Analysis

Presidential candidates in 2024, left to right: Claudia Sheinbaum, Luis Abinader and Nayib Bukele.

Latin America’s Election Super-Cycle Will Turn on One Key Factor

In Latin America’s 2024 electoral super-cycle, voters seem likely to reward leaders who address their most fundamental needs—in some cases regardless of whether they value democracy, clean government or the rule of law.

Tamara Taraciuk Broner

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ Americas Quarterly

Panelists at the event on What's Next for the International Response to Venezuela Video

What’s Next for the International Response to Venezuela?

Amid Venezuela’s crisis and the upcoming 2024 presidential elections, a potential opportunity for a democratic transition may emerge. The escalating authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and dire humanitarian situation underscore the critical importance of addressing these challenges while also identifying opportunities for transition to occur.

Daniel Caballero, Trinidad Lorente

Event Summaries ˙

photo of Nicolas Maduro during a meeting with Turkish Minister of Commerce

A Golden Bridge for the Maduro Government

As Venezuela’s presidential elections, scheduled for 2024, draw closer, the international community’s attention is primarily focused on how to use leverage to ensure minimal electoral conditions. US high-level officials have publicly said they would ease some of the economic and political sanctions imposed on the country in exchange for meaningful concessions by Nicolas Maduro’s government, and there is clearly an ongoing back channel between US and Venezuelan authorities along these lines. While this discussion is essential, it often overshadows a vital aspect of the conversation—the plan for what comes next. No transition of power is possible without a clear path forward after election day.

Tamara Taraciuk Broner

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ Americas Quarterly

photo of panelists in El Salvador event Video

Democracy Under Siege: The Region’s Reaction to Bukele

In El Salvador, the government of Nayib Bukele has posed a significant challenge to democracy in the region. His security policies, which have yielded positive results in reducing insecurity rates, have led to serious abuses and were made possible through prior measures that concentrated the power in the executive branch. These policies have also boosted the popularity of the Salvadoran president. This highlights the need to promote democratic and effective alternatives to address insecurity in the region. 

Daniel Caballero

Event Summaries ˙

Photo of Supreme Electoral Tribunal Justices in Brazil

Courts, a Last Line of Defense for Latin American Democracies

In Latin America today, traditional coups are no longer the biggest threat to liberal democracy. More perilous are democratically elected leaders who, once in power, deliberately and gradually undermine basic guarantees, such as judicial autonomy, electoral integrity, independent press work and free expression. 

Rebecca Bill Chavez, Tamara Taraciuk Broner

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ Americas Quarterly

photo of panelists in Guatemala event Video

Elections Series – Making Sense of Guatemala’s Upcoming Elections

As Guatemalans got ready to vote in presidential, legislative, and local elections scheduled for June 25, 2023, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted a panel discussion with Guatemalan experts on the overall context in which these elections would take place.

Tamara Taraciuk Broner

Event Summaries ˙

collage of panelists with map of the Americas Video

Renewed Cooperation in a Troubled Hemisphere – Towards the Summit of the Americas

On March 31, 2022, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted a public event to present its biennial Sol M. Linowitz policy report titled: “The Case for Renewed Cooperation in a Troubled Hemisphere: Towards the Ninth Summit of the Americas”. During the event, panelists discussed the main findings and recommendations of the report and analyzed the current state of regional and hemispheric cooperation.

Andrea Colombo

Event Summaries ˙

Gabriel Boric, 36, is set to become the youngest president in Chile’s modern history when he is sworn in today. // File Photo: Facebook Page of Gabriel Boric.

What Should Chile Expect From Its New President?

A Latin America Advisor Q&A featuring viewpoints on Chile’s new progressive president, Gabriel Boric.

Michael Shifter, Jorge Heine, Mariana Zepeda, Patricio Navia

Latin America Advisor ˙

Collage of the profile images of the speaker and moderator for the event Video

Elections and Institutional Crisis in El Salvador

On March 8, 2021, the Inter-American Dialogue, WOLA, Cristosal and DPLF hosted an event to discuss the recent legislative elections in El Salvador on January 28, how democratic governance has been challenged in the country in recent years, and how the United States–El Salvador relationship can change given the new US administration.

Sofía Corzo

Event Summaries ˙

Michael Camilleri and other panelists speak at WOLA's event Video

Rising Corruption and Undermining the Rule of Law in Latin America

Michael Camilleri spoke as a panelist at a public event on July 29, 2020 hosted by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). The panel discussed the current state of anti-corruption efforts and rule of law in Latin America and the Trump administration’s impact on human rights and democracy in the region.

Michael Camilleri

Event Summaries ˙ ˙ Washington Office on Latin America

Manuel Orozco being interviewed by VOA Video

Increased Tensions in Latin America

Manuel Orozco was interviewed on February 14, 2020 by Gonzalo Abarca from VOA Noticias: Foro Interamericano to discuss the H2A visas for Guatamalans, Nayib Bukele’s display of military force and Juan Guaidó’s international tour.

Manuel Orozco, Gonzalo Abarca

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ VOA Noticias Foro Interamericano