What did we just see happen overnight in Bolivia? The answer is complicated, so let me give some background. Evo Morales, the Bolivian President who resigned last night, was first elected in 2006. At the time, his elevation to the highest office was hailed as a major victory because he was the first indigenous person…
Category: international politics
Why So Much Political Turmoil in Latin America This Month?
What in the world is happening in Latin America? In the last month there has been major political turmoil and protests in Haiti, Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Chile and just this week Bolivia. There have been multiple deaths, hundreds wounded, government buildings attacked, subway stations set on fire, and state of emergency declared in Ecuador, Chile,…
The United States, Asylum Policy, and Central America
One of the constants about immigration as a topic is how emotional people of all stripes get talking about it despite little to no understanding of immigration law. This is not necessarily their fault. The salience of the immigration phenomenon and the complexity of the rules, coupled with misinformation stemming from politicians, media organizations and…
The Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi and the International System
The most basic aspect of the international system is the fact that it lacks a centralized overarching authority. This is the sort of thing one learns on the first day of a basic intro course on international relations, but it makes it no less significant because given this characteristic, any positive international outcome that occurs…