Sunday, February 5, 2017
Monday, April 29, 2013
Week 14
This post begins the final week of our class blog. I hope its been a way for you to be come more informed about the current issues facing Latin America. I hope the combination of current events articles, class material, and classmates viewpoints has pushed each of you to hold better-informed and better-thought out positions on some of the social, political, and economic issues present in Latin America and beyond. I have enjoyed following the blog and hope you have as well.
This week's first article is a fascinating and somewhat tragic discussion of the Guatemala-Mexico border and its role in the journey experienced by Central Americans hoping to get to the US. It's worth a read regardless of whether you plan to engage the discussion question.
In Trek North, First Lure Is Mexico’s Other Line
Discussion question: Central America, Mexico, and the US are united by the illicit flow of drugs, arms, and people across their borders. What steps can the governments of the region take TOGETHER to minimize the economic and human costs associated with these flows?
The second article discusses Latin American politician's love affair with social media.
Latin American Presidents Love Twitter, Maybe Too Much
Discussion question: generally speaking, do you think the presence of elected leaders on social media will help or hurt the quality of democracy? Be specific.
The remaining two articles cover the region's most recent presidential elections. Paraguay, not Venezuela, was the last Latin American country to go to the polls and its new president faces a series of challenges along with low expectations from analysts. This is a country towards which we have dedicated very little attention. For that reason, I wanted to give us one chance to 'get to know' the country at least a little before the semesters end.
Paraguay's elections: Return of the Condors
Boom Times in Paraguay Leave Many Behind
Discussion question: Latin America-watchers view Paraguay's president-elect with a mix of suspicion and disinterest. Despite the country's many challenges, little significant is expected to change under Cartes. But, the Paraguayan constitution allows for a strong presidency, meaning that significant reforms are possible. If you were Cartes and enjoyed these strong executive powers, what issues would receive priority with regards to your time, political capital, and budget?
Enjoy!
This week's first article is a fascinating and somewhat tragic discussion of the Guatemala-Mexico border and its role in the journey experienced by Central Americans hoping to get to the US. It's worth a read regardless of whether you plan to engage the discussion question.
In Trek North, First Lure Is Mexico’s Other Line
Discussion question: Central America, Mexico, and the US are united by the illicit flow of drugs, arms, and people across their borders. What steps can the governments of the region take TOGETHER to minimize the economic and human costs associated with these flows?
The second article discusses Latin American politician's love affair with social media.
Latin American Presidents Love Twitter, Maybe Too Much
Discussion question: generally speaking, do you think the presence of elected leaders on social media will help or hurt the quality of democracy? Be specific.
The remaining two articles cover the region's most recent presidential elections. Paraguay, not Venezuela, was the last Latin American country to go to the polls and its new president faces a series of challenges along with low expectations from analysts. This is a country towards which we have dedicated very little attention. For that reason, I wanted to give us one chance to 'get to know' the country at least a little before the semesters end.
Paraguay's elections: Return of the Condors
Boom Times in Paraguay Leave Many Behind
Discussion question: Latin America-watchers view Paraguay's president-elect with a mix of suspicion and disinterest. Despite the country's many challenges, little significant is expected to change under Cartes. But, the Paraguayan constitution allows for a strong presidency, meaning that significant reforms are possible. If you were Cartes and enjoyed these strong executive powers, what issues would receive priority with regards to your time, political capital, and budget?
Enjoy!
Monday, April 22, 2013
Week 13
Sorry for the getting the articles and questions up a bit later this week. I have been too busy 'celebrating' our third Monday in a row (in April) with a significant snowfall.
This week's first article looks at the polarization following Venezuela's recent presidential election. We have discussed this issue on the blog previously. But, I was less than fully satisfied with the responses. And, considering that we are currently studying Venezuela in class it seems a good time to revisit the issue.
Venezuelans are polarized in post-election crisis
Discussion question: what steps could Nicolas Maduro and Henrique Capriles take that would combat the countries political/social/economic polarization without going against their self-interest as rival political leaders?
The second article also revisits a story discussed earlier on the blog. But, that was during spring break and the story has evolved since then.
Mexico's Vigilante Law Enforcers
Discussion question: what should be the Peña Nieto administration's response to the growth of vigilante justice in Guerrero state and elsewhere?
For our last question we move back to Brazil. Brazil is obviously an up-an-coming country that is facing a diverse array of challenges. Last week we discussed drug use and immigration on the blog. Today, the articles cover infastructural woes and the sentencing of 23 prison guards for a massacre 21 years ago.
