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2021 

LeoGrande on Biden administration's Cuba Policy

Professor of Government and CLALS Faculty Affiliate William M. LeoGrande spoke to El País English about the Biden administration's Cuba policy. LeoGrande said, “It is possible that internal political benefits can be obtained by maintaining the status quo.”

CLALS Director on Biden's immigration agenda

Director Eric Hershberg spoke to WJLA in March about the challenges facing Joe Biden's immigration agenda, including the administration's response to the surge of migrants at the US-Mexico border.

2020

COVID-19: Impacts on Higher Education in Latin America

The CLALS study “COVID-19: Impacts on Higher Education in Latin America” was cited by both The New York Times and The Economist in September articles about universities in Latin America. CLALS surveyed academic leaders across Latin America to assess the pandemic’s effects on higher education in the region. The survey covered a variety of topics, including the transition to online classes and telework, financial implications, and student resources on campus. Read the CLALS report in English and Spanish. 

Albro on the ongoing crisis in Bolivia

In March, CLALS Research Assistant Professor Robert Albro spoke with John Walsh, Director for Drug Policy and the Andes at the Washington Office on Latin America, and journalist Linda Farthing about the ongoing political crisis in Bolivia, including the transitional government led by Jeanine Áñez and the campaign ahead of new elections amid the uncertainties posed by COVID-19. Watch the full panel discussion.

In Children's Best Interests: Advancing a Fundamental Standard for the Treatment of Immigrant Children

Over 300 lawyers, policy experts, health professionals, and other advocates gathered on February 13-14, 2020 for a high-level, two-day symposium on "In Children's Best Interests: Advancing a Fundamental Standard for the Treatment of Immigrant Children." Co-organized by CLALS, the American University Washington College of Law, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the symposium featured 36 speakers, and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) delivered the keynote address on the first day of the symposium. Morning sessions on February 14 were aired live on C-SPAN. Explore further media coverage of this event.

2019

Albro on Turmoil in Bolivia

CLALS Research Assistant Professor Robert Albro spoke with Tonya Mosley from WBUR in an interview on November 14, 2019. He discussed the evolution of Bolivia under Evo Morales, his recent exile to Mexico, and the social issues that self-declared President Jeanine Áñez Chávez will be faced with in the near future concerning socioeconomic inequality and enfranchisement of Indigenous rights.

CLALS Staff Addressed Educators Serving Central American Students in Alexandria City

In August, Alexandria City Public Schools invited Director Eric Hershberg and Dennis Stinchcomb to present at a full-day workshop aimed at providing educators with the awareness, knowledge, and skills required to meet the needs of its growing population of Central American students. Drawing on the Center’s portfolio of work on Central American migration, their presentations provided ACPS staff with an overview of the factors driving migration from the region and offered insight into the unique needs of refugee youth and the positive role schools can have on their sense of belonging. Further coverage of the workshop is available here

Friedman and Long's Article in Perspectives of Politics

Americas Quarterly published a piece by CLALS Affiliate Max Paul Friedman and NARI Director Tom Long drawing on their Perspectives of Politics research article on the Larreta Doctrine as a regional framework for collective action on Venezuela’s situation.  

Albro on Bolivia's Elections

Research Assistant Professor in the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies Robert Albro spoke to BBC News about the Bolivian elections. Albro said, “Morales thinks he's the historical figure, the change agent. As time marches on, he's increasingly wrong.” 

Call on the New Anti-Corruption Commission of El Salvador

Americas Quarterly published an article by CLALS Affiliate Chuck Call on the new Anti-Corruption Commission of El Salvador. 

Porzecanski on Chile's Social and Political Situation

La Tercera published an interview with CLALS Affiliate Arturo Porzecanski on Chile’s social and political situation. 

Castañeda on the Challenges that Mexican Migrants Face

Assistant Professor of Sociology and CLALS Affiliate Ernesto Castañeda appeared in WAMC's “The Academic Minute” to discuss his research into challenges Mexican migrants face on both sides of the border. Castañeda said, “[Migrants] experience constant stress and fear because of the threats they received in home countries and their undocumented status in the U.S.”

Call on the Corruption of Honduran Political and Legal Systems

Associate Professor in the School of International Service and CLALS Affiliate Charles Call spoke to The Wall Street Journal about corruption in the Honduran political and legal systems. Call said, “One of the linchpins of stopping the supply of immigrations to the United States is to establish real accountability and rule of law in these countries.” 

Porzecanski on the Argentine Financial Market

Arturo Porzecanski, CLALS Affiliate and distinguished economist-in-residence in the School of International Service, spoke to The Wall Street Journal about the Argentine financial market, and its political ramifications. Porzecanski wrote, “The noose will tighten, the economic recovery will be aborted and this is the price to pay for the way people voted.” 

