Good to Know: Hostage taking and the rise in hostage diplomacy Danielle Gilbert - January 17, 2024 Media stories spotlight the high stakes – and the pressure to bring hostages home.
Brazil’s presidential runoff is between two populists Zoila Ponce de León and Gabriele Magni - October 24, 2022 Bolsonaro and Lula supporters alike show a preference for anti-traditional politics and strong leadership, a new survey shows
How do North and South Americans view the U.S.? Dinorah Azpuru - June 2, 2022 Leaders are gathering for the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles
Peru’s ex-president Alberto Fujimori was just pardoned — again. What’s going on? Ñusta Carranza Ko - March 30, 2022 Since he was convicted of crimes against humanity in 2009, his sentence has been hotly contested
International Women’s Day reminds us that the pandemic hurt gender equality. A lot. Jennifer Piscopo - March 7, 2022 But around the globe, activists and policymakers have laid out plans for economic recovery that would help reverse the losses — and help eliminate the reasons that women face inequality
Worried about the state of democracy? Here are some reasons to be optimistic instead. Miguel Angel Lara Otaola - March 2, 2022 These factors help countries return to democracy after an authoritarian spell, our research finds
Chile’s markets fell after people elected a leftist president. That’s not unusual. Daniele Girardi - January 23, 2022 Research investigates the aftermath of more than 750 elections around the world
Millennial politicians are shaking up Latin America. Here’s how they differ from the old guard. Will Freeman and Paul J. Angelo - January 11, 2022 Generational turnover is getting rid of ‘los mismos de siempre’ and making politics more unpredictable.
Would China’s move to join this transpacific trade pact push the U.S. to rejoin? It’s complicated. Kristen Hopewell - September 27, 2021 Membership would probably place China firmly at the center of regional and global supply chains.
Across Latin America, citizens and governments are clashing over their countries’ authoritarian pasts Michael Albertus - July 8, 2021 Here’s what that looks like on the ground
Chile elected delegates to draft a new constitution — and it’s not tilted toward the elites Julieta Suarez-Cao and Javier Sajuria - June 24, 2021 Chilean political parties suffered a big blow: 40 percent of the votes went to independent candidates. Here’s what that means.
Why Peru’s next leader was elected by a less than 1 percent margin Will Freeman and Cynthia McClintock - June 9, 2021 For Pedro Castillo and the left-wing Peru Libre party, the challenges ahead are enormous
Peru’s military say Shining Path insurgents killed 16 civilians. Others are not so sure. Jo-Marie Burt - June 5, 2021 Here’s how the politics of fear — and the legacy of old violence — may factor into Sunday’s voting.
El Salvador’s president launched a ‘self-coup.’ Watch for creeping corruption and authoritarianism. Steven Levitsky and Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez - May 19, 2021 Peru’s authoritarian past is a cautionary tale for El Salvador’s future
Peru’s upcoming presidential election is really a referendum on its troubled constitution Paolo Sosa-Villagarcia and Maxwell A. Cameron - May 13, 2021 What’s at stake in the runoff between leftist front-runner Pedro Castillo and right-wing, dynastic candidate Keiko Fujimori?
Why did France and the U.K. dispatch their navies to fight over fish? Sara Mitchell - May 9, 2021 Maritime disputes among democracies are more common than you think
The Hyde Amendment blocks federal funding of abortion. Will House Democrats repeal it? Michele Swers and Kelly L. Rolfes-Haase / Managing Editor - February 22, 2021 Democrats and Republicans weren’t always divided on abortion funding. That has changed.
Peru’s government forcibly sterilized Indigenous women from 1996 to 2001, the women say. Why? Ñusta Carranza Ko - February 18, 2021 Indigenous women have been demanding justice ever since.
Argentina legalized abortion. Here’s what it means for Latin America. Taylor Boas, Mason Moseley, Mariela Daby, and Amy Erica Smith - January 17, 2021 Abortion rights advocates focused on public health consequences for women in poverty.
Thousands of Peruvians are protesting the government’s rapid turnovers José Incio - November 24, 2020 A growing number of citizens no longer believe in the legitimacy of Peru’s main parties
Peru had three presidents in just one week. How could that happen? Ñusta Carranza Ko - November 17, 2020 When legislators impeached a popular reformer, protests toppled his successor
15 countries just signed the world’s largest trade pact. The U.S. isn’t one of them. Kristen Hopewell - November 15, 2020 Will the U.S. economy suffer as nations in the Asia-Pacific region get closer?
