Heather Sullivan

Heather Sullivan is associate professor of government at Hamilton College. She studies Latin American politics and is interested in the ways state capacity shapes political outcomes. She has published a series of articles on protest and its management in the Journal of Conflict Resolution, Political Research Quarterly, Global Studies Quarterly, and Democratization. Heather was a 2024-2025 Good Authority fellow.


What to expect in Venezuela, after Maduro

Restoring the oil sector – and securing friendlier relations – may prove equally difficult.

Trump’s attacks on Venezuela won’t even serve Trump’s stated goals

The attacks won’t stop the drug trade – or bring about a friendlier regime.

What’s behind Panama’s mass protests?

The government has failed to address the broad range of grievances bringing people out on the streets.

You want to live in a Freedom City? Take a closer look at Honduras.

Próspera offers a cautionary tale on deregulation and charter cities.

The U.S. sent 238 Venezuelans to a foreign prison, claiming they’re gang members

Why did these migrants end up incarcerated without trial in El Salvador?

Nicaragua’s revised constitution gives the president added powers

The latest changes deepen the Ortega-Murillo family’s political control – and legalize new forms of repression.

Colombia’s plan for peace seemed to work – until it didn’t

Renewed violence and criminal expansion reveal deep flaws in President Petro’s Total Peace plan.

How Jair Bolsonaro plotted to steal Brazil’s 2022 election

Brazil’s democracy faced a major test, according to the police report on this coup attempt.

How U.S. migration policies shift the burden to Latin America

The U.S. relies on countries south of the border for immigration enforcement.

Maduro’s disputed win in Venezuela’s election sparks widespread unrest

Venezuela’s 2024 election is an example of why authoritarian leaders hold and manipulate elections.