elections

Energy reform in the Mexican elections: continuity or change?

May 2, 2018

Since the 1990s, Mexico’s energy policy has shown a tendency to prioritize short-term objectives as well as its relationship with North America, which resulted in a focus on the production of crude oil for exports to the US. In contrast, the reform passed in 2013 focused on lowering energy costs for Mexican households, increasing investment and employment, and putting the government at the center as owner of oil and gas and regulator of the oil industry. The national presidential elections of 2018 will define the path Mexico will follow in the coming years.

Costa Rican Presidential Elections: An Overview

January 25, 2018

The Costa Rican presidential elections are quickly approaching, scheduled to be held on February 4th, 2018. The candidate who receives over 40% of the vote will serve as Costa Rica’s next president from 2018 until 2022. If no candidate receives more than 40% of the vote, a runoff will be held between the two top candidates. Despite the rapid approach of these elections, Costa Ricans are torn between the candidates as a recent scandal has stirred uncertainty in voters.

University of Pittsburgh Hillman Library houses Thomas Walker Collection: A lifetime of scholarly work in Latin America

November 8, 2017

Caridad was a woman of great endurance. Rising at 4am and retiring at midnight, she spent her long days cooking and selling mondongo, or tripe soup, to the men returning from the brothels in a small town in Colombia. With her sparse earnings, she supported her six children and was able to send her eldest, a son, to school. He went on to become a university professor and in turn provided education for his younger siblings. Not unlike mothers around the world, Caridad fought for her children’s survival with resilience and strength.

What Argentina's Midterm Elections Mean for the Future of the Country: An Overview

November 1, 2017

On Sunday, October 22, 2017, President Mauricio Macri’s ‘Cambiemos’ (‘Let’s Change’) coalition declared victory in Argentina’s legislative midterm elections over its main opposition, former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s ‘Unidad Ciudadana’ (‘Citizen Unity’) coalition.

VENEZUELA: Fraudulent Elections for National Assembly Among Escalating Violence and Political Polarization

August 2, 2017

Exultant after the results of the election for a Constituent Assembly became public, on the late night of July 30th, president Nicolás Maduro announced the end of his regime’s benevolence towards the opposition (se acabó lo que se daba), anticipating that the process of constitutional reform will provide the occasion for chavismo to settle all scores (se cobrará toda

Gubernatorial Elections in Mexico

June 7, 2017

A certain atmosphere of “rehearsal” is always present when sub-national or mid-term legislative elections take place with a new race for the national executive already in sight. The electoral dispute for diverse state-level and municipal offices, including the governorship of Mexico’s homonymous metropolitan state (Edomex), on June 4th was no exception.

The Engagement Curve: Trump’s Rise through the Lens of Latin American Populism

April 12, 2017

The election of Donald Trump caught everyone by surprise. Leaving aside the unprecedented nature of his candidacy, polling aggregators had pegged his chances at 20 percent, at the most optimistic. Exactly how Trump managed to beat the odds is still being examined and debated, but it seems clear that a substantial shift in the behavior of blue-collar and rural whites was key to his victory.

Outsider Politics in a Troubled Nation: Haiti

January 24, 2017

The United States isn’t the only country experiencing shifts of power with a businessman at the helm. On Tuesday, January 3rd, Haiti held elections and experienced businessman, Jovenel Moise won. He defeated 26 other candidates in a rerun of a 2016 election that was  judged a “disaster” by an independent commission appointed by interim president Privert. It was then repeatedly postponed, especially by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 (Charles, 2017). Moise will take office on February 7th.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - elections