Leogrande on Cuba Sixty Years After the Revolution

CLALS Affiliate and SPA Prof. William LeoGrande recently authored an article in World Politics Review on Cuba sixty years after the revolution.

2018

CLALS Research Associate Professor Rob Albro on Climate Change

To what extent is climate change driving migration from Central America? CLALS Research Associate Professor Rob Albro spoke to WBUR's Jeremy Hobson in an interview for the Here & Now segment on why climate change is a contributing factor in migrants' decision to leave Central America behind.

CLALS Director on Migrant Caravan Crisis

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg spoke to Milenio Televisión, a Mexican cable news channel, about the factors driving Central American migration-- including weak institutions, instability, and chronic violence--in light of the media frenzy surrounding the Honduran migrant caravan.

Matt Taylor Talks Brazil's Presidential Race

Matthew Taylor, CLALS Affiliate and Associate Professor in the School of International Service, spoke to Associated Press about Jair Bolsonaro, Brazilian presidential candidate. Taylor said, “Bolsonaro is very good at picking a one-sentence summary of the issue and a one-sentence solution to the issue and then one name to resolve it.” The story ran in more than 800 outlets, including The Washington Post and U.S. News and World Report.

McCarthy on the Crisis in Nicaragua in Televised France24 Debate

France24, an international news outlet, broadcasted a debate discussing Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s thoughts on U.S. interference in his country's politics. CLALS Research Fellow Michael McCarthy participated in the debate and voiced his opinion on U.S. involvement in Nicaraguan affairs. He also shared his expertise on Venezuela, and commented on the recent revelation that Trump administration officials had met with members of the Venezuelan military to discuss ousting President Nicolás Maduro. Watch the full debate here.

CLALS Project on MACCIH Featured in Honduran Media

National media outlets in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, covered the Center's report launch and panel event on June 21, "Dos años de la MACCIH: Avances y Desafíos," as a part of the Monitoring MACCIH and Anti-Impunity Efforts in Honduras project. News outlets such as El Heraldo, La Prensa, La Tribuna, and Confidencial Honduras interviewed the report's author, SIS Professor Charles Call, and summarized the report's findings. For a complete list of media coverage of this event, please visit the Monitoring MACCIH project page

McCarthy on Continued Violence in Nicaragua

CLALS Research Fellow Michael McCarthy wrote an article for Axios' "Expert Voices" section, detailing why President Daniel Ortega has resorted to violence to maintain his grip on power in Nicaragua.

CLALS Director on the Trump Administration's False Claims of Central American Migrants as Wholly MS-13 Members

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg shared insights with AZ Central: "There's simply no empirical evidence of the assertion — which cannot be taken as an assertion that aims to square with facts — that MS-13 members are a significant portion of those who are migrating."

Castañeda on How Immigrants Feel at Home

CLALS Affiliate and CAS Professor Ernesto Castañeda wrote a piece for The Conversation on "How cities help immigrants feel at home." The piece is based on Castañeda's new book A Place to Call Home.

Castañeda on Trump's Immigration Policies and Childhood Trauma

CLALS Affiliate and CAS Professor Ernesto Castañeda was featured in an article from Brit + Co on "U.S. Border Officials Are Creating Lifelong Trauma for Child Migrants By Separating Them from Their Families."

Albro on Corruption and Cocaine Trafficking in Bolivia

CLALS Research Associate Professor Robert Albro spoke to the World Politics Review about U.S.-Bolivia relations for an article entitled "'Who Isn't Involved?': How Corruption Fuels Cocaine Trafficking in Bolivia."

Call Featured in the New York Times

Charles Call, SIS Professor and leader of a CLALS project on Monitoring MACCIH and anti-impunity efforts in Honduras, was featured prominently in a New York Times article, "In a Corruption Battle in Honduras, the Elites Hit Back." According to Call, "The Honduran government knows the Trump administration cares a lot more about immigration and drug trafficking than it cares about corruption."

Castañeda Pens Op-Ed for Morning Consult

CLALS Affiliate and CAS Professor Ernesto Castañeda wrote an op-ed piece for the Morning Consult entitled "Americans Should Show Zero Tolerance for "Zero Tolerance" Immigration Policies." The article highlighted the life-long trauma created by such policies for migrants and their children.

Albro on Climate Change and Migration

CLALS Research Associate Professor Robert Albro was quoted in an article for the Daily Beast on how climate changes sparked the U.S.-Mexico border crisis.

Héctor Silva Featured on C-SPAN

CLALS Research Fellow Héctor Silva Ávalos was featured in a C-SPAN segment on the state of MS-13 in the United States.

Porzecanski Featured in the Wall Street Journal

Dr. Arturo C. Porzecanski, Distinguished Economist in Residence and CLALS Affiliate, was featured in the Wall Street Journal for his timely article “Argentina: The Downside of Gradualism,” which was originally published on the AULABLOG.

