Latin America In Focus

Separating fact from fiction is a growing challenge in an era of fake news and "infoxification," given that we consume four times the amount of information that we did in 1986. Moreover, citizens are increasingly turning to peers over leaders, explained Partner and COO of Latin America for Llorente & Cuenca Luisa García. Listen to her conversation with AS/COA's Alana Tummino at a June 2018 Young Professionals of the Americas event in New York. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2sOYsgU Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

In this special episode of Latin America in Focus, we travel to Cuba to meet with cuentapropistas, Cuban entrepreneurs faced with the challenges of evolving policies in both Washington and Havana. This episode is in Spanish. 

El anuncio de Donald Trump el junio pasado, la suspensión de las licencias para negocios privados en Cuba, el huracán Irma, la reducción del personal en ambas embajadas, son todos parte de la serie de eventos de la segunda mitad del 2017 que culminó con una caída turística devastadora para los cuentapropistas en Cuba. Leani Garcia y Elizabeth Gonzalez de AS/COA entrevistaron a emprendedores durante una visita a la isla. Aprenda sobre el Grupo de Trabajo de Cuba de AS/COA: www.as-coa.org/cuba Suscríbase a nuestra serie de podcast: www.as-coa.org/podcast Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

Some 80% of Latin Americans live in cities—more than twice 1950’s rate. How did these urban areas become the metropolises we know today? In this two-segment episode, we look at the history and future of Latin American cities. First, 100 Resilient Cities’ Eugene Zapata-Garesché explains how cities are leading public policy today. Then the Getty Research Institute’s Maristella Casciato and Idurre Alonso walk us through The Metropolis in Latin America, 1830–1930, an exhibition running through June 30, 2018, at the Americas Society gallery. Listen to an AS/COA Online podcast with Zapata-Garesché about Mexico’s September 2017 earthquake. https://bit.ly/2DL2TNe Learn more about The Metropolis in Latin America exhibition at http://www.as-coa.org/metropolis and if you can’t make it to the show in New York, check out a video here: https://youtu.be/PAy_1U-2CR8 Opinions expressed in this podcast do

With the May 20 presidential vote unlikely to bring regime change, the international private sector might be more effective than sanctions at putting pressure on Nicolás Maduro, Northwestern University’s Daniel Lansberg-Rodríguez tells AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. If and when Venezuela’s recovery comes, he says, it’ll be quicker and more robust than many expect, due in no small part to a highly educated, entrepreneurial diaspora. Learn about our venezuela working group at www.as-coa.org/venezuela and see the latest AQ issue on "Rebuilding Venezuela" at https://bit.ly/2wMskQh. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

In 1994, the first Summit of the Americas took place just after the Cold War amid growing faith in democracy. But, over time, the Summit became increasingly marked by divisions. As the VIII Summit takes place in Lima, AS/COA’s Eric Farnsworth offers this quick take on the issues on the table and ways the event can become more effective. We hope you enjoy this podcast. If so, write us a review and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, or Stitcher. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

It’s election time in Mexico, and that means mudslinging and memes. It also means an unhappy electorate. A study found that Mexicans are more distrustful of their government than people in any of the other 27 countries surveyed, Edelman México’s Mariana Sanz tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis. But certain sectors shine in Mexicans’ view and one is civil society. Gabriela Hernández Cardoso of Méxicos Posibles explains a new citizens’ initiative and its hope to tackle the country’s problems of illegality, insecurity, and inequality. Access Edelman’s 2018 Trust Barometer: https://bit.ly/2GdgNwS Find out about Méxicos Posibles: https://bit.ly/2GhG74O Write us a review and subscribe to our podcast series: http://www.as-coa.org/podcast Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

Iván Duque and Gustavo Petro are leading the presidential race, but both will have their work cut out for them to expand their bases ahead of the May 27 first vote and June 17 runoff, says legal analyst Alvaro Forero Tascón. The country is both fragmented and divided, AS/COA’s Adriana La Rotta tells colleague Holly K. Sonneland—but that’s actually a sign of just how healthy Colombia’s democracy is in 2018. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

In Chile, center-right Sebastian Piñera replaces center-left Michelle Bachelet as president on March 11. Meanwhile, El Salvador’s March 4 legislative and municipal elections saw conservative parties picking up seats at the governing party’s expense. But, in both cases, to what degree did voters turn right and to what degree did they turn against the parties in control? Carin Zissis speaks with American University’s Héctor Silva Ávalos about what El Salvador’s election means for next year’s presidential race and Elizabeth Gonzalez talks with NYU’s Patricio Navia about what Piñera will seek to accomplish in his first 100 days. For more about Latin American elections, visit www.as-coa.org/2018. The music in this podcast was recorded at an Americas Society concert. visit www.musicoftheamericas.org for more information about upcoming performances. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