Brazil police sentenced over Carandiru jail massacre
Brazil congestion delays export of record soybean crop
Discussion question: every government has limited political capital. Keeping in mind diverse aspects of the Brazilian political economy, would Dilma Rousseff be wiser to spend her political capital on improving the country's record on human rights and corruption or on modernizing the country's infrastructure?
Enjoy!!
This week's first article looks at the polarization following Venezuela's recent presidential election. We have discussed this issue on the blog previously. But, I was less than fully satisfied with the responses. And, considering that we are currently studying Venezuela in class it seems a good time to revisit the issue.
Venezuelans are polarized in post-election crisis
Discussion question: what steps could Nicolas Maduro and Henrique Capriles take that would combat the countries political/social/economic polarization without going against their self-interest as rival political leaders?
The second article also revisits a story discussed earlier on the blog. But, that was during spring break and the story has evolved since then.
Mexico's Vigilante Law Enforcers
Discussion question: what should be the Peña Nieto administration's response to the growth of vigilante justice in Guerrero state and elsewhere?
For our last question we move back to Brazil. Brazil is obviously an up-an-coming country that is facing a diverse array of challenges. Last week we discussed drug use and immigration on the blog. Today, the articles cover infastructural woes and the sentencing of 23 prison guards for a massacre 21 years ago.
Brazil police sentenced over Carandiru jail massacre
Brazil congestion delays export of record soybean crop
Discussion question: every government has limited political capital. Keeping in mind diverse aspects of the Brazilian political economy, would Dilma Rousseff be wiser to spend her political capital on improving the country's record on human rights and corruption or on modernizing the country's infrastructure?
Enjoy!!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Week 12
This week's readings lack an obvious unifying theme. But, they each highlight a relatively new challenge faced by governments throughout Latin America. South-south immigration has picked up speed as the world grows more interconnected through technology and transport and western economies slow. Drug consumption has sadly spread among the populations of producing and transporting countries. And, the health problems associated with more calories and less activity have not been limited to the so-called rich world.
Obviously the answers to these challenges are not easily found. They also do not depend solely on growing wealthier or more educated, as evidenced by the fact that each of these issues is arguably found on an even greater scale in the US and Western Europe. Each challenge may also necessitate a separate response from the others.
Question: With these obstacles in mind, I'm interested in your take on these issues. If you were a policy-maker in Brazil, Mexico, or elsewhere in Latin America, what strategies would you pursue? Could you learn from the struggles of other part of the world (such as the US) who have wrestled with these challenges for decades?
Brazil immigrants face long wait at border town
Drugs in Brazil: Cracking up
Diabetes in Mexico: eating themselves to death
Enjoy!
Obviously the answers to these challenges are not easily found. They also do not depend solely on growing wealthier or more educated, as evidenced by the fact that each of these issues is arguably found on an even greater scale in the US and Western Europe. Each challenge may also necessitate a separate response from the others.
Question: With these obstacles in mind, I'm interested in your take on these issues. If you were a policy-maker in Brazil, Mexico, or elsewhere in Latin America, what strategies would you pursue? Could you learn from the struggles of other part of the world (such as the US) who have wrestled with these challenges for decades?
Brazil immigrants face long wait at border town
Drugs in Brazil: Cracking up
Diabetes in Mexico: eating themselves to death
Enjoy!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Week 11
We are entering the home stretch of the semester. And as you all begin work on your final papers, staying up to date on Latin American current events will provide you food for thought and examples (or counterexamples) for your case-based papers. This is also the 4th last blog post of the semester. Those of you have been holding off on participating are running out of time!
This week's first set of articles involve allegations made against two Latin American leaders. As we learned earlier this semester, Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva served as president of Brazil from 2002-2010. He oversaw a period of mainly strong growth where the economy was largely stable and inequality and poverty fell significantly. He left office with sky-high approval ratings and his chosen successor, Dilma Rousseff, was easily elected to the presidency. Lula's time as leader saw extensive allegations of corruption against those close to him as part of the Mensalão scandal. This scandal culminated in the conviction and sentencing of several high level members of Lula's political party, the PT. Many wondered how such extensive corruption could occur without the knolwedge of the president. But, until now, Lula has avoided being implicated in the scandal. It's important to stress that no convictions have occurred. But, this could have important consequences for Lula's legacy, the PT, and Brazilian democracy.
The second leader is the current president of Guatemala, Otto Perez Molina. Mr. Perez Molina has held office in Guatemala for only 15 months but has already overseen a large fall in crime an has been an outspoken advocate for a change in how the international community conducts its war on drugs. Prior to entering politics, Perez Molina was a military man and served in the military during Guatemala's long and bloody civil war, which was ongoing from 1960 to 1996. As former Guatemalan leader Efraín Ríos Montt faces charges that he oversaw crimes against humanity during his rule in the early 1980s, Perez Molina has now been mentioned during the trials as someone who ordered death and destruction of civilians during the same time period.
