Daniel Lansberg-Rodríguez of Aurora MacroStrategy speaks on escalating crime, the 2025 presidential runoff, and the race's global implications.

Speakers:

• Daniel Lansberg-Rodríguez, Founding Partner, Aurora MacroStrategy
• Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

As Ecuador approaches a pivotal presidential runoff, the country is enduring one of the most challenging periods in its history. "Ecuador is facing a proxy war between Mexican and Albanian cartels," says geopolitical risk consultant Daniel Lansberg-Rodríguez in a wide-ranging Democracy Dialogues conversation with AS/COA’s Eric Farnsworth on the nation's crisis.

The country's 2025 general elections are poised to have profound implications for the nation's trajectory. The presidential race between Daniel Noboa and Luisa González is serving as a referendum on security, the economy, and sovereignty.

Lansberg-Rodríguez sheds light on the growing electoral influence of two demographics: indigenous voters and the diaspora. “This may be the first time Ecuador’s diaspora decides a national election,” he says, pointing to the bloc's razor-thin margins and increasing political engagement. 

The conversation examines how Ecuador’s strategic geography impacts the shifting global political landscape, as well as what’s at stake for the country’s relations with the United States. Lansberg-Rodríguez and Farnsworth also cover whether China’s economic influence could expand if González's correísta coalition returns to power.

“The mood [in Haiti] I would describe as despair and near panic,” says journalist Michael Deibert in a Democracy Dialogues interview with AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth. Drawing on his on-the-ground reporting and daily contact with Haitians, Deibert outlines how armed groups—some with as many as 14,000 members—are expanding their control over Port-au-Prince and other parts of the country. 

With Haiti's police force severely understaffed and under-equipped, and international security missions struggling to make an impact, "the small section of Port-au-Prince where life is not under gang control is getting smaller and smaller," Deibert warns. He traces the roots of the current gang crisis to political and economic elites, explaining how past Haitian leaders, including former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, empowered these groups to maintain control over electoral politics and suppress any opposition. 

Deibert is deeply skeptical that Haiti’s schedule 2025 elections will take place. "Port-au-Prince is hanging on by a fingernail and could fall into complete gang control within weeks or months," he warns. 

Despite the dire outlook, the author of Haiti Will Not Perish: A Recent Historyacknowledges the country’s resilience, praising its “extraordinarily talented, gifted, and patriotic people.” His conversation with Farnsworth also explores the international community's response, stressing the urgent need for stronger security forces, improved resources for Haitian police, and better coordination among global stakeholders. 

Venezuela’s president-elect speaks on the need for global pressure against the Maduro regime and the Trump administration's approach to the crisis.Speakers:

• Edmundo González Urrutia, President-elect of Venezuela
• Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

“There’s now greater interest in finding a resolution to the Venezuelan political crisis within U.S. foreign policy,” says Edmundo González, Venezuela’s legitimate president, in a Democracy Dialogues interview with AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth. González, who attended the inauguration of President Donald Trump, has visited multiple countries across the Americas since his election, urging the international community to ramp up pressure on Nicolás Maduro and his regime.In the interview, González discusses the challenges facing the Venezuela, from the escalating humanitarian crisis to the repression of the opposition. “There are approximately 2,000 political prisoners,” he states. He also warns that Maduro’s refusal to recognize his election victory will only exacerbate the country’s migration crisis, forcing even more Venezuelans to flee. “The only language [the regime] understands is pressure,” González asserts, calling on the United States and its allies to intensify efforts to remove Maduro from power. He details to Farnsworth his conversations with world leaders, including presidents of Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and Panama, as well as and officials from Brazil and Colombia.As he travels across the Americas and Europe, González remains optimistic and offers a message of hope to the Venezuelan people: “Sooner or later, we will win.”

The founder of El Cielo Group shares how his kitchen is helping to heal the divisions of Colombia's armed conflict.

Speakers:

“In my kitchen, we are not a former anything. You are a chef at El Cielo, and we are not looking back,” says Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos in a Democracy Dialogues interview with AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth. From his humble beginnings with a small restaurant in Medellín to earning Michelin stars for his establishments in Miami and Washington, Barrientos has built a hospitality empire while staying true to a powerful vision of social impact. 

Barrientos explains how El Cielo Group, his growing business, has trained over 2,500 former combatants from Colombia’s armed conflict—including wounded soldiers, former guerrillas, and paramilitaries—teaching them culinary skills while fostering forgiveness and collaboration. “The most important part is creating a social tissue of forgiveness and reconciliation,” he says, describing the transformative process of bringing together people who were once adversaries. 

Unlike traditional corporate social responsibility models, Barrientos integrates social impact into his business strategy. “We donate between 5% to 25% of profits to the foundation,” he notes, emphasizing his commitment to sustainability and independence from external funding. 

As a global ambassador for Colombian culture and resilience, Barrientos also calls on viewers to visit his home country: “Colombia is a beautiful, resilient, and welcoming country. After 60 years of war, we have reinvented ourselves.” 

Democracy Dialogues is a series of conversations on the state of democracy in the Americas. Hosted by Eric Farnsworth, these one-on-one interviews with leading democracy practitioners explore the most difficult issues of regional democratic governance with an eye toward pragmatic, deeply-considered solutions.  Previous guests have included Guatemala's President Bernardo Arévalo, Colombia's then-President Ivan Duque, Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, NBA Basketball Star Enes Kanter Freedom, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, Cuba Decide founder Rosa Maria Paya, founder and editor of Nicaragua's Confidential Carlos Fernando Chamorro, and numerous others. 