CLALS Director on Nicaragua's "New Era"

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg, was featured in a US News article regarding recent Nicaraguan protests and a new era of reform. "The problem is [that] they no longer have coherent, cohesive political parties and other institutional mechanisms to just tune on a dime and engage successfully in the political arena," said Hershberg.

LeoGrande Published in Newsweek

School of Public Affairs Professor and CLALS Affiliate William LeoGrande published an article in Newsweek titled, "Can Cuba's Miguel Díaz-Canel Complete Raúl Castro's Economic Revolution?" LeoGrande discussed Cuba’s political and economic atmosphere amidst the inauguration of their new president.

Dudley Op-Ed in the New York Times

CLALS Fellow and InSight Crime co-director Steven Dudley published an op-ed titled “How to Leave the MS-13 Alive,” in the New York Times. He expanded upon the CLALS-InSight report on the transnational capacity of the MS-13. Dudley specifically highlights the role religion plays in the gang members ability to escape the notorious gang.

Brenner on Cuba's "New Era"

Philip Brenner, CLALS Affiliate and SIS Professor, asked "Does a new president mean a new era for Cuba?," in his article for America: The Jesuit Review.

The Trump Administration Constrains U.S.-Cuba Relationship

CLALS Affiliate William LeoGrande discussed the heightened tension between the United States and Cuba under the Trump administration in his article “Before Trump was anti-Cuba, he wanted to open a hotel in Havana.” The article, which was published in The Conversation highlights Trump's shifting approach towards Cuba.

Albro and McCarthy Compare Bolivia and Venezuela

The Conversation published an article by CLALS Research Associate Professor Robert Albro and CLALS Research Fellow Michael McCarthy entitled “Bolivia is not Venezuela - even if its president does want to stay in power forever.” Albro and McCarthy comment on the differences between Bolivia and Venezuela leaders, addressing topics such as oil diplomacy, constraints on power, indigenous resistance, and socialist leadership.

LeoGrande on Cuba's New President

In an article for The Conversation, CLALS Affiliate and School of Public Affairs Professor William LeoGrande comments on what Cuba’s new president could mean for the country and its people.

"Fire and Ice on the Mountain" Named Video of the Week

“Fire and Ice on the Mountain,” a short documentary film by CLALS Affiliate and SOC Professor Bill Gentile, examines how religion and climate change intersect in Peru. It was named video of the week in an article by GlacierHub, and is a part of the CLALS project on religion and climate change.

Steven Dudley Comments on the Misconceptions about MS13 for BYU Radio

CLALS Fellow and InSight Crime co-director Steven Dudley was recently featured on BYU Radio in a segment called “MS-13 Gang and Trump, Martha Hughes Cannon Legacy, Michal Kosinski and Facebook.” 

LeoGrande on the U.S.-Cuba Backslide for Americas Quarterly

CLALS Affiliate and School of Public Affairs Professor William LeoGrande analyzed relations between the United States and Cuba following the mysterious injuries suffered by staff at the U.S. embassy in Havana last year.

LeoGrande on Washington's Meddlesome Past

In February 2018, Faculty affiliate William LeoGrande wrote a piece for The Conversation on Washington’s overlooked past meddling in elections. LeoGrande also touches on what makes political warfare possible.

McCarthy Published in World Politics Review

Research Fellow Michael McCarthy wrote an article for the World Politics Review titled “Why Loose Talk of the U.S. Supporting a Military Coup in Venezuela Is So Dangerous.” McCarthy and co-author Benjamin N. Gedan examined the worries around U.S. involvement with a coup in Venezuela.

MS13 CLALS Report Cited in Revista Factum

This Revista Factum article cites the joint CLALS and InSight Crime study on the transnational criminal capacity of MS13, noting that the gang is far from being a drug cartel.

MS13 Violence: Method or Madness?

CLALS Research Fellows Steven Dudley and Héctor Silva Ávalos explained why violence is a manifestation of MS13's dysfunction and is one of the main factors that keep it from reaching its full potential. This article draws on findings from a joint CLALS and InSight Crime multi-year initiative investigating the criminal capacity of MS13.

Dudley and Silva on Trump and MS13

CLALS Research Fellows Steven Dudley and Héctor Silva Ávalos released an article for InSight Crime on "Why Trump is Wrong to Blame Migration for MS13 Expansion, Violence." The authors claim that the Trump administration has used the MS13 as a bogeyman to draw support for its policy of searching out and deporting more undocumented migrants.

Research Fellow Contributes to Real Clear World

CLALS Research Fellow Michael McCarthy contributed an op-ed piece to Real Clear World titled "The Limits to Russia and China's Support of Venezuela," detailing the fear of Chinese and Russian influence in Venezuela.

