Latin America in Focus

From the Donroe Doctrine to tariff turmoil a rightward electoral tilt, 2025 was a year of shifts for Latin America. Now, with Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Haiti, and Peru gearing up for presidential votes in 2026, more change is on the way.To make sense of what's to come, this episode of Latin America in focus brings back four of our prior guests from across the region: Venezuelan journalist and political scientist Tony Frangie Mawad, Mexican international affairs expert Brenda Estefan, Brazilian journalist and political analyst Thomas Traumann, and Latino and hemispheric digital democracy expert Roberta Braga.Then, in conversation with host Carin Zissis, the OAS’ director of electoral monitoring, Gerardo de Icaza, draws on over a decade of experience overseeing missions in 27 countries to explain the evolving challenges on the ground for election observers, from being victims of increasing political polarization to finding practical ways to leverage artificial intelligence for stronger election processes—as well as what it all means for democracy in the region.Monitor what’s in store for 2026 elections with our guide at: www.as-coa.org/2026Listen to past episodes with our guests:Tony Frangie Mawad on Venezuelan elections: t.ly/DszOSBrenda Estefan on Mexican foreign policy: t.ly/2Mfs5Thomas Traumann on Brazilian votes: t.ly/jp64bRoberta Braga on Nayib Bukele’s online reach: t.ly/vU0tEAccess other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at [email protected]. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.The music in the podcast is “Me Gusta Soñar,” our show's theme from the C4 Trío of Venezuela. https://youtu.be/NZ123ysut9s?si=tr5Qu25ujhSTXGIC Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org and share your love for Latin American culture and politics by joining Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.Follow us on social media:X: @ASCOAInstagram: @ascoaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/Bluesky: @ascoa.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/

Thirty-five years after the Washington Consensus, a group of the world’s leading economists have assembled a new book formulating an alternative road map for developing economies, The London Consensus: Economic Principles for the 21st Century. One of the books co-editors, prominent Chilean economist Andrés Velasco, recently stopped by the New York headquarters of Americas Society/Council of the Americas to present core principles to guide refreshed and adaptable economic policies in Latin America and beyond.In conversation with AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal, the former finance minister of Chile and current dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science emphasized the need for greater attention to delivering well-being for all and boosting state capacity to complement private-sector efforts. Given the diversity of today’s challenges—from climate change, to AI and the future of work, to trade fragmentation and political polarization—Velasco called for economists and policymakers to be more like medical doctors: assessing symptoms before handing out prescriptions.The music in the podcast is “One Day at a Time” by Franco Pinna for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org and share your love for Latin America by joining Americas Society. Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at [email protected]. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.Follow us on social media:X: @ASCOAInstagram: @ascoaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/Bluesky: @ascoa.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/

For decades, Bolivia’s abundant reserves of lithium, thought to be the largest in the world, have been touted as the country’s ticket to economic prosperity. But time and again, the sector has run into political hurdles, social resistance, technical issues, and a lack of investment. As newly inaugurated President Rodrigo Paz enters office under a promise of “Capitalism for all,” what will it take to get Bolivia’s lithium sector off—and out from under—the ground?In this episode, political scientist Dr. Diego von Vacano of Texas A&M University, unpacks Bolivia’s decades-long struggle to advance its lithium industry, how it compares with Chile and Argentina—the other two points of the “lithium triangle,”  and prospects for Paz to attract the foreign investment needed to develop critical technological infrastructure while attending to social and environmental concerns.Learn more about Bolivia’s 2025 election https://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-bolivias-2025-elections and other votes across Latin America this year. https://www.as-coa.org/content/guide-2025-latin-american-electionsThe music in the podcast is "Octubre" by Carla Derpic and Mauricio Copa for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org.  Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-societyBecoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.    Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at [email protected]. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.Follow us on social media:X: @ASCOAInstagram: @ascoaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/Bluesky: @ascoa.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/

After two failed constitutional rewrites, Chileans return to the polls to pick their new president. And like those referendums, this year’s vote will be compulsory. In this episode, international lawyer and columnist Paz Zárate covers what the mandatory vote could mean for the outcome of the first-round presidential vote. How are voters who typically don’t cast ballots approaching a contest where four right-wing candidates are polling in the double digits? From political platforms to infighting to foreign policy, Zárate gives a panorama ahead of the November 16 election.This episode was produced by Chase Harrison with Executive Producer Luisa Leme. Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at [email protected] and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.    The music in the podcast is “Sobre tu playa” by Inti-illimani performed for Americas Society: https://tinyurl.com/2p9nk4c8Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.orgShare your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Membership gives you preferential access to music performances, the art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.Follow us on social media:X: @ASCOAInstagram: @ascoaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/Bluesky: @ascoa.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/

Colombia has long been considered Washington’s greatest ally in Latin America. But the Trump administration’s decertification of Colombia as a partner in the war on drugs and its revocation of the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro have brought tension to the once ironclad relationship. On this episode, Sergio Guzmán, director of Colombia Risk Analysis, talks with host Carin Zissis in a conversation that takes stock of the bilateral relationship as Petro’s term draws to an end. With presidential elections scheduled for May, Guzmán also covers Bogotá’s relations with Beijing, Colombia’s role in regional security matters, and what the future might hold for the country’s politics.This episode was produced by Chase Harrison with Executive Producer Luisa Leme. Additional production support was provided by Rafael de Osma.Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at [email protected] and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.    The music in the podcast is “Acrílicos en la sonrisa” by Jacarandá Dúo and Angélica Achury for Americas Society: https://tinyurl.com/2p9nk4c8 Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.orgHear more of Guzmán’s commentary on Latin America in Focus episodes on Colombia’s 2023 midterms tinyurl.com/ew32zsnz and 2021 election tickets. https://tinyurl.com/yc77zy4sShare your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Membership gives you preferential access to music performances, the art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.   Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.Follow us on social media:X: @ASCOAInstagram: @ascoaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/Bluesky: @ascoa.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/