No, Trump is not attempting a ‘coup.’ Here’s why the distinction matters. Erica De Bruin - November 11, 2020 It’s important that we describe the crisis accurately. That will shape our response.
Colombia’s lawmakers are debating how to regulate cocaine. Here’s what we know about decriminalization. Elena Barham - October 18, 2020 Peru and Bolivia have already legalized parts of the coca trade.
U.S. cities and states are discussing reparations for Black Americans. Here’s what’s key. Peter Dixon - August 23, 2020 One lesson from international efforts: Keep reparations distinct from general social support.
Developing countries have been busy forging trade agreements — with one another Nita Rudra and Daniela Donno - May 26, 2020 Supply chains in a post-pandemic world might revolve far less around China
In Latin America, coronavirus threatens not just public health, but also democracy Nicolás Saldías - April 16, 2020 Shaky economies are likely to get worse
Front Line Assembly, ‘Virus’: The Week In One Song Christopher Federico - February 28, 2020 The coronavirus advances
El Salvador’s president sent troops to occupy the legislature. Here’s what’s going on. Michael Paarlberg - February 17, 2020 Nayib Bukele is popular with the people, but not with lawmakers.
Latin American democracy may be in trouble. The protests are a symptom of increasing mistrust. Dinorah Azpuru - December 8, 2019 Citizens are unhappy both with their own representatives and with democracy in general.
Bolivian protesters unseated a president. So why are they still in the streets? Natasha Bennett - November 14, 2019 Evo Morales is out – and it’s not clear what will happen to the institutions he created.
After weeks of Latin American protests, expect to see more women elected to office Magda Hinojosa, Kendall D. Funk, and Jennifer Piscopo - November 6, 2019 Parties nominate more women when citizens distrust government — because so many people believe women are more honest
Why the fragmentation of European politics could bode poorly for democracy Joseph Wright, Erica Frantz, and Andrea Kendall-Taylor - June 5, 2019 Reaching consensus in the new E.U. Parliament just got harder.
How one company’s deep web of corruption took down governments across Latin America Lindsay Mayka and Andrés Lovón - May 22, 2019 And how Brazil, Mexico and Peru responded with a wave of anticorruption measures
Brazil is unpredictable right now. Here are 3 possible scenarios for incoming president Jair Bolsonaro. Ryan Lloyd - November 7, 2018 [caption id="attachment_79918" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Jair Bolsonaro, then a presidential candidate,
Why the Nobel Peace Prize went to 2 people fighting sexual violence in war Ragnhild Nordås and Elisabeth Wood - October 8, 2018 As Islamic State forces swept through northern Iraq in 2014,
Steven Bannon is wrong. The White House ‘resistance’ is the opposite of a coup. Naunihal Singh - September 11, 2018 Former senior White House adviser Stephen K. Bannon calls it
Will Colombia’s next president be a former left-wing guerrilla? Danielle Gilbert - June 15, 2018 [caption id="attachment_74523" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Gustavo Petro, presidential candidate for Colombia
Latin Americans are protesting — and throwing out — corrupt regimes. Why now? German Petersen - June 1, 2018 [caption id="attachment_37143" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Demonstrators demand the impeachment of President
A new ‘resource curse’ is fueling riots around the world Renard Sexton - April 25, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72635" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The Kapolowe River outside Lubumbashi, Congo,
The threat of impeachment can push presidents out the door. But there’s a catch. Mariana Llanos, Leiv Marsteintredet, John Carey, Javier Corrales, and Aníbal Pérez-Liñán - April 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72037" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski waves
China is investing seriously in Latin America. Should you worry? - January 24, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68418" align="aligncenter" width="960"] From left: El Salvador Foreign Minister
Chile just elected a billionaire president. These are the 4 things you need to know. Juan Luna and Jennifer Pribble - December 18, 2017 [caption id="attachment_67397" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters cheer as Sebastián Piñera, Chile's president-elect,
The new U.S. plan in Afghanistan may add a local militia. That might be a bad idea. Govinda Clayton and Andrew Thomson - December 4, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66860" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Soldiers of NATO's Resolute Support Mission
The odds of a military coup in Venezuela are going up. But coups can sometimes lead to democracy Ozan Varol - November 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66271" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man holds the new 100,000-bolivar
It’s not just Venezuela. Elected governments don’t necessarily defend democracy or protect human rights. Jimena Galindo and Christopher Sabatini - August 11, 2017 On Aug. 8, 12 countries in Latin America raised their
Venezuela’s instability has far broader implications. Here’s what’s at stake. Annette Idler - August 10, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56315" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A demonstrator throws stones at riot
Venezuela’s controversial new Constituent Assembly, explained Jennifer McCoy - August 1, 2017 On Sunday, Venezuelans took to the streets to either vote