2017

New Edited Volume on Immigration and Categorical Inequality

CLALS Faculty Affiliate Ernesto Castañeda recently published an edited volume, Immigration and Categorical Inequality: Migration to the City and the Birth of Race and Ethnicity. The book explains the general processes of migration, the categorization of newcomers in urban areas as racial or ethnic others, and the mechanisms that perpetuate inequality among groups.

New Routledge Volume on Mexican Migrants’ Political Impact

CLALS Fellow Michael Danielson recently published a book that explores Mexican migrants' political impact on their communities of origin. Emigrants Get Political: Mexican Migrants Engage their Hometowns argues that migrant political behavior results in a range of political outcomes and does not uniformly enhance democracy.

Professor Charles Call on the Stolen Honduras Election

Charles Call, CLALS Affiliate and Professor in the School of International Service, analyzed recent political trends in Latin America in his article published by the Brookings Institute. In the article, Call focuses on what Honduras’ election crisis reveals about Latin America’s broader democracy challenges.

Professor Charles Call Pens Article on the Global South for Brookings

CLALS Affiliate and SIS Professor Charles Call shed lights on the perception of the United Nations in the Global South in a Brookings article, "Is the UN a friend or foe?"

Professor Matthew Taylor Quoted in Bloomberg

CLALS Affiliate Matthew Taylor weighs in on the impact outside organizations have in untangling corruption in Latin America in this article titled, “Outsiders Can't Clean Up Latin America's Corruption.”

Trump’s New Cuba Sanctions

Regulations on travel and trade will likely have little impact on Cuba’s government, hurting ordinary Cubans instead. CLALS Affiliate William LeoGrande analyzed the impact of Trump’s new sanctions on Cuba and how they may have missed the mark in this article in America's Quarterly.

LeoGrande Reviews New Trump Plan Toward Cuba

CLALS Affiliate and School of Public Affairs Professor William LeoGrande analyzed reports of President Trump's plans to reverse many Obama-era Cuba policies in the context of Trump's ties to Russia, and the implications for Cuba-Russia relations, in the Huffington Post.

CLALS Director Interviewed by TV Perú Noticias

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg analyzed President Trump's first 100 days in office during an in-studio interview with TV Perú Noticias. In addition to analyzing several of Trump's campaign promises (like the border wall with Mexico), Hershberg stressed that the remainder of Trump's presidency would be a test to the strength of democratic institutions in the U.S.

Professor Broad Receives Guggenheim Fellowship

CLALS Affiliate and SIS Professor Robin Broad was awarded a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. The award committee noted that Professor Broad has combined "scholarship and policy thinking on development with environmental considerations, both in general and as they affect the most marginalized populations in developing countries." Read more about Professor Broad's work here.

CLALS Director Featured on New Podcast

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg was recently featured on Resumen Latinoamericano and CLASCO's new podcast, " TrumPolis." Director Hershberg spoke about Trump's immigration policies in comparison with President Obama's, and the rise of xenophobia in the United States and elsewhere.

CLALS Director Comments on Possible US Sanctions on Venezuela in the Christian Science Monitor

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg was quoted in a Christian Science Monitor piece on possible US sanctions on Venezuela: "It's not a particularly impactful measure, except that it could ironically reinforce unity among government officials in Venezuela … and be counter-productive to US preferences."

CLALS Director Evaluates Trump's First Weeks in Office for Latin American Press

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg was interviewed by TeleSUR's Jorge Gestoso regarding President Trump's first days in office, the mass mobilizations against Trump, and the potential implications that the Trump administration will have for Latinos in the U.S. Hershberg also spoke with Chilean newspaper El Mercurio on Trump's executive orders on immigration.

2016

CLALS Experts Analyze Trump's Ascent and Fidel's Passing

CLALS experts have been featured in several publications regarding the implications of Fidel Castro's passing and potential impacts of a Donald J. Trump presidency in Latin America. CLALS Director Eric Hershberg told the Daily Signal that Trump has the authority to roll back many of the normalization advancements made by the Obama administration in Cuba. The Wall Street Journal quoted CLALS Affiliate Matthew Taylor: "It looks like Latin America is turning into a favorite punching bag for Trump's tweets, and here we can include Mexicans, the wall, and now Cuba." And in an op-ed piece for the New York Times, CLALS Affiliate William LeoGrande argued that Trump's negotiating style won't work in Cuba, especially after Fidel's passing.

CLALS Director on Implications of 2016 US Presidential Election in Latin America

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg spoke with Fox News Latino about Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa's decision to cut off WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange's internet access at the country's embassy in London. "It may in part have to do with Correa thinking that to assist the campaign of Donald Trump would be unconscionable," Prof. Hershberg said in reference to the idea that the WikiLeaks' releases are helping the GOP nominee's run for the White House. Prof. Hershberg was also featured in TeleSur TV's La Entrevista con Jorge Gestoso about the upcoming U.S. presidential election and the outcome of the election's potential impacts on Latin America.

