When Foreign Policy Hits Home

By María Isabel Puerta Riera Biden In a Crossfire The Biden administration has been under fire since reports in early March suggested a change in the direction of the foreign policy toward Venezuela, including exploring the possibility of sanctions relief if the Nicolás Maduro regime agreed to certain conditions. The breakthrough came amid the global response to... Continue Reading →

Latin America’s Pendulum

Latin America’s Pendulum by María Isabel Puerta Riera  María is a Political Scientist teaching U. S. Government in Florida. Interested in U. S. and Latin American Politics.  Latin America’s Pendulum Over the past decade Latin America has faced significant challenges to governance from critical episodes that have led to the impeachment of Brazil's president to the incarceration of a former... Continue Reading →

Chile and its Constitution

Become a Patron! Order Dan Slater and Joseph Wong's From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia.  Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. Chile and its Constitution On Sunday, Chile rejected a proposed constitution after three years of protests, negotiating, and hard work from those involved. Nonetheless, it lost in an overwhelming vote... Continue Reading →

Thoughts on Colombia’s Presidential Election

Become a Patron! Colombia's Presidential Election Yesterday Gustavo Petro won Colombia's presidential election. Many journalists and commentators have already written extensively about the electoral campaign. Perhaps the most common narrative is Gustavo Petro as Columbia's first leftist president. For readers in the United States or Europe this may come across as surprising. However, Colombia's leftwing... Continue Reading →

Caitlin Andrews-Lee on Charismatic Movements and Personalistic Leaders

Caitlin Andrews-Lee is an Assistant Professor in Ryerson University’s Department of Politics and Public Administration. She is the author of the book, The Emergence and Revival of Charismatic Movements: Argentine Peronism and Venezuelan Chavismo.   Charismatic leaders who are intent on governing solely using their charismatic authority and subverting other things to their personal power... Continue Reading →

Charismatic Movements and their Leaders

Charismatic Movements Last week’s focus on democratic backsliding incorporated many different themes from polarization to personalist leaders. This week’s focus narrows its scope to discuss charismatic leaders and their movements. The emergence of a charismatic leader often brings about democratic erosion. However, many of us struggle to understand why people so easily fall under the... Continue Reading →

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