Trump’s nominations for U.S. ambassador are hardly draining the swamp Dennis Jett - May 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_58630" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Former senator Scott Brown speaks in Nashua,
So is the wave of populist nationalism finished? Hardly. Pippa Norris - May 17, 2017 [caption id="attachment_58471" align="alignleft" width="960"] French presidential candidate for the far-right
Venezuela’s government wants to write a new constitution. That way lies autocracy. Javier Corrales - May 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_58250" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Demonstrators who oppose the Venezuelan government
Here’s what Peru can teach Turkey about presidential power grabs Orçun Selçuk and Astrid Arrarás - May 2, 2017 [caption id="attachment_57637" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at
Could Trump set off a constitutional crisis? Here’s what we can learn from Latin America. Gretchen Helmke - April 25, 2017 [caption id="attachment_57263" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The White House as seen from
We examined more than 1,300 journalist killings between 2002 and 2013. Here’s what we learned. Sabine Carey and Anita Gohdes - March 28, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55987" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A journalist from the Balochistan Union
Why Trumponomics may complicate U.S. foreign policy - March 17, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55253" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump addresses a joint session
Yes, our ‘flawed’ democracy just got downgraded. Here’s why. Michael Hall and Dinorah Azpuru - February 23, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54524" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Voters on Nov. 8, 2016 received
Trump’s border wall ignores a long history of U.S. cooperation with Mexico. That’s a problem. Kate Tennis - February 14, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54090" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Marchers in Mexico City protest Donald
Okay, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is dead. What was it? Vanessa Lide - January 23, 2017 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A container ship loaded with U.S.
Why popular support isn’t necessary for an Israeli-Palestinian deal Norrin Ripsman - January 19, 2017 [caption id="attachment_52756" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Secretary of State John F. Kerry
The number of countries with female political leaders has plummeted Kelsey Coolidge and Curtis Bell - January 9, 2017 [caption id="attachment_49686" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Hillary Clinton makes a concession speech
The electoral college is a medieval relic. Only the U.S. still has one. Josep Colomer - December 11, 2016 The U.S. electoral college is a medieval relic. For several
Trump is making China angry. Could China undermine the U.S. in Latin America? Luis Schenoni - December 3, 2016 Many experts suggest that the rhetoric and politics of President-elect
Here’s what citizens who vote for authoritarians have in common Amy Erica Smith and Mollie Cohen - November 2, 2016 What leads citizens to vote for authoritarian candidates? In recent
The sky fell on the U.S. poultry industry last year. But NAFTA and the TPP helped protect U.S. exports. Chad Bown - August 30, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45785" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Cage-free chickens forage at an
The Colombian peace agreement has a big emphasis on the lives of women. Here’s how. Roxanne Krystalli - August 19, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45432" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Women celebrate the signing of a
The World Social Forum — a.k.a. the ‘anti-Davos’ — just concluded. Here’s what happened. Sarah Stroup and Jamie McCallum - August 18, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45446" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Thousands participate in a festive march
Populist leaders undermine democracy in these 4 ways. Would a President Trump? Saskia Ruth, Paul Kenny, and Kirk Hawkins - August 18, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45312" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Donald Trump speaks during a campaign
To understand Donald Trump’s law-and-order appeal, look south of the border Dinorah Azpuru - August 17, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45374" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Donald Trump speaks at a campaign
This is the problem with trying to destroy the Islamic State Colin Clarke and Chad Serena - July 12, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42441" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A fighter of the Islamic State
Women’s rights groups in Niger push forward on gender equality Kim Yi Dionne - June 24, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42685" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A woman prepares to cast her
Peru rejected Keiko Fujimori, but most new democracies vote authoritarian parties back into office. Here’s why. James Loxton - June 16, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42106" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Demonstrators rally against presidential candidate Keiko