DC Area Survey Covered by the Washington Post

The Washington Post covered findings from the inaugural 2016 DC Area Survey (DCAS), "Neighborhood Diversity and Well-Being." The survey -- co-sponsored by CLALS and the School of Public Affairs' Metropolitan Policy Center -- captured resident perceptions of neighborhood satisfaction, health, crime, and governance in ethnically and racially diverse communities in the metropolitan DC area, highlighting "Quadrivial" and disproportionately Latino neighborhoods. In the article, primary investigator Michael D.M. Bader states that DC has "made progress in opening access to diverse neighborhoods."

Coffee, Catholics and Climate Change

In the video report, International Reporting Fellow and SOC alumna Camila DeChalus explores how small-scale coffee farmers in Colombia are tackling the challenges posed by climate change with assistance from Catholic Relief Services. The report is a product of AU's partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and of ongoing work at CLALS on religion and climate change across multiple regions of the world.

Dudley Provides Congressional Testimony on Violence in Mexico

In an article on " The Hidden Factors Behind Resurging Violence in Mexico," World Politics Review cited May 2016 testimony by Steven Dudley (CLALS Research Fellow and co-Director of InSight Crime) before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Western Hemisphere Sub-committee. Read the full testimony.

Taylor on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Matthew Taylor, professor in the School of International Service and CLALS affiliate, spoke to National Post about the political, economic, and public health challenges Brazil faces as it gears up for the 2016 Olympic Games. "This is a triple-whammy," Taylor said. "Put together, those three things are unprecedented, certainly in the last 30 years of democracy."

McCarthy on the Mounting Venezuelan Crisis

Is this Maduro's last year in office? Research Fellow Michael McCarthy spoke to the Miami Herald about Venezuela, opining, "Chavismo's core support has a high melting point." McCarthy also contributed an op-ed for the Washington Post's Monkey Cage blog, entitled " 6 Things You Need to Know about Venezuela's Political and Economic Crisis," and participated in an interview with Al Jazeera.

LeoGrande Speaks on the Eve of Cuba's VII Party Congress

In April 2016, Affiliate William LeoGrande spoke with the Associated Press about Cuba's future economic model in the context of normalization. LeoGrande also talked to McClatchy about political repression and the growth of a dissident activist group in Cuba that has prompted a government crackdown.

Taylor Discusses "Operation Car Wash" in Brazil

In an article for the Washington Post, Affiliate Matthew Taylor explained the significance of Brazil's recent detainment of ex-president Lula da Silva as part of a massive corruption case known as Lava Jato. The Lava Jato investigation could be the single largest corruption investigation ever undertaken, anywhere. In his analysis, Taylor explains what the case means and why it is important within Brazil and beyond.

Second Annual Latino Public Affairs Forum

An article by NBC News Latino recapped AU's 2nd Annual Latino Public Affairs Forum, and emphasized the importance of immigration as a driver for Latinos voting in the 2016 presidential election. The article quoted panelist Matt Barreto, UCLA professor and co-founder of the research and polling firm Latino Decisions, who said, "We're on the verge of possibly the largest Latino voter turnout in American history, and not just because of our community growing, but also because of the emotion that's involved in the election this year, probably more than ever."

The forum was broadcast in its entirety via C-SPAN. To learn more about the event, visit our ALPAF 2016 page.

Taylor Joins the Council on Foreign Relations

CLALS Faculty Affiliate and SIS Associate Professor Matthew Taylor has joined the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), an independent, nonpartisan membership organization and think tank, as an adjunct senior fellow for Latin America Studies in the David Rockefeller Studies Program. He is directing a roundtable meeting series on Latin America, as well as conducting research related to corruption and the rule of law. Read more here.

Dudley Discusses Honduras in The Guardian

In view of the launch of a new international anti-corruption body to tackle criminal networks within Honduras' political and judicial systems, The Guardian featured an opinion article by CLALS Fellow and InSight Crime co-Director Steven Dudley about the advisability of the OAS-backed Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH): "There are many, many signs that the [Honduran] attorney general's office is doing its job better all the time. This is the time to support that office, not undermine it with outside entities."

Taylor Comments on Brazil's Prospects in 2016

The International Business Times featured commentary by SIS professor Matthew Taylor in their article " From Political Corruption To Plunging Commodities Prices, Brazil's Fall From Grace Could Take Years To Fix." Taking an excerpt from a recent AULABLOG, IBT quoted Taylor's forecast that, "For Brazil, 2016 will be dramatic and unpredictable - as the country weathers the most dangerous political crisis since the impeachment and resignation of President Fernando Collor in 1992."

