In this release...
En Route to a Failed State: Corruption in the Paraguayan Legal System, the Illicit Market, and Transnational Security
Corruption runs deep in the Paraguayan legal and political systems. The courts fail to prosecute those involved with
patron-client networks, the police fail to arrest drug smugglers and criminals, and the ingrained politicians fail to
draft reform measures. This corruption supports the largest illicit market in the Western Hemisphere with ties to
criminal organizations and terrorist groups throughout the region. Because of the ingrained system, the Paraguayan
people trust neither social institutions nor the government. This trend threatens external relations, suggests deep
security concerns, and reveals Asunción’s inability to protect and care for its citizens.
This report was prepared by Eric Stadius, Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs.
To read the full analysis, click here.
Mexican Election: Recall of Mexico's Electoral "Democracy" Status
Mexico's federal electoral institute initiated a partial recount in the days following its presidential elections the
first of this month. The accusations of instances of vote buying and unregulated campaign spending far beyond the
permitted levels represent a further tainting of Mexico's sole democratic institution.
This report was prepared by Elise Dunn, Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs.
To read the full analysis, click here.
Paraguay's Presidential Change and the Region's Current Democratic Picture
By quickly ushering Paraguay out of and Venezuela into the Mercosur trade bloc, Argentina and Brazil failed to promote
democratic institutions in the region. This action calls into question both countries’ leadership tactics in the region
and whether their foreign policy has truly evolved past one based solely on economic necessity.
This report was prepared by Sean Burges, COHA Senior Research Fellow and Senior Associate at the Australian National
University's Australian National Centre for Latin American Studies, with contributions from Eric Stadius, COHA Research
Associate.
To read the full analysis, click here.
________________________________________
Tuesday, July 10th, 2012 | Research Memorandum 12.47
________________________________________
The Council on Hemispheric Affairs, founded in 1975, is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, tax-exempt research
and information organization. It has been described on the Senate floor as being "one of the nation's most respected
bodies of scholars and policy makers." For more information, please see our web page at www.coha.org
ENDS