On November 14, 2023, the Inter-American Dialogue welcomed Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, a Nicaraguan singer, composer, poet, and social activist, and award-winning Nicaraguan journalist, Carlos Fernando Chamorro to a conversational and musical dialogue that aimed to reflect on the political situation in Nicaragua through art.
Amid Venezuela’s crisis and the upcoming 2024 presidential elections, a potential opportunity for a democratic transition may emerge. The escalating authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and dire humanitarian situation underscore the critical importance of addressing these challenges while also identifying opportunities for transition to occur.
As Venezuela’s presidential elections, scheduled for 2024, draw closer, the international community’s attention is primarily focused on how to use leverage to ensure minimal electoral conditions. US high-level officials have publicly said they would ease some of the economic and political sanctions imposed on the country in exchange for meaningful concessions by Nicolas Maduro’s government, and there is clearly an ongoing back channel between US and Venezuelan authorities along these lines. While this discussion is essential, it often overshadows a vital aspect of the conversation—the plan for what comes next. No transition of power is possible without a clear path forward after election day.
In Latin America today, traditional coups are no longer the biggest threat to liberal democracy. More perilous are democratically elected leaders who, once in power, deliberately and gradually undermine basic guarantees, such as judicial autonomy, electoral integrity, independent press work and free expression.
Rebecca Bill Chavez discusses the intersectional crisis in Latin America by assessing democracy, migration, and climate change in The Burn Bag podcast.
Rebecca Bill Chavez
Podcasts ˙
˙ The Burn Bag - National Security and Foreign Policy Redefined
A Latin America Advisor Q&A featuring experts’ views on Argentina’s presidential primaries on Aug. 13, and far-right populist Javier Milei emerging as the top vote-getter.
Juan Cruz Díaz, Mariano Machado, Alejandro García Magos, Aníbal Nicolás Saldías, Marina Pera, Tobías Belgrano
Tamara Taraciuk Broner, Director of the Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program at the Inter-American Dialogue, spoke with the Washington Post about the impact of President Nayib Bukele’s security strategy on democracy and the region.