Even as the country looks forward to hosting both the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, tourism brought 5.4 million visitors in 2011, and with those visitors an additional $6.775 billion added to the economy. According to a 2011 study by the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) which looked at attractiveness…
With a recent history of destabilizing violence from various radical narcotics groups such as the FARC, Colombia has surprised many observers of the region over the past two decades by transforming the outlook for the country from desperate and violent, to leading the region in stability and growth. In hosting the Summit of the Americas in…
Despite mounting evidence of Iranian support for terrorist organizations and growing ties in Latin America, Vice President Joe Biden said to reporters last Wednesday that “People talk about Hezbollah. They talk about Iranian support for weapons and the rest. I guarantee you, Iran will not be able to pose a hemispheric threat to the United…
Since taking office in January of 2007 Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has been heavy handed in his dealings with media in addition to aggressively pursuing his progressive policies. As early as May of his first year as President, he audaciously and ironically had his security remove the editor of El Universo newspaper during an interview.…
In early 2011, the Gran Torre Santiago became the tallest building in South America. Planned to reach a height of 980ft (300m), the building struggled through stalled construction during the global economic downturn from 2008–2009. Only a few blocks away, the Titanium La Portada previously held the title of the tallest building in Chile at…
Latin America as a region accounts for more than three trillion dollars annually. Of course, Brazil is a powerhouse economically; however, as indicated by the charts below, the Amazonian nation suffers from a chronically now income per capita. Peru, Uruguay, Colombia, and Chile are all expected to have growth rates over 5% annually. Argentina has…
Last week a train accident in Buenos Aires claimed the lives of 50 individuals. While the event is obviously intensely mournful, much of the emotion within Argentina also includes a high level of frustration over the system and society which allowed this to happen. Argentinian culture is known for being proud. Nationalism has been the…
Bolivia has enjoyed nearly 190 years of independence from Spain. Unfortunately, leadership of the country during those years may be best defined as “tumultuous.” Violence, coups, and civil wars have been far too common place throughout the nation’s story, as evidenced by the sheer number of leaders who have carried the burden of authority in…
With the introduction of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, influence from outside powers in Central and South America had been strategically limited to the United States. It is a doctrine that shaped the Cold War, and has served to deter international meddling in Central and South America. Recently, influence is growing from unexpected regions; notably, from…
InsightSur 