Americas 360

Migration from countries of the Americas to the United States has increased exponentially since 2020, with migrants from the region making up over 75% of the nationwide encounters with U.S. Border Patrol in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In this episode of Americas 360, our Wilson Center experts examine recent changes in migration trends, not only to the United States but within the region itself.

The Americas are an energy powerhouse. From the hemisphere's vast solar and wind energy potential to its significant oil and gas reserves, the region holds a wealth of renewable and non-renewable energy resources. In this episode of Americas 360, originally released in February 2022, our Wilson Center experts discuss how Canada and Latin American nations are addressing their energy needs and economic goals while pursuing environmental objectives and seizing opportunities from the global energy transition.

With the region struggling to tame rising fuel costs, high inflation, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, citizens across the Americas are also heading to the polls. In this episode of the Wilson Center's Americas 360 podcast, our experts discuss how current economic conditions are affecting voter preferences across the Americas and what this changing political landscape means for the United Sates.

June marks pride month in the U.S.; a time to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ people in the Americas have long faced structural discrimination and societal oppression. Yet, in the past decade, landmark legislation, granting LGBTQ+ people their rights, recognition, and protection, has been adopted at the national, state, and municipal levels. In this episode, we discuss the strides made and the regional lessons and trends to further strengthen LGBTQ+ rights.

The U.S. will host the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles from June 6-10, 2022. A number of Latin American and Caribbean presidents have said they won't attend, protesting the exclusion of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Others have criticized the Biden administration's lack of ambition and concrete proposals to achieve the Summit's broad goals. In this episode, Latin American Program fellow Dr. Richard Feinberg joins us to discuss what we should expect at this Summit of the Americas.

The shocking images of Russia's unprovoked attacks on Ukraine have galvanized Western countries to create a united front against Russia. In the Americas, the response to Russia's aggression has been mixed and even tepid in light of the extent of the destruction. Canada is a notable exception. Our experts discuss the response of governments from the Western Hemisphere to the conflict and its implications for global diplomacy and economic well-being.

Across the Americas, women have broken new ground in politics and in business. Elections held under new gender parity laws have yielded successful increases in female participation in congresses and parliaments. During the pandemic, women have found and taken advantage of new digital avenues to successfully pursue entrepreneurial ventures. In this episode, our Wilson Center experts discuss the opportunities and challenges women face in the Western Hemisphere.

The Americas are an energy powerhouse. From the hemisphere's vast solar and wind energy potential to its significant oil and gas reserves, the region holds a wealth of renewable and non-renewable energy resources. In this episode of Americas 360, our Wilson Center experts discuss how Canada and Latin American nations are addressing their energy needs and economic goals while pursuing environmental objectives and seizing opportunities from the global energy transition.

As the end of the year draws near, our Wilson Center experts take a look back at the most significant developments in the Americas in 2021 and discuss what is on the horizon in 2022, with a focus on economic recovery, vaccination efforts, and electoral politics.

On December 9-10, the Biden administration hosted a virtual Summit for Democracy, an effort to mobilize an international agenda for democratic renewal and to tackle democratic threats through collective action. In the Western hemisphere, multiple leaders have taken steps that undermine democracy, for example, by arresting opponents, eroding judicial independence, and attacking critics in the media and civil society. In this episode, our Wilson Center experts discuss the state of democracy in the region.