Brazil Opens Inquiry Into Claims of Wrongdoing by Ex-President
Guatemalan president accused of involvement in civil war atrocities
Discussion question: both of these leaders have been praised inside and outside their countries as visionary and effective leaders. What would convictions - or at least clearer evidence of their wrongdoing - mean for the quality of democracy in Brazil and Guatemala?
The remaining two models highlight competing visions on the extent to which commonly excepted 'Western' positions on human rights and the economy should guide Latin American leaders and the policies they pursue. The first article details efforts of Ecuador's Rafael Correa to restructure the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The IACHR previously led pressures against military governments. But, Correa argues that the Commission is married to a vision trumpeted (and not necessarily followed) by the US and other western powers. He sees it as unfairly targeting leftist governments in Latin America. Thus, he has proposed a series of reforms to weaken the IACHR and related organs with ties to the Organization of American States (OAS). His proposals have failed to gain much support outside of a few countries but they highlight differing views within the Western Hemisphere on democracy and human rights. The second article - written by Correa's National Secretary of Planning and Development - praises Ecuador as having successfully broken with failed western dogmas and reaped the benefits of a more indigenous and progressive development model.
Human rights in the Americas: War of attrition
Ecuador begins to roar
Discussion question: who should Latin American leaders look to for inspiration for their policies? Also, to what extent is it important for Latin American governments to be bound by regional norms on human rights and democracy?
Enjoy!
This week's first set of articles involve allegations made against two Latin American leaders. As we learned earlier this semester, Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva served as president of Brazil from 2002-2010. He oversaw a period of mainly strong growth where the economy was largely stable and inequality and poverty fell significantly. He left office with sky-high approval ratings and his chosen successor, Dilma Rousseff, was easily elected to the presidency. Lula's time as leader saw extensive allegations of corruption against those close to him as part of the Mensalão scandal. This scandal culminated in the conviction and sentencing of several high level members of Lula's political party, the PT. Many wondered how such extensive corruption could occur without the knolwedge of the president. But, until now, Lula has avoided being implicated in the scandal. It's important to stress that no convictions have occurred. But, this could have important consequences for Lula's legacy, the PT, and Brazilian democracy.
The second leader is the current president of Guatemala, Otto Perez Molina. Mr. Perez Molina has held office in Guatemala for only 15 months but has already overseen a large fall in crime an has been an outspoken advocate for a change in how the international community conducts its war on drugs. Prior to entering politics, Perez Molina was a military man and served in the military during Guatemala's long and bloody civil war, which was ongoing from 1960 to 1996. As former Guatemalan leader Efraín Ríos Montt faces charges that he oversaw crimes against humanity during his rule in the early 1980s, Perez Molina has now been mentioned during the trials as someone who ordered death and destruction of civilians during the same time period.
Brazil Opens Inquiry Into Claims of Wrongdoing by Ex-President
Guatemalan president accused of involvement in civil war atrocities
Discussion question: both of these leaders have been praised inside and outside their countries as visionary and effective leaders. What would convictions - or at least clearer evidence of their wrongdoing - mean for the quality of democracy in Brazil and Guatemala?
The remaining two models highlight competing visions on the extent to which commonly excepted 'Western' positions on human rights and the economy should guide Latin American leaders and the policies they pursue. The first article details efforts of Ecuador's Rafael Correa to restructure the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The IACHR previously led pressures against military governments. But, Correa argues that the Commission is married to a vision trumpeted (and not necessarily followed) by the US and other western powers. He sees it as unfairly targeting leftist governments in Latin America. Thus, he has proposed a series of reforms to weaken the IACHR and related organs with ties to the Organization of American States (OAS). His proposals have failed to gain much support outside of a few countries but they highlight differing views within the Western Hemisphere on democracy and human rights. The second article - written by Correa's National Secretary of Planning and Development - praises Ecuador as having successfully broken with failed western dogmas and reaped the benefits of a more indigenous and progressive development model.
Human rights in the Americas: War of attrition
Ecuador begins to roar
Discussion question: who should Latin American leaders look to for inspiration for their policies? Also, to what extent is it important for Latin American governments to be bound by regional norms on human rights and democracy?
Enjoy!
