the latter an ahistorical pipe dream.

In the Media

Ecuador is the left’s only electoral hope in Latin America

By Patricio Navia / patricionavia / February 23, 2017

After a series of electoral setbacks for leftist candidates and incumbent coalitions over the past two years, Lenín Moreno, the candidate of the ruling left-wing Alianza País coalition will get the largest share of the vote.

In the Media

Will the left in Ecuador buck the downward regional trend?

By Patricio Navia / patricionavia / January 13, 2017

In recent elections across the world, incumbent candidates have faced an uphill battle. Ecuadoreans might buck the trend in the upcoming election of February 19. Yet, if there are lessons to be learned from recent upsets, the last weeks of a campaign is when surprises begin to pop up.