2015

Gentile Releases When the Forest Weeps

The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting featured an article on the documentary short When the Forest Weeps, produced by Faculty Affiliate Bill Gentile as part of the Religion and Democratic Contestation project. The Pulitzer Center praised the film, which focuses on how religion and land rights issues impact a community's relationship with the environment, as an example of research-intensive, "slow journalism." In November 2015, Gentile shared the film during a Backpack Video Journalism Workshop in Ghana.

Torres on the Future of the Cuban Economy

Research Fellow and Cuban economist Ricardo Torres discussed the future of the Cuban economy as it reinserts itself into the global economy and the developing relationship between Cuba and the United States with the Miami Herald. Torres described the developing relationship between the U.S. and Cuba as "very positive. We want to have a normal relationship with the United States as we have with the rest of the world."

Berry Discusses the Climate Treaty and the Church

With Mongabay, CAS professor Evan Berry discussed the request by Catholic bishops for a "transformative" climate treaty ahead of the Paris climate summit. Berry, a co-principal investigator for the Center's Religion and Democratic Contestation project, said he believes the time is right for religious leaders to engage in the complexities of climate change policy.

Serra on the Buena Vista Social Club

With CBS News Newspath, World Languages and Cultures associate professor and CLALS Faculty Affiliate Ana Serra discussed the significance of White House's invitation to Cuban band Buena Vista Social Club to perform a concert. Serra said the event "evokes international collaboration."

Dudley Discusses Rosenthal Indictment

CLALS Fellow Steven Dudley calls U.S. indictment of Honduras' former Vice President Jaime Rolando Rosenthal "a shot across all the elite's bows in Honduras." Read the full article via the New York Times.

Armstrong Discusses Improving U.S.-Cuba Relations with IBT

An International Business Times article featured comments by Research Fellow Fulton Armstrong on the U.S. easing of travel and business restrictions. "To Armstrong, the key to improving relations between the two countries lies in getting the two governments out of the way."

Albro Discusses Correa, Shortages, and the Path ahead for Ecuador

In an article describing the steep decline in popularity of Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, the International Business Times cites CLALS Research Associate Professor Rob Albro about concerns that Ecuador-facing soaring inflation and severe shortages of basic goods-may follow the path of Venezuela.

SIS Prof. Matthew Taylor Quoted in NYT

CLALS Faculty Affiliate and SIS Associate Prof. Matthew Taylor was quoted in a New York Times article on the fallout of the Petrobras scandal in Brazil: "Th[e] crisis goes to the heart of Brazilian state capitalism, the blurring of lines between state economic policies and state benefactors."

Brenner Joins Celebration at Re-Opened Cuban Embassy

The Washington Post featured SIS Professor Philip Brenner in its article covering the reopening of the Cuban Embassy in Washington: "There was a war for 56 years, and the war is over." Other attendees of the historic event included Cuban folksinger Silvio Rodríguez, actor Danny Glover, and Congressmen Jeff Flake and José Serrano.

LeoGrande Speaks on the Benefits of Reopening Embassies

After Washington and Havana announced their plans to reopen embassies, SPA professor of government and dean emeritus William LeoGrande enumerated both the practical and symbolic benefits of restoring ties with Cuba. LeoGrande wrote an op-ed for Fox News Latino, and also spoke with The Sun Sentinel, Fox News, The Washington Examiner , and Voice of America.

Washington Post Features Evan Berry on Climate Change and the Papal Encyclical

The Washington Post featured CAS Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion Evan Berry in an article discussing U.S. reactions to the recently released papal encyclical on climate change. Berry, a principal investigator for the Center's initiative on Religion and Democratic Contestation in Latin America, had previously analyzed the encyclical's potential impact in Latin America on the AULABLOG.

CLALS Report on Venezuela Garners Media Attention

On May 19, CLALS released a new media report, Bias or Neutrality? An Assessment of Television News Coverage in Venezuela by Globovisión. The briefing and Q and A at the National Press Club were led by CLALS Director Eric Hershberg, together with researchers Mike McCarthy, Mike Danielson, and Paula Orlando.

See the related article in Market Watch and their interview on Voice of America.

Hershberg in NYT: The Summit of the Americas

In an article featured in The New York Times, CLALS Director Eric Hershberg commented on the VII Summit of the Americas, saying that Pres. Obama has been gaining ground in Latin America and should continue to press forward policies that avoid "the old American heavy-handedness in the region."

LeoGrande Discusses Barriers to Normalization

In an op-ed for Newsweek, CLALS Affiliate and government professor William LeoGrande offered a guide on the issues that U.S. and Cuban negotiators will need to overcome to achieve normalization.

2014

Hershberg and Rathod Discuss TPS and Central American Migrants in Roll Call

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg and WCL Professor Jayesh Rathod made the case to give Temporary Protected Status to Central American migrants in a Roll Call opinion article.

CLALS Director Comments on Changes in U.S.-Cuba Policies

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg offered commentary in a New York Times article covering the turn in U.S.-Cuba relations and its potential for overcoming 50 years of "unproductive and unfortunate hostility."

