Article Archives - Americas Quarterly

Sugar and ethanol bioenergy plant in Itapetininga, São Paulo state, Brazil.

Biofuels’ Boom Meets Brazil’s Criminal Frontier

A series of recent irregularities calls for stricter governance and closer monitoring of a thriving sector, writes an expert.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega arrives at a military ceremony in Managua in June, 2025.

What Nicaragua Gains From Russia’s Embrace

A new agreement with Moscow signals that the Ortega-Murillo regime will continue to tighten its grip in Managua, an expert writes.

The Mountain Pass mine in California, pictured in April, is the only rare earths mine of its size operating in the Americas.

The Strategic Link Between USMCA and Critical Minerals

North American security requires that critical minerals be part of trade negotiations, writes a former Mexican ambassador to the U.S.

Voters enter a polling station during the second day of voting in Lima on April 13, 2026.

Peru’s Chaotic Election — and Some Reasons for Hope

While the country’s politics remain in poor shape, the June 7 runoff offers a new opportunity to rethink the future.

Colombian presidential candidate Iván Cepeda in Bogotá on March 8

In Colombia’s Election, Two Conservatives Fight to Face Cepeda

The race between De La Espriella and Valencia will likely define a potential presidential runoff.

Maintenance work at the Panama Canal in May 2025.

Overcoming Latin America’s Stubborn Productivity Gap

One of the region’s most pressing issues offers an opportunity to governments and private companies alike.

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz during a press conference in Brasília on March 16

Bolivia’s Reform Agenda Is Moving, but Slowly

President Rodrigo Paz promised to turn the country around, yet he is shying away from his own agenda.

Venezuela's Interim President Delcy Rodríguez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas in April.

Normalization Without Transition: Delcy Rodríguez’s Playbook

Venezuela’s greatest risk is not the absence of a political transition, but the simulation of one, an expert writes.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, speaks next to Brazil's President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Rio de Janeiro in January.

Why the EU-Mercosur Deal Matters in a Fragmented World

The agreement can be much more than a market-access framework for both blocs. Can political will make it work?

Arévalo’s Narrow Path to Change in Guatemala

President Arévalo will pick the next attorney general from a list of six candidates by May 16.

Voters wait at a Lima polling station on Monday, April 13, after logistical problems led Peru's elections authorities to extend voting to a second day.

A New Test for Peru’s Economic Resilience

A runoff between Fujimori and Sánchez, if confirmed, will put the country’s famous macroeconomic stability at risk, a former finance minister writes.

Jair Bolsonaro, left, and his son Flávio address supporters at a rally in Rio de Janeiro in March 2025.

The Voters Flávio Bolsonaro Still Needs

To succeed in October’s election, the son of Brazil’s last president will have to convince those outside the conservative movement.

An election worker assists a voter in Chiguata, Peru, on April 12.

REACTION: Peru Braces for a Polarizing Fujimori-Sánchez Runoff

Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez appear headed to a high-stakes runoff on June 7 after the first-round vote indicated critical new dynamics.

A rock with copper oxidation on top of San Jorge Hill in Uspallata, Argentina in Dec. 2025.

Is Argentina Ready for a Copper Moment?

Vast reserves of the metal and nine mining projects under review represent a unique opportunity for the country and investors alike, two experts write.

Farmers plow a field in Cusco, Peru, in November.

Latin America’s Incomplete Liberalization Story

The region’s economies still revolve around commodities and low-productivity services. Better planning can help.