The 1994 bombing on the AMIA building in Argentina and the 1989 bombing of Avianca Flight 203 in Colombia embody two demonstrative suicide bombing case studies. The strategy of suicide bombing…
Successful illicit narcotics trafficking networks in source and transit from Latin American and Caribbean countries involve significant political factors. Latin America and the Caribbean are infamously rife with narco trafficking…
By Isabela Fernandez; originally published at International Policy Digest - Just how widespread is corruption in Latin America? A recent Transparency International study lays bare the region’s worrying trend, with most countries…
Migration is a deeply entrenched concept within Latin America. Whether it is people crossing a border to establish themselves in a foreign land or a State receiving an influx of…
A famous dialogue segment from The Godfather II captures the distinct power of rebel organizations from general crime counterparts. In the Cuba-themed scene, mafioso Michael Corleone recounts to investor ally,…
Colombian journalist Daniel Samper recently conducted a light-hearted YouTube challenge…with FARC leader Jesus Santrich. Participating in a viral stunt, it involved squeezing lemon juice into their eyes and seeing who endured…
In a nutshell, Mexican and Colombian drug cartels may occupy a narco-spotlight for the United States and Europe, yet are by no means alone. Investigative journalists Virginia Messi and Juan Manuel…
By Dr. Håvar Solheim; University lecturer Modern History; Department of Latin American Studies; Leiden University - For years Latin America has been profiled as one of the most violent regions in…
(By Barbara Hogenboom and Marjo de Theije) - In the last decade, South America has seen substantial economic growth combined with impressive social progress. While the surge in social spending…
The Darien Gap is more than a pause in the Inter-American Highway. It divides North and South America’s problems. Panama’s military-styled border patrol SENAFRONT helps ensure that. SENAFRONT also controls a…
By Vincent Lofaso - In South America, the geopolitical prospects differ between countries. Some nations will focus on deterring criminal syndications and settle peace deals with rebel forces while others…
Ian Johnston - January 23rd saw the first bullfight in Bogotá for five years. It promised bloodthirsty passion and violence in abundance. By the end of the day, the event…
The Colombian government and the FARC have recently implemented a plan encouraging farmers to abandon coca production in favour of alternative legal crops. Coca leaves are the raw material for…
(By Rosario Hernandez; Young Diplomats): A Narco-State, by definition, is an area or government that is involved in drug trafficking directly or indirectly. It varies from having a figure as important…
(Guest Post by Russell A. Whitehouse): From the pre-colonial era to the present Colombian women have played an important role in their country. However, they have gone through their fair…
(Guest article by Alex Omelchenko) - When one thinks Latin American, it’s almost necessary to think passion in a deep rooted culture that is synonymous to celebration and innate to…
German Vargas Lleras is Vice President of Colombia and prospective candidate in the upcoming presidential elections. Vargas Lleras is a highly visible and fast rising politician with the requisite connections,…
Economic crisis brings history changing implications. Each country handles insecurity, political tensions, and corruption distinctly. Survival is of mutual interest. When it comes to survivalist crisis management, Panama is a…
The shock result of Colombia’s plebiscite on Sunday has understandably overshadowed other events in Latin America this week. However, the context of Colombia’s vote provides an opportunity to examine another…
How do telenovelas - idols of entertainment and popular culture - exist in the name of agendas they attempt to escape? As the popularity of Latin American telenovelas expand into…
Guest article by Allison Lim* Opinions on the ground vary as Colombian citizens get ready to vote YES or NO on the peace agreement between the government and…
The permanent ceasefire between the Colombian government and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) appears to be holding. The ceasefire, which took effect on the first minute of Monday…
Outspoken Colombian Ex-President Alvaro Uribe’s call for civil resistance against the Santos government-FARC peace process in Havana during its final stages must be interpreted through various contextual circumstances, principally via economic, political but perhaps…
The modern geopolitics of Latin America’s on-going Drug War highlights the impact of different strategies on combating - and surviving - a war against all odds. The illegal drug trade…
Everyone wears the shirt. The woman on the moto coming by, the man selling avocados: there are no exceptions. Uniform is suspended for the day, so are lessons and work,…