SIS Professor Fox and the Case of the Missing Mexican Students

In an article for the Houston Chronicle, CLALS Faculty Affiliate and SIS Professor Jonathan Fox analyzed the case of the missing students in Guerrero, Mexico and discusses its significance as part of a broader climate of repression plaguing the state.

LeoGrande and Kornbluh Publish Back Channel to Cuba

CLALS Faculty Affiliate and SPA Professor William LeoGrande discussed his new book, Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations between Washington and Havana, co-authored with Peter Kornbluh.

Marguerite Jimenez Appointed as White House Fellow

Faculty Affiliate Marguerite Jimenez was appointed as a 2014-2015 White House Fellow. As one of only fifteen fellows chosen from a national pool of candidates, Marguerite has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to public service and leadership.

Eric Hershberg Featured in Christian Science Monitor Article

CLALS Director Eric Hershberg offered his take on the efforts of Central American and U.S. leaders regarding the unaccompanied child migrant crisis in a recent Christian Science Monitor article: "Central American leaders on solving child migrant crisis: We can't do it alone."

Héctor Silva Receives Arca Foundation Funding

CLALS Senior Fellow Héctor Silva was awarded funding from the Arca Foundation to support research on the 1989 Jesuit Massacre and the case's enduring influence on the fortunes of El Salvador's justice system following the 1992 Peace Accords.

Héctor Silva Quoted in The New York Times

CLALS Senior Fellow Héctor Silva provided commentary on the recent surge in unaccompanied child migrants in The New York Times article "As Child Migrants Flood to Border, U.S. Presses Latin America to Act."

William LeoGrande Published in The Huffington Post

In an article for The Huffington Post, CLALS Faculty Affiliate and SPA Professor William M. LeoGrande analyzed results from a new poll confirming growing support among Cuban Americans for engagement with Cuba.

Matthew Taylor Quoted in The Wall Street Journal

CLALS Faculty Affiliate and SIS Associate Professor Matthew Taylor provided commentary on the Brazilian corruption trials in an article in The Wall Street Journal.

Héctor Silva Releases Book on Police and Corruption in El Salvador

At an event co-sponsored by the Inter-American Dialogue, CLALS Senior Fellow Héctor Silva shared findings from his new book, Infiltrators: A Chronicle of Corruption in the National Civil Police of El Salvador. Commentary was provided by Congressman Jim McGovern and InSight Crime Director Steven Dudley. A video of the event is available here.

CAS Professor Friedman Receives AU Scholar/Teacher Award

CLALS Faculty Affiliate and CAS Professor Max Paul Friedman has received the American University 2014 Scholar/Teacher Award. The prestigious award recognizes exceptional teaching, demonstrated concern for students and colleagues, significant contributions to the university's scholarly life, and commitment to high standards of professional and personal life.

CLALS Event Covered by C-SPAN

Watch C-SPAN's video coverage of the two-panel event "The Republicans' Latino Problem and How It Can Be Fixed," convened by CLALS.

Panel 1: The Main Issues: Complicating Latino Support of the Republican Party

Panel 2: Political Strategies to Connect the Republican Party with Latino Voters

Steven Dudley Quoted in The New York Times

CLALS Research Fellow and Co-Director of InSight Crime Steven Dudley was quoted in a New York Times article analyzing the capture of Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzman.

William LeoGrande Published in London School of Economics Blog

CLALS Affiliate William M. LeoGrande assessed whether developments in Cuba merit the updating of the EU's approach to the country, in the London School of Economics blog.

2013

Ximena Varela Featured on Culture and the Economy

CLALS Affiliate Ximena Varela, panelist at the CLALS sponsored event "Creative and Cultural Industries and the Future of Latin America's Economy," was featured in the AU article " Investing in Culture."

NSF Awards Funding to Todd Eisenstadt

CLALS Affiliate Todd Eisenstadt received funding from the National Science Foundation for his project, "Collaborative Research: Lawsuits for the Pacha Mama in Ecuador: Explaining the Determinants of New Indigenous Movements to Mitigate Environmental Impacts."

Robert Blecker Published in Valor Econômico

In an interview published in Valor Econômico, CLALS Faculty Affiliate and CAS Professor Robert Blecker argued that a competitive exchange rate is essential to long-term economic growth in Brazil. Read the full article.

Steven Dudley Published in The Atlantic

CLALS Research Fellow and Co-Director of InSight Crime Steven Dudley co-authored an article in The Atlantic entitled "The Most Dangerous City in the World Is Not Where You Think It Is." The piece analyzes the roots of increased violence in the Northern Triangle countries of Central America.

Steven Dudley Quoted in the Christian Science Monitor

CLALS Research Fellow and Co-Director of InSight Crime Steven Dudley was quoted in a Christian Science Monitor article analyzing the capture of Zetas leader Treviño Morales.

