Week 9

A lot is happening in Latin America.  Venezuela remains in an uncertain period of transition.  More reforms are being proposed in Mexico. And, the Vatican has its first Latin American Pope!! However, alongside these big headlines the region continues to undergo social transformations that are often more subtle but can be - over time - just as transformative.   This week's blog focuses on these social issues, current and historic.

In Effort to Try Dictator, Guatemala Shows New Judicial Might

 Question: To what extent does addressing historical wrongs in cases such as Guatemala’s help solve today and tomorrow’s challenges?

A Transgender Elected Official Reflects an Evolving Cuba
In Brazil, a Mix of Racial Openness and Exclusion

Question: As evidenced by the article on Guatemala, inter-ethnic relations have often been a point of tension in many Latin American countries.  The articles on Cuba and Brazil highlight how, despite changes in the treatment of different types of minorities, challenges remain.  What factors will determine the breadth and depth of social change in the coming years?

Catholicism in Argentina: Move over

Question: will the choice of a Latin American Pope imply a larger influence for organized religion in the politics of Latin America?

Note: this week's articles and questions deal directly with issues of identity and related policies and views.  These are important issues in Latin America and beyond but they also have the potential to lead to divide and provoke. Please remember that, while disagreement and debate are expected and encouraged, each blog participant is expected to avoid name-calling and other forms of unprofessional behavior.

Enjoy!!

Week 8

This week two topics will be up for discussion.The first is the death of Hugo Chávez.  Chávez was polarizing while alive and continues to be polarizing after his death.  Thus, I have chosen two articles from the same source - the New York Times - which present fairly different interpretations of the man, his work, and his legacy. 

The second topic is one which we will study later in the semester.  However, I wanted to get the converation started now as it is a very pressing issue for many Latin Americans.  The issue is crime and insecurity and the articles I have chosen look at the issue in the region where it has been most pressing and tragic.  Central America is likely the world's most violent region, even when war zones are included.  Violence is an issue that destroys futures while also influencing political stability, economic growth, gender equality, and countless other important outcomes. 

Here are the articles:
Hugo Chávez, a polarizing figure who lead a movement
Latin America after Chávez (by Luis Ignacio 'Lula' Da Silva)

Central America: out of control
El Salvador's Gangs: The year of living less dangerously

Discussion questions:
1) 20 years from now, what will Hugo Chavez's legacy be in Venezuela and beyond?
2) Honduras and El Salvador are states with limited political and economic resources. How should their governments best use those resources to address elevated rates of murder, extortion, robbery, and other violent crimes?

Enjoy!

Chavez is Dead

Breaking News!!!

Sources in Venezuela have just announced that Hugo Chavez has died.

<http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/world/americas/obit-venezuela-chavez/?hpt=hp_t1>

Week 7

You will see a longer list of articles on this week's blog post.  Let me explain.  The first three articles all deal with the case of Elba Esther Gordillo, the (until recently) head of Mexico's powerful teacher's union and the subject of recent imprisonment and prosecution for embezzlement of funds and abuses of power.  I find this to be a fascinating case that highlights a lot of the topics we have talked about on the blog (and in class) so far this semester. If you are worried about the higher number of article's on this week's blog feel free to read only two of the three articles on Elba Esther Gordillo.  That should give you enough context to understand the basic details of the case and answer any reading quiz question. The fourth article briefly details the most recent efforts by the Brazilian police and military to 'pacify' Rio de Janeiro's favelas.  I'm interested to continue the conversation started in Friday's class about how the relations between the government, favela residents, inequality, crime, and Brazil's international image. The last link leads you to a short video about a commercial agreement signed between the Guatemalan sugar industry and the European Union.  I find this case to provoke interesting questions about the whether the West should push for domestic reforms in Latin America and, if so, how.

The articles:
La Maestra of Mexico faces her biggest challenge
Power in Mexico: The Teacher in detention
Luxury Villas, Designer Labels: Jailed Mexico Union Boss' U.S. Oasis
Brazil troops move into Rio airport shanty towns
A trade deal with a difference, but will it improve workers' lives?

Discussion questions:
1) How do you interpret the recent detention of Elba Esther Gordillo? Is this more of an effort to crack down on corruption and special interests or is it targeted justice aimed at weakening political enemies?
2) What approach should the government of Rio de Janeiro take to limit crime and insecurity in the short-run?
3) Should Western governments aim to shape the practices of Latin American governments with respect to issues like labor rights, the environment, and the treatment of minority groups? If not, why? If so, what would be the best mechanisms for applying this pressure?

Note: please remember that those of you signed up for longer blog posts should be using some form of citation to reference content from the assigned articles or any other content you wish to bring in for your post.

Enjoy!

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!