Analysis

Climate Change in the Northern Triangle: Recommendations for US Assistance

The countries of Central America’s Northern Triangle—El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—are especially vulnerable to the severe and worsening impacts of climate change. This policy brief, the first in a series of three publications, describes the main challenges and provides broad recommendations for the US strategy on climate change adaptation in the region. It is based on inputs from the Task Force on Climate Change in the Northern Triangle, coordinated by the Inter-American Dialogue.

Reports ˙ ˙ Climate Change in the Northern Triangle: Recommendations for US Assistance

Report Cover

Climate Threats in the Northern Triangle: How the United States Can Support Community Resilience

Rural subsistence farmers, ethnic communities, women, and young people are disproportionately affected by climate change in the Northern Triangle, according to a report by the Inter-American Dialogue, which focuses on adaptation in the region with an emphasis on climate justice and mitigating the impacts on vulnerable communities.

Lisa Viscidi, MK Vereen

Reports ˙ ˙ Download Report

Xiomara Castro is to take office today as Honduras’ first female president. Competing factions in her ruling Libre party have sought to install rival leaders of Congress. // File Photo: XiomaraCastroZ via Twitter.

Will Castro Be Able to Tame Honduras’ Strained Politics?

A Latin America Advisor Q&A featuring experts’ viewpoints on the outlook of Xiomara Castro’s presidency in Honduras.

Emily Mendrala, Juan Carlos Sikaffy, Christine Wade, Hugo Llorens, Lucas Perelló

Latin America Advisor ˙

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Climate Adaptation in the Northern Triangle: How the United States Can Foster Locally Led and Sustainable Change

This report, informed by the Dialogue’s Task Force on Climate Change in the Northern Triangle, complements the recommendations of the previous report in the series, on themes such as agriculture, water, energy, and finance, with strategic recommendations for US assistance to foster effective and sustainable adaptation, especially through empowering local leadership.

Nate Graham, MK Vereen, Allison Woolverton

Reports ˙ ˙ Download the Report

Recent Trends in Central American Migration

Though migration has continued, it has done so at a declining rate. In fact, overall growth in the migrant population in the United States has been offset by large numbers of deportations. This memo analyzes recent trends in Central American migration, starting with a brief historical context and moving on to current developments. It considers geographical divisions, reasons for migrating, and growth in the overall migrant population. It also addresses why the numbers of apprehensions are different from the numbers of people migrating. Finally, it considers implications of these current trends for Central American countries.

Manuel Orozco

Reports ˙

Even More Relevant: The Washington Diplomat’s Profile of the Inter-American Dialogue

In the early 1980s, when the Inter-American Dialogue was born, the U.S. was actively supporting right-wing governments from El Salvador to Nicaragua. There were “tremendous misunderstandings between Latin America and the United States,” says Michael Shifter, longtime president of the D.C.-based think tank. These days, it seems those tremendous misunderstandings have returned with a vengeance, making the Dialogue’s work even more relevant.

Larry Luxner

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ The Washington Diplomat

Video

New Approaches to Central America’s Gangs

On Tuesday, May 23rd, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted an event with Ivan Briscoe, Latin America and Caribbean program director at the International Crisis Group; Ana Glenda Tager, Latin America regional director at Interpeace; and Steven Dudley, Co-Director of InSight Crime. During this session, the speakers addressed violence in Central American in relation to gangs.

Laura Campiglia de Méndez

Event Summaries ˙

El presupuesto de Trump, la política hacia Cuba, y el futuro de Venezuela

En esta entrevista radiofónica con Luis Montes para WLIE 540 AM, Michael Shifter analiza el presupuesto del gobierno de Trump y su impacto en la región, lo que podemos anticipar sobre las políticas de Estados Unidos hacia Cuba, y el rol de distintos actores en la crisis de Venezuela.

Michael Shifter, Luis Montes

Interviews ˙ ˙ WLIE 540 AM

Patterns of Central American Migration

Historical legacies of civil war and poorly performing economies within the context of globalization have shaped Central American Migration.

Manuel Orozco

Reports ˙

Video

How Insecurity Shapes Daily Life in Central America

On October 3, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted an event entitled “How Insecurity Shapes Daily Life in Central America” to discuss a report recently published by the Inter-American Dialogue and the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) on crime avoidance in Central America. The event was moderated by Michael Shifter, with the speakers including Elizabeth Zechmeister, Carole Wilson, Michael Camilleri, and Juan Gonzalez. The panel discussed the report’s methodology and findings, as well as some of the broader implications of the research for policymakers in Latin America and the United States.

Anastasia Sendoun

Event Summaries ˙

Great Decisions: A Discussion of World Affairs

This year, Dialogue experts were chosen to provide background information and analysis of US policy towards Latin America and China-Latin America relations for Great Decisions, the largest program focusing on the discussion of world affairs in the United States.. 

Bruno Binetti, Michael Shifter, Margaret Myers

Books ˙ ˙ Foreign Policy Association