How has the #MeToo movement made 2018 the year of the woman and what does it mean in a Latin American context? We speak with Dr. Felicia Knaul, director of the University of Miami's Institute for Advanced Studies of the Americas, and Susan Segal, president and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas, about how #MeToo has created a space for dialogue about women in the workforce, from being what Knaul calls "passionate professionals" to giving women, particularly in Latin America, "the right space to thrive," says Segal. Both women share insights from their careers in the spheres of public health and banking. Both women will speak at AS/COA's Women's Hemispheric Network forum in Miami on February 22. Join the conversation at: www.as-coa.org/miami2018 Segal talks about what inspired her to launch the network. Learn more about the initiative and hear women share their experiences at: www.as-coa.org/women During the podcast, Dr. Knaul speaks about findings from a report on women and he

Just before taking off on his Latin America tour this month, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned about China's growing engagement in the region. But with the TPP off the table and the future of NAFTA in doubt, there's more room than ever for China to fill the vacuum left by United States. The OECD's head of the Latin America and Caribbean unit Ángel Melguizo speaks with AS/COA Online's Elizabeth Gonzalez about how the region can shape its relationship with Beijing. Listen to our first podcast with Melguizo at as-coa.org/newchina and watch the full AS/COA panel on sharp power at as-coa.org/sharpower Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

On the eve of February 4 general elections, the greatest bloc of Tico voters are still undecided about who they’re going to pick for president. No fewer than six candidates have legitimate chances at making it into the Easter Sunday runoff, say pollsters Felipe Alpízar and Ronald Alfaro of the University of Costa Rica’s Center for Research and Political Studies in this episode with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. A January 9 court ruling on gay marriage is only fueling voter anxieties, especially among conservatives. Get the background on the election, top candidates, and more on the 2018 Costa Rica elections at https://www.as-coa.org/cr2018 and find out about Latin America’s big year of elections at https://www.as-coa.org/2018. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

If 2017 was the year that changed the United States, 2018 will be the year that could change Latin America. A wave of elections will wash across the region, with voters choosing between the status quo and a rising tide of outsiders. All of this takes place as the United States increasingly looks inward, sparking questions about NAFTA’s fate and China’s global role. AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis hosts our first podcast of the year in which Luisa Leme talks with Americas Quarterly’s Brian Winter about the region’s packed electoral calendar, Eric Farnsworth of COA’s Washington office explains why trade will be a headline issue, and Venezuela Working Group head Guillermo Zubillaga tells Holly K. Sonneland that Caracas needs an intervention. If you like this podcast, please subscribe, review us on iTunes, and hit share to tell your friends about the series. We’ll be covering elections all year, so head to www.as-coa.org/2018 for more on Latin America’s packed electoral calendar. Opinions expressed in this podcast d

Improbably, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is still in power at the close of 2017. But he'll lose "handily" in the 2018 presidential election—provided it's a remotely free and fair contest—said Mark Feierstein. The NSC senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the Obama administration talked with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland about electoral strategies, sanctions, and baseball. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

“If there is any silver lining to this crisis, it might be that finally we will see a new political class emerging,” says Edwin Meléndez, Director of CUNY’s Center for Puerto Rican Studies, in this podcast with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

Chileans vote for president November 19, though the chance that they’ll have to vote again in a December 17 runoff is almost certain. So far, former President Sebastián Piñera has a 20-point lead against his closest competitor, former news anchor Alejandro Guillier, but turnout will be the final determining factor. Political scientist Patricio Navia tells AS/COA’s Elizabeth Gonzalez why. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

Venezuela has invited bondholders to Caracas on November 13 to renegotiate $66 billion in external debt—but restructuring is not going to be possible under the administration of Nicolás Maduro, says Siobhan Morden, head of Latin America fixed income strategy at Nomura Securities International, in this podcast with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

On September 19, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook Mexico City to its core, but also showed strides made since the last big one in 1985. “There is, of course, always room for improvement,” says 100 Resilient Cities’ Eugene Zapata-Garesché. He talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about how the capital can learn from the most recent disaster to ready itself for inevitable future quakes. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

2017 has been turbulent for Mexico, thanks in part to a new occupant in the White House. From NAFTA negotiations to presidential elections, there’s much at stake in the coming year as well. Victor Herrera, the former office head for S&P’s Global Ratings in Mexico City, speaks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about Mexico’s big issues to watch. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

Chile’s economy is slowing down, and the governing party may pay the price when the November 19 presidential election comes around. Former Finance Minister Felipe Larraín, who is now heading candidate Sebastián Piñera’s economic platform, talks with AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez about tax reform, youth unemployment, copper, and more. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

The Peterson Institute’s Gary Hufbauer talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about the ins and outs of NAFTA renegotiations, covering everything from rules of origin to trade deficits, as well as explaining how U.S. President Donald Trump could actually make good on his threats to withdraw from the 23-year-old deal. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.