Council on Hemispheric Affairs

Polling gets Narrower as Sunday’s Presidential Elections in Costa Rica Approach on Sunday

COHA revisits its interview of Ottón Solís. Arias – revered by some, but an object of disdain by more than a few. After four years under the leadership of Oscar Arias, Costa Ricans will vote for a new president this Sunday, February 7th. In October 2008, Laura Chinchilla resigned as Vice President and Minister of Justice [...]

No “Common Policy,” as Europe Grapples over its Future ties with Cuba.

– Spain takes the lead in trying to adapt the EU to Cuba’s rapidly transforming role. In January, Spain took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Despite being deeply affected by the global financial crisis, Spain confidently proclaimed ambitious objectives for its term at the head of the EU, including the cancellation of [...]

Harper’s Attempt to Save Face at the Cost of Canada’s Democratic Enlargement

On December 30th, Prime Minister Stephen Harper suspended the Canadian Parliament for the third time since he first took office in 2006 and the second time in just over a year. This comes at a time when Harper has faced increasingly vocal criticism from the opposition. As a leader of a minority government, Harper has [...]

Next Year in Havana? Ending the U.S. Travel Ban Should Be First Step in Normalizing Relations with Cuba

Next year will mark a half-century since the Bay of Pigs, the failed assault on Fidel Castro’s young Cuban regime that ignited the long cold war with the U.S. Although Fidel himself has largely disappeared from the public stage, replaced at the helm by his brother Raúl, most Americans still think of Cuba as the [...]

FARQaeda* (FARC + Al Qaeda): A Real Threat or a Matter of Circumstantial Evidence?

Over the past several months, a number of reports have circulated that address the subject of drug trafficking ties between South American narcotics trafficking interests and terrorist organizations, principally Al Qaeda and its smaller affiliates now known to be based in Northern Africa. These assessments have cited evidence pointing to a disturbing ring, an [...]

COHA in the Public Arena (January 24-February 2)

Interviews - On Thursday, January 28, Director of the COHA Larry Birns appeared on Latino USA. - On Thursday, January 28, COHA Research Fellow Christina Esquivel appeared on HITN-TV discussing the past, present and future of Haiti. Articles Appearances “Venezuela’s Gamble with Currency Devaluation,” by Research Associate Matthew Lackey – Spero News “One Year [...]

Time for the U.S. and Cuba to Talk and More

The modest collaboration between the State Department and the Cuban government concerning the use of Cuban airspace and cooperation in providing medical relief to the Haitian people represents an opportunity for transition toward a more positive relationship between Washington and Havana. This cooperation demonstrates common humanitarian values that both nations share. The two governments [...]

Summer 2010 Internships Available

COHA currently is accepting applications for summer internships. Well-prepared candidates with solid research and writing skills who are prepared to commit themselves to vigorous standards of investigative journalism and academic research are now being processed. COHA interns are highly regarded in the field of U.S.-Latin American and Canadian studies for the many awards and distinctions [...]

COHA Interviews and Citations (January 24 – February 2)

COHA Recent Interviews - Thursday, January 28, 2010. Director Larry Birns was interviewed by LatinoUSA. - On Thursday, January 28, COHA Research Fellow Christina Esquivel appears on HITN-TV discussing the past, present and future of Haiti. For Recent COHA Citations, See - Sunday, January 24. 2010. COHA is quoted in the Jamaica Observer criticizing the United States media [...]

Senior Research Fellow Spotlight: Dr. Greg Grandin

COHA Senior Research Fellow Greg Grandin also serves as a professor of History at NYU, and was the 2009 National Book Award Finalist for the current best seller, Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford’s Forgotten Jungle City (Metropolitan Books).