On October 17, US Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey announced his retirement as commander of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), a branch of the Department of Defense focused on security and conflict in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Holsey’s early … Continue reading
Marina Gallo
Marina Gallo is in her second year at McGill University, pursuing a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Economics. She is particularly interested in Latin American politics and U.S. economic policy.
From Peace to Precarity: How USAID Cuts Threaten Colombia’s Stability
On February 26 of this year, Donald Trump announced that his administration would eliminate over 90 percent of foreign aid contracts developed through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), along with $60 billion in global assistance. The move came … Continue reading
El Carnet de la Patria: Venezuela’s Elections Under the Shadow of Social Control
On July 29, 2024, just hours after polls closed in Caracas, incumbent candidate Nicolás Maduro declared himself the winner of Venezuela’s presidential race. Later that day, opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia issued his own proclamation of victory. The election results … Continue reading
Elon Musk’s Undue Involvement in the 2024 US Election
On October 5th, 2024, videos of Elon Musk frantically jumping up and down on stage at a Trump campaign rally circulated across social media. The billionaire appeared to support the Republican presidential candidate, forming an “X” with his body while … Continue reading
The Vanishing Republic: Erdogan’s Türkiye at a Crossroads
In May 2023, incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan won his re-election campaign with 52% of the popular vote, securing another five-year term in Türkiye. Yet, his victory was marred with controversy. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Erdogan’s secular opponent in the presidential race, deemed … Continue reading
The Push for Increased Intraregional Trade in Latin America
Latin American economies are stalling. Shannon O’Neil, an economic policy expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, reported that over the last 30 years, Latin American economies have become less diverse regarding what they produce. The region’s industries export goods … Continue reading