Since Pablo Escobar’s apprehension at the height of the war on drugs, capturing and killing drug lords has been glorified as the gold standard for dismantling the drug trade. The Mexican government’s recent assassination of “El Mencho,” founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), is a continuation of this pattern. According to former Colombian […]
Tag: Mexico
The Illusion of Progress: The Unfulfilled Promise of Gender Quotas
When Claudia Sheinbaum was officially inaugurated as the 66th president of Mexico on October 1, 2024, she became the first female president of Mexico and the first Latin American president of Jewish heritage—all after running in the first majority-female Mexican election. Mexico’s election system is fascinating, and an extreme example of a trend that can […]
Silencing the Messenger: The War on Truth and Free Press
Between 2006 and 2024, over 1,200 journalists were killed, with UNESCO reporting that 85% of these cases remain unresolved. Journalism, once hailed as a pillar of democracy, has now become a perilous profession. This culture of impunity reflects systemic failures at the national and international levels to protect journalists and hold perpetrators accountable. The result […]
No Perdonamos Ni Olvidamos: Feminists Takeover Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission
This past year Mexico has seen a precipitous rise in the amount of violent crimes committed against women, consequently spurring a vigorous feminist movement. Last month, members of the feminist group “El Bloque Negro” led a protest that culminated in the takeover of Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) building. In a display of solidarity […]
To the Left, To the Left: Mexico’s Return to an Old Foreign Policy Doctrine
Under President López Obrador, Mexico has returned to its traditional foreign policy of non-intervention, threatening to give greater legitimacy to authoritarian regimes in Latin America.
Femicide in Mexico: What Happens when the State Looks the Other Way
Laura Velazquez had to identify her sister Diana’s body by her braids because her face and torso were left unrecognizable. Diana left her house in Chimalhuacan, Mexico, on July 2, 2017, where she was raped and choked to death by multiple men. Now, almost two years later, the authorities still have not found her murderers, […]
Sharing is Caring: The Politics and Consequences of Trump’s Trade War
Trump’s recent economic policies on levying tariffs against countries, primarily China, that have a trade deficit with the U.S. have consequences that go beyond just harming the other party. The effects of these policies can be felt right here at home, but your average American voter has a bad understanding of basic economics, not to […]
The Political Side of Fútbol
The FIFA World Cup is the most watched event in the world, and this summer, it will be played in Russia. There are 32 teams competing for the title, with powerhouses such as Germany, France, Brazil, and Spain considered to be the favorites to win it all. Unfortunately, the United States will not be represented […]
When the Fox Met the Golden Bear: Former Mexican President Vicente Fox Wasn’t Ready for Cal
Reflections Upon Vicente Fox’s Speech at UC Berkeley: April 19, 2017 One word comes to mind upon seeing Vicente Fox in the flesh: charming. Tall and straight, boasting a full head of hair and an impressive mustache, the 55th president of Mexico does not look his seventy-four years. His age isn’t reflected in his […]
The Forgotten Migrants Of Central America
America’s Harsh Rhetoric On Immigration Policy Bleeds Across The Border By Adrian Hernandez-Morales The Northern Triangle, a region in Central America surrounding Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, is perhaps one of the poorest and most violent places in the world. The predominance of gang rivalry, post-civil war instability, repressive political regimes and extreme poverty […]