Democracy Dialogues AS/COA

Speakers:


Luis Carlos Ugalde, Former President, Mexican Federal Electoral Institute; Director General, Integralia
Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

"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


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Speakers: 


Michael Abramowitz, President, Freedom House 
Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

"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




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“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

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"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."

When it comes to lessons learned, Amb. Robinson emphasized that the gold standard is Colombia, where local institutions and the people can make a real change and improve security issues, with the support of the international community. "There is no silver bullet, and it doesn’t have to be the United States. Other countries have a key role to play, such as Norway, France, Spain, the U.K., etc., for an effort such as Plan Colombia," Amb. Robinson noted.

Regarding Central America, Amb. Robinson said that "corruption touches on everything in these countries," specifically mentioning the case of Guatemala. "They swap resources, undermining institutions, and hurt ordinary people every day," he said. Support from the international community to institutions and actors, including ordinary Guatemalans who want to fight against corruption is key.

The conversation then shifted to the security situation in Haiti. Amb. Robinson explained that the international community has been engaged in Haiti for decades, but following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse (2017–2021), it's going for a new approach. Those efforts center on bolstering the Haitian police, instead of bringing in outside personnel.

Amb. Robinson also discussed how the U.S. government is combating external influences, including China and Russia, in the region. He says Washington is pursuing transparency, good governance, and a secure business environment. “Compared to what China and Russia are offering to what the Western Hemisphere is offering, it's clear what works. Authoritarianism and closer cooperation with criminal organizations doesn’t work."

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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.

Watch past episodes here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYBZqP9zCyaiuU4k3Nkg9dgPMZLlQNdx4&si=mgAagp3teMqqyT-t
Follow the conversation: #DemocracyDialogues | @ASCOA


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As we kick off 2024, our Democracy Dialogues series is set to feature key leaders from across the Americas, presenting crucial conversations about democracy in the context of a vibrant election year for the region.

Tune in on the first Thursday of every month as we sit down with prominent figures to unravel the complexities and chart the course for the future of democracy in the Americas. If you're new to the series, get to know some of our previous guests in this recap video. 

Democracy Dialogues is a series of conversations we need to be having now on the state of democracy in the Americas. Hosted by AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth, these one-on-one interviews with active democracy practitioners and leaders explore the most difficult issues of regional democratic governance with an eye toward pragmatic, deeply-considered solutions. We invite you to join the conversation!


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