Fujimori’s party already controls Peru’s congress. Here’s why observers are worried. Steven Levitsky and John Carey - June 3, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41630" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori of
Peru might elect an authoritarian president. These four maps tell you why. Maritza Paredes - June 3, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41590" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Quechua Indian woman walks past
Here are the 3 (big!) challenges facing Peru’s next president Michael Albertus - April 12, 2016 [caption id="attachment_38957" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A Quechua Indian woman walks next
Bolivian elections get the Hollywood treatment, and now we’re discussing term limits da Silva and Von Vacano - December 23, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLZo_ILZhfk Bolivian politics are not usually the stuff of
Here’s what the rest of the world is saying about Donald Trump Kalev Leetaru - December 18, 2015 [caption id="attachment_33662" align="aligncenter" width="908"] U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump
Piketty thinks South Africa needs to redistribute land. Democracies can’t do that. Dictators can. Michael Albertus - October 20, 2015 [caption id="attachment_30832" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] A man cuts sugarcane on a
We can end poverty, but at what cost? Chris Blattman - July 6, 2015 The past year has produced evidence on some of the
What does informed consent mean when conducting a field experiment? Renard Sexton - April 14, 2015 [caption id="attachment_23704" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sample consent form from an academic
Taking female armed rebels seriously Alexis Henshaw - April 11, 2015 [caption id="attachment_23604" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Female members of the Kurdish peshmerga
Can Kate Brown restore Oregonians’ confidence in the governor’s office? Tiffany Barnes - February 20, 2015 On Wednesday, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber’s resignation took effect and
Bridging levels of analysis in the study of conflict Laia Balcells - January 26, 2015 [caption id="attachment_20549" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Fighters from the Fajr Libya (Libya
Are militias a menace? Ariel Ahram - January 5, 2015 [caption id="attachment_19788" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Fighters from the Shiite Kataib Imam
Informal counterinsurgency from Iraq to Nigeria: Who pays the price? Sabine Carey and Neil Mitchell - December 22, 2014 [caption id="attachment_19420" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Iraqi soldiers supported by volunteers from
How the Lima Accord may nudge countries to do better on climate change (but won't solve the problem) Erik Voeten - December 14, 2014 [caption id="attachment_19045" align="alignnone" width="620"] Peruvian Minister of Environment Manuel Pulgar-Vidal,
How the Lima Accord may nudge countries to do better on climate change (but won’t solve the problem) Erik Voeten - December 14, 2014 [caption id="attachment_19045" align="alignnone" width="620"] Peruvian Minister of Environment Manuel Pulgar-Vidal,
A realistic approach to linking carbon markets Jessica Green - December 1, 2014 [caption id="attachment_18539" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Will the landmark climate agreement between
What The Economist could have read before suggesting that U.S. slavery wasn’t all bad Chris Blattman - September 5, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15315" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A sugar plantation on the island
World values lost in translation Charles Kurzman - September 2, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15134" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Soldiers parade during official celebrations of
Why all the illegal street vending? Ask the mayor Alisha Holland - June 30, 2014 [caption id="attachment_12425" align="aligncenter" width="680"] A street vendor in Bogotá, Colombia.
How democracies are gamed for power and profit: an addendum to Piketty Victor Menaldo and Mike Albertus - June 3, 2014 Joshua Tucker: As part of our continuing collaboration with political
The TPP is not an agreement among like-minded countries Henry Farrell - December 12, 2013 This is another post from Gabriel Michael, a doctoral candidate
The United States is isolated in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations Henry Farrell - November 18, 2013 Here's another, more quantitative perspective on the Trans Pacific Partnership
Butch Cassidy and the Snowden Kid: Evo Morales’s Plane and the Latin American Left Joshua Tucker - July 6, 2013 We welcome back Texas A&M political scientist Diego von Vacano with the following
Party Nationalization after the 2013 Ecuadorian Legislative and Presidential Election Joshua Tucker - March 14, 2013 Continuing our series of election reports in conjunction with Electoral Studies, the following
What do legislatures in authoritarian regimes do? Joshua Tucker - December 14, 2012 No, this post is not going to feature another picture
Registration Open for 5th Annual NYU-CESS Conference on Experimental Political Science Joshua Tucker - January 23, 2012 Registration is now open for the 5th Annual NYU-CESS Experimental
Call for Election Reports Joshua Tucker - December 9, 2010 Last year we started a Monkey Cage initiative to provide
Honduras 2009 Post-Election Report Joshua Tucker - November 30, 2009 Once again, we welcome "Gregory Weeks":http://www.politicalscience.uncc.edu/gbweeks/ with post-election analysis of