Adrienne Pine Receives Fulbright Fellowship

CAS Professor Adrienne Pine received a Fulbright to carry out her research project entitled "Nursing, Health, and Democracy in Honduras." The project examined the health impacts of the 2009 U.S.-supported coup in Honduras and explored the ways in which Honduran nurses responded to state-sponsored violence and the neoliberal restructuring of health care.

Max Paul Friedman Receives Guggenheim Fellowship

CAS Professor Max Paul Friedman was selected as a 2013 Guggenheim Fellow. The Guggenheim Fellowship supported Friedman's research project, "The Containment of the United States: The Latin American Diplomatic Tradition and the Limits of Principle."

Immigration Policy Report by Michael Danielson

"Documented Failures: the Consequences of Immigration Policy on the U.S.-Mexico Border" a report written by CLALS Doctoral Fellow Michael Danielson was released on the Jesuit.org website.

Héctor Silva Published in El Faro and La Prensa Gráfica

CLALS Research Fellow Héctor Silva recently published an article on immigration reform in La Prensa Gráfica and had another published in El Faro on Salvadoran presidential candidates crafting strategies to increase their appeal to key Washington actors.

From the Fields: An American Journey

From the Fields: An American journey, a film by CLALS affiliate Carolyn Brown, won the California Film Orson Welles Award - Grand Category and the CreaTV award for Excellence in Directing.

2012

Eric Hershberg featured as a panelist on U.S.-Brazil policy

CLALS director Eric Hershberg participated as a panelist on the Center for National Policy's event, "Brazil, the Southern Superpower? Policy Implications for the United States."

John Ackerman published in The Atlantic

CLALS Research Fellow John Ackerman assessed the first weeks of Enrique Peña Nieto's presidency and the return of the PRI in his op-ed "Mexico's New President Is Off to a Troubling Start," published in The Atlantic.

Report Release - Transnational Crime in Mexico and Central America

CLALS Fellow Steven Dudley produced a report released by the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars on "Transnational Crime in Mexico and Central America".

John Ackerman published in the Los Angeles Times

CLALS Affiliate John Ackerman penned an op-ed piece, " Latinos Need Immigration Reform, Not Crumbs" which was published in the Los Angeles Times.

Héctor Silva Ávalos published in El Faro

The large majority of the Latino population voted in favor of Obama's re-election. CLALS Research Fellow, Héctor Silva Ávalos analyzed how the second Obama administration will influence future policy reform in the op-ed "Obama después del triunfo: la agenda latinoamericana" published in El Faro.

CLALS Director Quoted by BBC Mundo

As part of BBC Mundo's coverage of the second presidential debate, CLALS Director Eric Hershberg was quoted in the article, "Obama es más agresivo en segundo debate contra Romney." (October 2012).

CLALS featured on AU homepage

As part of National Hispanic Heritage Month, AU Communications wrote an article highlighting CLALS research on critical issues for Latinos.

InSight Crime co-director quoted in the New York Times

InSight Crime co-director Jeremy McDermott was quoted in a New York Times article on US involvement in the arrest of Daniel Barrera, known as "El Loco."

Eric Hershberg Quoted in BBC Mundo

Center Director, Eric Hershberg, was quoted in the August 2 BBC Mundo article, Julián Castro, el hispano que inaugurará la Convención Demócrata.

CLALS Research Fellow Published in The Nation

CLALS Fellow John M. Ackerman of UNAM provided insight on the state of democracy in Mexico and the 2012 presidential elections in the article "A Left-Wing Comeback in Mexico's Presidential Elections?" published in The Nation.

CLALS Research Fellow Awarded Woodrow Wilson Fellowship

Congratulations to Steven Dudley, CLALS Research Fellow, who was selected for the 2013 Woodrow Wilson Center Fellowship Class.

SSRC Fellowship Awarded to CLALS Affiliate

SIS Professor and CLALS Affiliate Daniel Esser was awarded a peer-reviewed Drugs, Security and Democracy Fellowship, from the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) for research on urban violence in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

MACLAS Awards 2012

American University students Tom Long and Allison Sylvester received awards for the best graduate and undergraduate papers, respectively at the 2012 Annual MACLAS Conference.

2011

CLALS Director, Eric Hershberg's, editorial featured in NACLA Report on the Americas

Read Director Eric Hershberg's editorial about economic reforms in Cuba in the August issue of NACLA Report on the Americas.

The Cuban Evolution

Watch CLALS Director Eric Hershberg in an interview with Al Jazeera on the future of revolutionary Cuba.

InSight Organized Crime

CLALS-hosted InSight Crime serves as a key reference on organized crime in the Americas for journalists, policymakers, and the private sectors, as noted in a front page New York Times article.