News & Commentary
In Memory of His Holiness Pope Francis
Monday April 21, 2025
The Pan American Association of Philadelphia joins the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness...
Elections for President in Ecuador
Thursday February 13, 2025
Daniel Noboa, the 37 year old current president of Ecuador, failed to get a plurality of the votes i...
Save the Date: Judge Nelson A. Díaz Professorship Series at Temple Law – Featuring Anthony Romero
Tuesday February 4, 2025
On March 19, 2025, at 4:00 PM, Temple University Beasley School of Law will host the Annual Judge Ne...
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The Pan American Association
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The Pan American Association provides News & Notes for the Philadelphia community and for all those interested in developing a better understanding of the vibrant and deep relationship between the United States and the people of the Americas. For over 80 years the Pan American Association has been the preeminent forum for dialogue in the Delaware Valley on a relationship which is intensifying daily. We hope that News & Updates will serve as a solid bridge of communication among all the countries of the Americas. Never in history has the need for such a dialogue been greater than it is today.
US-Mexican Relations
Michael Shifter, President of the Inter-American Dialogue, analyzes the crisis in US-Mexican relations. The stakes are very high for both countries, the potential for both countries losing is high. Sample from article:
“And, ironically, undocumented immigration would spike. Mexicans workers would feel forced to flee the consequences of NAFTA's collapse and the Mexican government could loosen its controls on immigration from Central America. (At present, seven in 10 Central American migrants headed for the U.S. are apprehended at Mexico's southern border with Guatemala.) Trump is the only one who can end this standoff. Only he can prevent lost jobs, new security vulnerabilities and a wave of illegal immigration — all of which are exactly what he aimed to prevent in the first place.”
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Interview with President Santos
One of the few encouraging political developments of 2016 was the Colombian government’s peace agreement with the country’s FARC guerrillas, ending a half-century of violent insurgency. How was the deal with the FARC achieved, and what lessons does Colombia’s peace process hold for political leaders elsewhere? President Juan Manuel Santos comments.
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How Mexico Can Stand Up to Trump
Jorge Castañeda, former Foreign Minister of Mexico and distinguished scholar, comments on Trump’s plans to build the wall, deport undocumented immigrants, and “rip up” the North American Free Trade Agreement. Recommends a tough response by Mexico to every one of these.
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Latin American Lessons
Trump’s election calls attention to Latin America’s extensive experience with populism. Article argues: “For Latin American scholars the trends are particularly worrisome. We have seen this movie before, and it rarely ends well. In that regard, Latin America is a powerful and often sad demonstration of the anti-institutional pitfalls of populism.” Author points out the different institutional checks to populism in the US and those in Latin American countries.
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China in Latin America
Geopolitics waits for no man, not even the United States’ president-elect. Little more than a week after Donald Trump’s victory, Xi Jinping, president of the world’s second largest economy, set off for Latin America—his third trip there since 2013—clutching a sheaf of trade deals. They were proposed long before the change of government in Washington. But at a time when the image of the big, bad yanqui seems to be making a comeback, Mr Xi may find himself with an opportunity to boost Chinese influence in the American backyard.
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Trump and Latin America
What does Trump augur for Latin America? While the Trump team has said very little about Latin America, Trump’s comments on Mexico have had serious reverberations for that country’s economy, such as lowering the value of the peso. Other than possibly Cuba, the rest of the Americas will be unaffected. Missing from the article is the impact on the US economy of protectionism. For example, if the Mexican peso is cheaper, US exports to Mexico will be more expensive. This will reduce jobs in the US.
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Colombia Peace
The Colombian conflict, the longest war in the Americas, may be finally over. Article discusses the elements of the peace agreement and cautions about future prospects. This is a remarkable achievement by the Colombian people. Let’s applaud them, and let’s also recognize how essential US advice and support has been in strengthening the capacity of the government of Colombia. There is much work ahead, the task of rebuilding and achieving a permanent peace remains.
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Brazil's Aspirations
Two scholars review Brazil’s Olympics, the nation’s internal difficulties, and its long term engagement in the world. They state: “Even in this difficult time, Brazil needs to engage with, rather than retreat from, the world in order to succeed.”
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Medellín
Colombia’s second largest city has undergone a renaissance of remarkable proportions. It’s the result of investment in security, infrastructure, and services. The city is a model of success.
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Venezuela's Destruction
Ricardo Hausmann, a distinguished Venezuelan scholar at Harvard, discusses why people and countries, such as Venezuela, adopt self-destructive policies.
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