Why Latin America Was Primed to Explode

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In The Media

Why Latin America Was Primed to Explode

The protests now raging across much of Latin America originated from different sparks but are connected by a single common denominator: economic malaise.

By Moisés Naím and Brian Winter

Published on Oct 29, 2019

Source: Foreign Affairs

In a world aflame with protest, Latin America stands out as a raging ten-alarm fire. From Bolivia to Ecuador, Haiti to Honduras, the closing months of 2019 have seen enormous, sometimes violent demonstrations prompted by a truly dizzying array of grievances, including electoral fraud, corruption, and rising fuel and public transportation prices. Even Chile, the region’s ostensible oasis of calm and prosperity, erupted in protests and riots that left 20 dead and forced President Sebastián Piñera to declare a state of emergency. It is now an open question whether any country in the region can be considered truly stable....

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This article was originally published in Foreign Affairs.

About the Authors

Moisés Naím

Distinguished Fellow

Moisés Naím is a distinguished fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a best-selling author, and an internationally syndicated columnist.

Brian Winter

Brian Winter is vice president for policy at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas.

Political Reform North America

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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