A Conversation with Secretary General Albert Ramdin
Since its founding in 1948, the Organization of American States (OAS) has served as the premier forum for advancing regional priorities facing the Western Hemisphere, becoming the oldest and only multilateral institution that provides a platform for dialogue and cooperation to all countries in the hemisphere. On March 10 of this year, the OAS member states elected Albert Ramdin, Suriname’s former Foreign Minister, as the organization’s new Secretary General, becoming the first Caribbean representative to head the organization in its history.
In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with His Excellency Albert R. Ramdin, Secretary General of the OAS. Together they discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the OAS today, the Secretary General's vision for leadership, and plans for the organization. They also delve into the role of the OAS in Haiti, and how the organization can play a role in helping to stabilize the country's compounding crises.
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Judicial Independence and Competitiveness in Mexico
This June, Mexico held its first-ever nationwide judicial elections to determine the justices who would serve at the state and local levels throughout the country, and even on the Supreme Court itself. In an overall confusing affair, the vote drew just 13 percent turnout, while nearly a quarter of the few ballots that were cast were spoiled or left blank. But the chaos of the election is likely only a prelude, as the victors begin to take office a major shakeup in Mexico’s legal system is on the horizon.
In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Arturo Sarukhan, Senior Advisor with the CSIS Americas Program and Javier Martín Reyes, Nonresident Scholar at the Center for the United States and Mexico at the Baker Institute and a Researcher at the Legal Research Institute at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Together, the three discuss the state of institutional checks and balances in Mexico, future challenges to rule of law, and the options for companies to deal with an increasingly politicized judicial system. They also explore how direct election of judges may create new avenues for co-optation by organized crime.
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Best of 35 West: Impediment to Change or Last Resort? The ICC Case Against the Maduro Regime
This episode of 35 West originally aired on October 17, 2024.
Since the blatant electoral fraud that took place on July 28, the Maduro regime in Venezuela has sought to repress its way out of mass protests demanding political change. The regime’s heavy-handed crackdown comes at a time when the International Criminal Court has already been investigating Venezuela for alleged crimes against humanity. As the regime seeks to silence dissent and close the civic space, this pending case may represent one of the few remaining levers the international community can apply to instill restraint, but only if such an approach is carefully considered.
In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Santiago Canton, Secretary General of the International Commission of Jurists and a member of the Panel of Independent International Experts on the Possible Commission of Crimes against Humanity in Venezuela of the Organization of American States. Together, they discuss the state of the ICC's investigation and how it is likely to develop in light of the abuses the regime has committed in the past three months. They also delve into the debate around whether the ICC case represents an impediment to political change, or if it remains a useful means of applying pressure on the regime.
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Bringing the Fight to Organized Crime in Argentina
Argentina is a country that has historically been relatively insulated from organized crime dynamics, but the country has seen continued organized crime activity in important cities such as Rosario. One year into Javier Milei’s first term, security has improved with decreasing homicide rates, however challenges remain especially as transnational groups seek to continue expanding their presence in Argentina.
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Martin Verrier, Secretary for the Fight Against Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime in Argentina. Together, they discuss the ways in which Argentina is seeking to disrupt transnational criminal groups operating in its territory, as well as improve cooperation with regional partners. They also delve into the state of Argentina-U.S. cooperation, and avenues for further progress in combatting crime and drug trafficking.
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Lawfare Ramps up in El Salvador
In the past month or so, President Nayib Bukele’s government has sharply intensified its repression of civil society and independent voices in El Salvador. Journalists have been forced into exile, civil society organizations are being weakened by a new Foreign Agents Law, and former officials, activists, and NGO workers are being jailed on dubious charges. These developments mark a new phase in Bukele’s crackdown—one that relies not only on emergency powers but increasingly on legal and financial tools to silence dissent.
In this episode, Juliana Rubio sits down with Leonor Arteaga Rubio, Program Director at the Due Process of Law Foundation. Together, they discuss what recent arrests and crackdowns in El Salvador mean for the remaining checks on government power. They also explore how civil society has adapted in order to continue raising alarms about corruption and abuse of power.
The CSIS Americas Program podcast looks at the politics and policies of the 35 countries in the Western Hemisphere. It especially focuses on U.S. engagement with the region, whether on trade, diplomacy, or security issues like drugs and terrorism. Guests include top policymakers from the U.S. and other countries.
México