Follow the conversation: #DemocracyDialogues | @ASCOA

Subscribe to YouTube podcasts or Apple Podcasts and Spotify to listen on the go.

he former head of the INE examines the state of democracy in Mexico as President Sheinbaum executes judicial reforms.

Franco Ordoñez, NPR's White House correspondent, offers insights into the evolving Trump-Harris battle.

Speakers:

"These elections could mark a critical turning point where our democracy either strengthens or weakens significantly," said Luis Carlos Ugalde, founder and director general of political risk firm Integralia. The former president of Mexico's electoral agency emphasized the implications of Mexico's June 2 elections on the country's evolving political scene in a Democracy Dialogues interview with AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth. 

In his remarks, Ugalde stressed the importance of the role of electoral institutions like INE to the integrity of elections. The INE has been recently challenged by attempts to remove its autonomy and disempower it.

Ugalde also touched on the threat of political violence to democracy. "Violence against candidates has escalated, influenced by organized crime groups that aim to control local governments," he said. 

For Ugalde, vigilance and active citizen participation are needed to safeguard Mexico's democracy: "We must be proactive to ensure that our democratic processes are not undermined by internal or external pressures. It's about protecting the very essence of our public and political freedoms."

"I could say that this is the most relevant election, not because of who is going to be our next president," he continued. "But because what is at the table is the possibility that our constitution is amended in very important ways."

The conversation also touched on the broader implications of these elections for Mexico's bilateral relationship with the United States. Ugalde suggested that "U.S.-Mexico relations will largely depend on the political developments in both countries," indicating that the two electoral outcomes will affect key issues like trade and migration. 

Democracy Dialogues is a series of conversations we need to be having now on the state of democracy in the Americas. Hosted by Eric Farnsworth, these one-on-one interviews with leading democracy practitioners explore the most difficult issues of regional democratic governance with an eye toward pragmatic, well-calibrated solutions.

Past featured guests have included Colombia's then-President Iván Duque, NBA Basketball Star Enes Kanter Freedom, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, CubaDecide founder Rosa María Payá, Editor-in-Chief of Americas Quarterly Brian Winter, and founder and Editor of Nicaragua's Confidencial Carlos Fernando Chamorro.

Follow the conversation: #DemocracyDialogues | @ASCOA

Speakers: 

"We're in what many have described as a democracy recession, which in Freedom House terms means that every year—for the past 18 years—more countries have experienced declines in political rights and civil liberties than those that experienced improvements," said Freedom House President Michael Abramowitz in a conversation with AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth.

In this edition of Democracy Dialogues, Abramowitz delves into the Freedom House’s annual Freedom in the World 2024 report, highlighting key findings and democratic trends.

Abramowitz shares insights from his recent trip to Latin America, focusing on Guatemala's encouraging democratic developments under President Bernardo Arévalo, who has made significant strides against corruption in his short time in office. "We like to think that Guatemala could be a good-news story five years from now if President Arévalo is a success," he said.

The conversation touches on the broader challenges facing democracies worldwide, including rising electoral manipulation, the role of social media, and the influence of foreign actors. Abramowitz talks about the importance of supporting local civil society movements around the globe and emphasizes the importance of the United States maintaining a strong democratic example, especially during electoral processes. He explains how corruption can be the “Achilles' heel of authoritarian regimes,” suggesting that exposing and combating these issues can be a powerful strategy to strengthen democracy.

Democracy Dialogues is a series of conversations we need to be having now on the state of democracy in the Americas. Hosted by Eric Farnsworth, these one-on-one interviews with leading democracy practitioners explore the most difficult issues of regional democratic governance with an eye toward pragmatic, well-calibrated solutions.

Follow the conversation:

www.as-coa.org/democracydialogues

#DemocracyDialogues | @ASCOA

“China is becoming such a big game changer in terms of economics that all of a sudden even the European countries say this battle for strategic control of Latin America is 'interesting to us,'” said Ambassador Francisco Santos in an interview with AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth about the multifaceted challenges facing democracy in the Western Hemisphere.  

The Colombian former vice president discussed the role of social media in shaping the narrative around politics in the region. He highlighted how countries like Russia are adapting to tamper with regional dynamics by supporting or undermining political candidates. Santos also cited drug trafficking, criminal gangs, and the influence of external actors—like China, Iran, and Russia—as external threats to the region's democratic stability.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Santos painted a complex picture of the interplay between criminal enterprises and external influences in the Western Hemisphere and underscored the need for a strategic reassessment of U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America.

Democracy Dialogues is a series of conversations we need to be having now on the state of democracy in the Americas. Hosted by Eric Farnsworth, these one-on-one interviews with leading democracy practitioners explore the most difficult issues of regional democratic governance with an eye toward pragmatic, well-calibrated solutions.

Past featured guests have included Colombia's then-President Iván Duque, NBA Basketball Star Enes Kanter Freedom, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, CubaDecide founder Rosa María Payá, Editor-in-Chief of Americas Quarterly Brian Winter, and founder and Editor of Nicaragua's Confidential Carlos Fernando Chamorro.

Follow the conversation: #DemocracyDialogues | @ASCOA

Subscribe here on Spotify or on YouTube podcasts

"We have transnational organized criminals working throughout our hemisphere, undermining institutions, terrorizing communities, ordinary citizens—from the U.S. to all the way down to Argentina and Chile," said the State Department's Todd D. Robinson in an interview with AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth. "The U.S. government and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement have been focusing on long-term solutions."