• More of the same boilerplate rhetoric vis-à-vis Latin America • No constructive engagement when it comes to Bolivia’s Evo Morales or Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez Committed Latin Americanists relished the unceremonious departure of right-wing ideologue Roger Noriega as assistant secretary of state for Western Hemispheric affairs and welcomed, by default, the promotion of Thomas A. Shannon Jr. to the post in October. The selection of a career diplomat with a lengthy curriculum vitae, including...
• If Bolivia manages to peacefully ride out its convoluted electoral process, stability is far from being guaranteed, even in the event of an Evo Morales victory. • Morales appears increasingly likely to win by a significant margin on December 18, probably by enough of a spread to effectively guarantee that Congress will confirm him in the runoff. • Simply winning the presidency will not end the challenges for Evo however, as he will...
· Bolivia’s December 18 presidential election is unlikely to provide stability. · Divisiveness, stemming from the country’s deeply fragmented society, is only compounded by a balky political system. · The election highlights many issues, but it is largely a referendum on Washington’s advocacy of free trade and neoliberalism, which are deeply unpopular in the country. · Washington, with no evidence, blames Venezuela for trying to destabilize Bolivia. · Evo Morales may win the presidency,...
· Initial reports that 400-500 U.S. troops would be operating in Paraguay at once were misleading. · Washington‘s intensified interest in previously all-but-ignored Paraguay invites questions regarding U.S. intentions for the country and the region. · Paraguay, which has long been thought of as a terrorist haven, may be the next front in Washington’s “War on Terror.” · Could Mariscal Estigarribia be the new Manta? On June 1, the Paraguayan Congress signed off on...
· The corruption scandal within the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) has captured the public’s attention, as well as its disgust, throughout much of 2005. · Despite a healthy economy, many wonder whether Lula’s chances in the presidential election have been seriously diminished. · Forecasts originally predicted that the president would be able to withstand the consequences of his party’s public woes come the election season, but with former chief of staff José Dirceu’s recent...
