35 West

Around the world, democratic institutions have come under siege, while consolidation within and between autocratic regimes has accelerated in recent years. As it becomes increasingly evident that autocrats are following a shared ‘playbook,’ it is of extreme importance that democracies build their own set of shared tactics for promoting civil and political rights, defending electoral integrity, and sustaining rule of law.

In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America, the US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House. Together, they outline what the international community can do to push back on rising authoritarianism, and empower democracy defenders. They focus in particular on the case of Venezuela, considering the options available for the opposition, United States, and global democratic community for dismantling Maduro's dictatorial playbook. 

The recent move by the Honduran Congress to repeal the 2013 law authorizing the Zones for Employment and Economic Development (Zonas de Empleo y Desarollo Económico, or ZEDEs) has wide-ranging consequences for the country's economic future. While the Zones have been heavily criticized by the Castro administration, eliminating them risks a complicated legal and political battle in no party's best interest.

In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Matthew Rooney, Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships at the George W. Bush Center. Together, they discuss expectations for the ZEDE model and its impact on economic growth, as well as some of the obstacles the zones confront when it comes to political stability and change. They also discuss the implications of the vote by Congress for the ZEDEs, and investment in Honduras more broadly.

Forced Labor & Environmental Degradation in the Mining Industry

Special re-release: In this special Spanish-language episode, Margarita sits down with Pilar Velasquez of the Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking in the Bureau of International Labor Affairs at the United States Department of Labor (USDOL). They discuss artisanal and small-scale mining and its connection to environmental degradation, forced labor, and child labor in the Andean region. Pilar introduces some of the USDOL's efforts to mitigate these environmental and human rights effects and discusses how the private sector and civil society can engage with this issue.

This episode originally aired January 7, 2021.

Trabajo forzoso y degradación ambiental en el sector minero

En este episodio especial en español, Margarita conversa con Pilar Velásquez de la Oficina de Trabajo Infantil, Trabajo Forzado, y Trata de Personas de la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales Laborales en el Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos (USDOL). Pilar y Margarita conversan sobre la minería de oro informal e ilegal en la Región Andina y su conexión con la degradación ambiental y el trabajo forzoso. Pilar comparte algunos esfuerzos del USDOL para mitigar estos efectos y analiza el papel del sector privado y de la sociedad civil.

En este episodio especial en español Ryan C. Berg se sienta a conversar con Indira Urbaneja, analista política y la CEO de Reunificados, una organización venezolana sin fines de lucro que apoyo democracia, inclusión, y derechos humanos.

Ellos conversaron sobre las facciones más importantes dentro del chavismo y el surgimiento de un grupo dentro del partido que desea revitalizar el chavismo con campañas y elecciones legítimas. Aunque Maduro se ha consolidado en el poder, el PSUV no es un monolito, y hay fuerzas dentro del partido de gobierno que pueden crear situaciones imprevisibles y difíciles de controlar para el régimen. Además la conversación se centró de la oposición, y de los retos y los posibilidades que se presentan para las elecciones de 2024.

The Future of Chavismo in Venezuela

In this special Spanish-Language episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Indira Urbaneja, a political analyst and the CEO of Reunificados, a Venezuelan non-profit dedicated to supporting democracy, inclusion, and human rights.

They discussed some of the important factions within the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), and the rise of a group within the party that is looking to revitalize chavismo through campaigns and legitimate elections. Although Maduro has consolidated his hold on power, the PSUV is not a monolith, and there are forces within the governing party that can create situations that are unpredictable and difficult for the regime to control. The conversation also focused on the opposition, and the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead for the 2024 elections.

In the May 2021, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a call to action for private sector actors to help address the root causes of migration by generating new economic opportunities in Central America. Born from this pledge, the Partnership for Central America (PCA) has emerged as a coordinating body for businesses and social enterprises to support innovative, effective, and scalable initiatives aimed at economic growth and human development.

In this episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Mark Lopes, Chief Operating Officer of the Partnership for Central America. Together, they discuss the vision behind the PCA, its current projects in the region, and work on gender and inclusion. They also reflect on future directions for the PCA, and the importance of choosing the right metrics for assessing large-scale development projects.

Between 1970 and 2019, disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean impacted almost 300 million people, killed more than half a million people, and had an estimated cost the region close to half a trillion dollars. These disasters are especially harmful for already-vulnerable populations, and create new forms of long-lasting vulnerability in their wake, making disaster risk reduction and resilience a top priority for the region.

In this episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Kamilah Morain, the Head of the Trinidad and Tobago office at the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), and an expert in community-led development. Together, the two unpack disaster risk reduction policies, with a focus on the inclusion of community voices highlighting the role new technologies can play in supporting these efforts and underscoring the critical importance of choosing the right technologies for the job.

Since 2018 the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating abuses perpetrated by the Venezuelan security forces. Last November, the ICC Chief Prosecutor signed a Letter of Understanding with Nicolás Maduro beginning a formal investigation—the first of its kind launched in a Latin American country. 

In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with José Ignacio Hernández, the former Special Prosecutor of the Interim Government of Venezuela, and a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Center for International Development. Together, they discuss the likely outcomes of the investigation and progress made so far. They also highlight the importance of international criminal investigations for advancing the conversation around human rights and democracy within Venezuela.

With around 500 different special economic zones (SEZs) in Latin America and the Caribbean, these zones act as accelerators for trade and investment. While many focus on tax rates, tariffs, and regulatory environments to incentivize business development, some models go well beyond to create entirely new institutions within their borders.

In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Shanker Singham, CEO of the Competere Group, to talk about the role special economic zones play in Central America. Together, they delve into the nuances of different SEZ models, in particular the Zones for Employment and Economic Development (ZEDEs in Spanish) in Honduras. The subject of intense debate within Honduras, Shanker provides insights into the challenges and opportunities the ZEDEs present and how the United States should approach these zones.

On February 6, Costa Ricans will head to the polls in the first round of presidential elections. With a crowded field featuring no fewer than 25 presidential hopefuls, and much of the electorate still undecided, the situation on the ground, and consequences for the country are difficult to parse.

In this episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Glenda Umaña, a journalist with over 25 years of experience whose recent project "Por Quién Voto" focuses on spreading awareness about candidate positions on critical issues in the Costa Rican elections. Together, they discuss the electoral landscape in Costa Rica, outline some of the major issues at play such as corruption and economic recovery, and what to expect in a likely run-off.

Mining is an essential economic sector for many countries in the Andes-Amazon region. However, due to a spike in global demand for mineral resources and lack of proper regulation on the industry, transnational criminal organizations have taken advantage of the ​lucrative industry to fuel their operations in the region, while harming local communities and ecosystems.

In this episode Ryan C. Berg sits down with Gastón Schulmeister, Director of the Department Against Transnational Organized Crime at the Organization of American States. Together, they explore the rise in global demand for mineral resources, the connection between illegal mining and transnational criminal organizations, and regulations that governments and the international community can enact to limit this harmful activity. Gastón also shares insights from a series of reports recently published by his department at the OAS entitled "On The Trail of Illicit Gold Proceeds: Strengthening The Fight Against Illegal Mining Finances."