President Nicolas Maduro called for an early election, Reuters reports (HT: CFR) for the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Many Western countries have recognized the head of the assembly, Juan Guaido, as… Read more »
While democracy remains a popular aspiration around the world, “attraction” will prove more effective than “promotion” as a way to help democracy expand, says a leading analyst. A new study… Read more »
Cuba’s Communist government has told citizens to brace for hard times, although some economists don’t expect a repeat of the meltdown after the fall of the Soviet Union that lasted… Read more »
Despite profound dissatisfaction, extraordinary polarization, and a poor rating for President Nicolas Maduro’s performance, his regime “maintains a considerable base,” according to a national poll conducted last month by the… Read more »
It was one of the greatest waves of democratization ever. In 1977 all but three of the 20 countries in Latin America were dictatorships of one kind or another. By… Read more »
USNS Comfort, a military hospital ship, will begin a five-month deployment in June to provide care for Venezuelan refugees (Miami Herald) across Latin America. Washington will consider lifting sanctions (NYT)… Read more »
For the third time this year, the big moment in Venezuela has turned into a bust, AP reports: Trump administration officials had expected that Wednesday might turn out to be… Read more »
Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaidó gave an address [HT; FP] at dawn, calling on citizens and the military to back him in the “final phase” of his efforts to end… Read more »
Bolivian authorities have arbitrarily dismissed almost 100 judges since 2017, seriously undermining judicial independence in the country. The Organization of American States (OAS) should convene a meeting of its Permanent… Read more »
The Chinese government should ensure the projects it finances or engages in under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) respect human rights, Human Rights Watch said today: On April 25-27,… Read more »