Surprisingly, Evo Morales has made the armed forces a major priority. This has sparked widespread interest in the Bolivian government’s proposed defence reform and any possible contradictions within it.
In a speech delivered last March, the US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales characterised the war against the Central American youth gangs, and the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) in particular, as second only to the war against al-Qaeda in importance. Unfortunately, much like the war against international terrorism in Iraq, the US is faring poorly in combating the gangs.
The Ecuadorean elections ended in a triumph for Rafael Correa in the second round and with the overthrow of the dominance of the traditional parties in Congress. These two results could give rise to far-reaching changes in the political system of one of Latin America’s least stable countries.
The election of a non-permanent member to represent Latin America on the United Nations Security Council became a duel between Venezuela and the US, with most of the countries in the region remaining almost entirely passive.
The ‘nationalisation’ agreement with the petroleum companies operating in Bolivia provides a badly needed political victory for President Evo Morales, whose government has been weakened by local and ideological disputes that have tested its credibility. Now the focus will be on the future investments needed to reverse expected production declines and meet expanding domestic and export demand.
Brazil’s incumbent President, Luis Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva, is the front-running candidate in the upcoming elections on 1 October. Lula could obtain a new four-year mandate in the first round of the elections, though he would have to come to agreements with other political parties to form a parliamentary majority
This paper analyses the coming into force of the United States-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) and its consequences for the new Central American growth model
In the context of the complex political transition which commenced at the end of last year, the results of the 2 July elections confirm the trend made evident in the December poll, but at the same time raise further questions in regard to the democratic governability and strengthening of a plural political system in Bolivia
This paper analyses Cuba’s prospects and possibilities, now that President Fidel Castro has temporarily ceded power to his brother General Raúl Castro
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