Mexico Security Strategy: 18 Years After the War on Drugs
Violence in Mexico has shaped the trajectory of the country for nearly two decades. What began in 2006 as a military intervention has evolved into the foundation of Mexico’s security…
Compulsory Voting and the Status Quo: Lessons from Chile’s Constitutional Referendum
Following a mass national protest, Chileans voted strongly in favor of a new constitution in 2020. However, just two years later, when voters were presented with the proposed constitution, the…
When the Impossible Happened in Venezuela: Media, Political Discourse, and Lived Experience
Editor’s note This article is an opinion essay written from the personal experience of a Venezuelan author in response to events reported in the context of the political crisis in…
The Monroe Doctrine in Latin America: Origins, Intervention, and Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine”
Following reports that the United States sent forces to capture Venezuela’s former leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife in January 2026, public interest in the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America…
Religion and Politics in Brazil: Júlio Lancelotti and the Selective Use of Secularism
Religion and Politics in Brazil: Faith, Power, and Polarization In Brazil, religious authority has long ceased to be exercised solely from the pulpit. Although the Constitution establishes a secular state,…
After Maduro: Why U.S. Intervention in Venezuela Is Only the Beginning
U.S. Intervention in Venezuela: A Moment of Shock and Celebration On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces delivered a devastating blow to the authoritarian regime led by Nicolás Maduro, ultimately capturing…
Political Decentralization in Colombia: Achievements, Limits, and the Road Ahead
Forty years after Colombia began its experiment with political decentralization, the debate over its impact remains unresolved. Has decentralization truly brought power closer to citizens? Has it strengthened democracy, or…
The Loss of Wonder in the Face of the Extraordinary: Social Resilience in Latin America
“Truth is stranger than fiction.”— Mark Twain (1897) The Loss of Wonder in the Face of the Extraordinary Amid the nuances of everyday life, surprise and wonder tend to fade…
The Appearance of Political Polarization: Chile’s Election and the Illusion of a Deeply Divided Society
The Appearance of Political Polarization in Chile Chile has recently elected a new leader in a highly publicized presidential election, prompting renewed discussion about the appearance of political polarization. After…
Former Presidents Convicted for Corruption: A Global Rise in Accountability
Abstract Former presidents are increasingly being prosecuted and convicted for corruption worldwide. Drawing on cross-national data, this article shows a sharp rise in corruption convictions of heads of state since…