Monday, April 1, 2013
Week 10
Welcome back from Spring Break! This week's blog post revisits a couple important stories
First, we are closing in on Venezuela's presidential elections. With that in mind we will (once again) look at the legacy of Hugo Chavez. But, this time I want to specifically examine how a country can go about engaging a previously marginalized/ignored sector of society in politics without creating a polarized society. Chavez has been credited with making political citizens out of the Venezuelan poor but he - and his allies - also demonized anyone who dared to support another leader, ideology or movement. These 'opposition' groups were labored as fascists, golpistas, nazis, and more. The first of the following two articles descries a recent case of this labeling while the second explores how Chavez's impact on the Venezuelan lower class exceeds economic outcomes.
Maduro Calls Venezuela Opposition 'Heirs of Hitler'
Chávez Transformed the Way Venezuelans View Themselves
Discussion question: considering 21st century Venezuela, as well as 1970s Chile, how can a society go about addressing historical inequalities and injustice without contributing to a deeply polarized society?
The next article looks at the Cuban dissident community and the recent visit of Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez to the Cuban-American areas of Miami. As we have discussed in class, the Cuban-American community has played an important role in shaping US policy towards Cuba. While she is being received as a hero in Miami, Yoani Sanchez is very different than your average Cuban dissident. First, she plans to return to Cuba shortly. Second, she opposes the US embargo. The video gives you a better idea of who she is and what she thinks.
New Breed of Cuban Dissident Finds Changed Miami
Video: Yoani Sanchez with NY Times
Discussion question: how will the Cuban populations new ability to travel internationally legally impact the sentiments and influence of the Cuban American community towards US-Cuba relations?
Enjoy!
First, we are closing in on Venezuela's presidential elections. With that in mind we will (once again) look at the legacy of Hugo Chavez. But, this time I want to specifically examine how a country can go about engaging a previously marginalized/ignored sector of society in politics without creating a polarized society. Chavez has been credited with making political citizens out of the Venezuelan poor but he - and his allies - also demonized anyone who dared to support another leader, ideology or movement. These 'opposition' groups were labored as fascists, golpistas, nazis, and more. The first of the following two articles descries a recent case of this labeling while the second explores how Chavez's impact on the Venezuelan lower class exceeds economic outcomes.
Maduro Calls Venezuela Opposition 'Heirs of Hitler'
Chávez Transformed the Way Venezuelans View Themselves
Discussion question: considering 21st century Venezuela, as well as 1970s Chile, how can a society go about addressing historical inequalities and injustice without contributing to a deeply polarized society?
The next article looks at the Cuban dissident community and the recent visit of Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez to the Cuban-American areas of Miami. As we have discussed in class, the Cuban-American community has played an important role in shaping US policy towards Cuba. While she is being received as a hero in Miami, Yoani Sanchez is very different than your average Cuban dissident. First, she plans to return to Cuba shortly. Second, she opposes the US embargo. The video gives you a better idea of who she is and what she thinks.
New Breed of Cuban Dissident Finds Changed Miami
Video: Yoani Sanchez with NY Times
Discussion question: how will the Cuban populations new ability to travel internationally legally impact the sentiments and influence of the Cuban American community towards US-Cuba relations?
Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Latin America doesn't take Spring Break off
As promised, I'm posting a few articles during Spring Break to provide an opportunity to comment for those of you looking to improve your participation on the blog. Plus, the news isn't any less interesting during Spring Break!
I've gathered a diverse mix of stories. Each of them are similar to issues and/or cases we have already engaged on the blog. As this is an extra and 'unplanned' blog post I am not including discussion questions. Instead, I'll let commenters decide where they want to take things. The only expectations are that comments are clearly informed by at least one of the articles and make a clear point. Additionally, as always, all dialogue is expected to be polished and respectful. I would encourage you to tie the issues from these articles into the debates and concepts from previous classes and blog posts.
Enjoy!
Petrobras, Once Symbol of Brazil’s Oil Hopes, Strives to Regain Lost Swagger
Mexico vigilantes detain police
Mexico's new president: Sacred cows no more
Painful search for Argentina's disappeared
I've gathered a diverse mix of stories. Each of them are similar to issues and/or cases we have already engaged on the blog. As this is an extra and 'unplanned' blog post I am not including discussion questions. Instead, I'll let commenters decide where they want to take things. The only expectations are that comments are clearly informed by at least one of the articles and make a clear point. Additionally, as always, all dialogue is expected to be polished and respectful. I would encourage you to tie the issues from these articles into the debates and concepts from previous classes and blog posts.
Enjoy!
Petrobras, Once Symbol of Brazil’s Oil Hopes, Strives to Regain Lost Swagger
Mexico vigilantes detain police
Mexico's new president: Sacred cows no more
Painful search for Argentina's disappeared
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