Week 6

The Cuban National Assembly is currently meeting and there is a lot of speculation surrounding the naming of a younger generation of leaders to positions of political and influence.  The Castro brother are both in their 80s and most of the country's other most influential politicians and military officers are also well past a conventional retirement age. Will we see a generational change in Cuban leadership without a few further nudges in the form of illness or death? To go along with this story I've chosen a couple other articles which address the difficulties surrounding power transitions.  Leaders are often loathe to give up their power.  Some leaders are considered irreplaceable by their supporters. 

Along with Cuba, this week's articles consider the continuing uncertainty surrounding the health and leadership of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and Pinochet's loss of the 1988 plebiscite in Chile.

Here are the articles:
Cuba's Castros prepare to step back after end-of-era election
Venezuela: the homecoming
Chile's Pinochet tried to cling to power in 1988

Questions:
1) Do term limits strengthen or hinder government responsiveness and accountability?
2) How best can a country transition from an autocratic to a democratic government while minimizing economic and political instability?

Enjoy!!

Week 5

This week I've chosen articles that highlight the challenges that special interests and corruption present to reformers.  Corruption is a major problem in most Latin American countries.  In some cases, citizens see it as an inevitable part of politics and doing business.  Progress has been made in some cases.  According to Transparency International's 2012 Corruption Perception Index, not a single Latin American country was more corrupt in 2012 than in 2011.  Even in Brazil, the subject of two of this week's articles, recent legal changes have led many to conclude that the culture of impunity is being eroded.

Here are the articles:
Brazil, Where a Judge Made $361,500 in a Month, Fumes Over Pay
Brazil's zombie politician's: unstoppable?
Mexico's politics: tearing up the script

Question 1: given a history of systemic corruption, how can a society best go about reducing corruption?
Question 2: as highlighted in the article on Mexico, monopolies and other special interests often constrain the extent to which leaders govern in line with the will of their voters.  How can the citizens of a country produce a system which is more responsive to their needs and desires?

Remember, if you signed up for the week of February the 18th your post is due by 8am on Friday, February 22nd.  Comments are always accepted on my two most recent posts.  Post and comment away!!

Week 4

This is the week I'm really expecting the floodgates of comments to come open :) I've really enjoyed seeing many of you engage the material and each other and I hope that even more of you do this in the coming weeks.

This week's articles
Ecuador's Election: the man with the mighty microphone
Falkland Islanders 'must decide own future', says Hague
Colombia's Farc proposes legal coca and marijuana crops

I had trouble finding new articles with a unifying theme or two this week.  Thus, I am posing three questions for discussion.
1) To what extent should Latin American leaders and their voters give liberal democratic principles (traditionally defined) priority over other goals?
2) Can legitimate colonial territories exist in the 21st century.  If so, under what conditions?
3) How much (and what) should the Colombian government be willing to give up in their quest for peace with the FARC and other guerilla groups?

Remember, if you signed up for a weekly post than your post must address at least one of the articles and one of the questions.  Comments should be informed by at least 1 article, respond to either a discussion question or a classmate's post, make a clear point, and be professional.

Remember that your study of Latin American current events does not have to be limited to this blog.  Below I am posting links to several great information sources:
BBC News: Latin America and the Caribbean
BBC Mundo
BBC Brasil (Portuguese)
Economist Americas section
NY Times Americas section
Americas Quarterly

There are also an abundance of foreign-language on-line newspapers specific to every country in the region.

Enjoy!

Week 3

Here are this week's articles:
Latin American Integration: past and future
Venezuelan Oil Deals: poor nations worry about future
Argentine-Iranian Relations: a pact with the devil

Questions:
1) What countries/parts of the world should be given priority by Latin American leaders when looking for deeper political and economic ties?
2) Given the region's recent history, what Latin American country(ies) do you see as increasing their influence in the region during the coming decade? 

Enjoy!!