Jorge Castañeda: All Publications, Events and Press

Engaging Cuba on Human Rights

Erin Drankoski — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:19:00 -0500

Normalization of U.S. relations with Cuba was widely seen as exactly the kind of high-value, low-hanging fruit that would be ideal for a president elected under the banner of "change." But a scathing new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, "New Castro, Same Cuba," will make lifting sanctions against the Castro regime -- on travel, remittances, trade -- more difficult for President Obama.

Soldiers Wary of Often Corrupt Mexican Police | The Associated Press

Cecille Isidro — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:01:00 -0500

"It's humiliating," said Jorge Castaneda, a 23-year veteran of the Monterrey police. "They pull you from your patrol car. They take away your cell phone, ...

Chile’s Big Surprise

Erin Drankoski — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:34:00 -0500

Latin America has seen independent candidates run for office before. They have won in countries like Peru, with Alberto Fujimori and then Alejandro Toledo, and Colombia, with Álvaro Uribe. Caudillos like Venezuela's Hugo Chávez and Ecuador's Rafael Correa have bucked entrenched but sclerotic party systems. And leaders of broad movements have brought an end to decades-long single-party rule, as Fernando Lugo did with his victory in Paraguay over the Colorado Party. But something unusual is happening in Chile. In its upcoming presidential election,

Divide and Conquer

Erin Drankoski — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:21:00 -0400

There is little question that in the field of foreign policy, Latin America is far from being a priority for the Obama administration. Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are more pressing. The problem is that the situation in Latin America is getting complicated, and it is intersecting with crises in other parts of the world that are far more important right now for the United States. Two key issues, which by themselves could be minor, are demanding Washington's attention because they are part of a broader picture that includes Latin America but is not restricted to the region.

Talk the Walk | Newsweek

Cecille Isidro — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:11:00 -0400

... giant that acts like a diplomatic dwarf," former Mexican foreign minister and frequent NEWSWEEK contributor Jorge Castañeda told a Brazilian newspaper. ...

"¿Que pasa, América Latina?”

Kirsten Gilbert — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:45:00 -0400

A New America Event
10/01/2009 - 9:15am

On October 1, former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda outlined the challenges and opportunities currently faced by Latin America. In conversation with Andres Martinez, the Director of New America's Bernard L. Schwartz Fellows Program, Mr. Castañeda discussed the continent's fraught attempts to develop a working framework for collective action, even as its major players start to focus their attention on increasing their clout on the global stage.

How Chavez May Have Spoiled Ousted Honduran Leader's Return | McClatchy Washington Bureau

Cecille Isidro — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:51:00 -0400

"Chavez once again shot his mouth off," said Jorge Castaneda, a former Mexican foreign minister and respected writer on the Latin American left. ...

Democracies Must Be Willing to Stand Up to Hugo Chávez

Erin Drankoski — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:01:00 -0400

In early September, Colombia's biggest businesses surprised everyone by declaring their wholehearted support for the country's president, Alvaro Uribe, in his deepening conflict with Venezuela. If they lost the huge export market next door, well, that would simply be too bad.

Time to Confront Chavez

Erin Drankoski — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:36:00 -0400

In early September, Colombia's biggest businesses surprised everyone by declaring their wholehearted support for the country's president, Alvaro Uribe, in his deepening conflict with Venezuela.

If they lost the huge export market next door, well, that would simply be too bad.

What Does Mexico’s New Drug Law Portend?

Erin Drankoski — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:25:00 -0400

The recently approved new "drug" law in Mexico is in fact not a step toward decriminalization, but rather toward mandatory sentencing. Until last month, possession of small (unspecified) amounts of drugs was not a criminal offense in Mexico; only the sale or purchase was. The new law establishes a minuscule limit on legal possession, meaning that today, almost anyone caught carrying any drug is subject to arrest, prosecution and jail.

If anything, the new law criminalizes drug use much more radically than before.

Backed Into a Corner

Erin Drankoski — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:42:00 -0400

Rarely has there been such a show of unanimity in Latin America. Last week, in response to a new agreement between Washington and Bogotá that grants U.S. access to seven military bases in Colombia, almost every member of UNASUR--the South American group that some would like to replace the Organization of American States (perhaps because it excludes the U.S., Mexico, and Canada)--used a summit meeting to lambaste U.S. President Barack Obama and Colombian President Álvaro Uribe.

Moving Ahead in Honduras

Cecille Isidro — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:33:00 -0400

World Waits for Foreign Policy to Take Shape | Wall Street Journal

Cecille Isidro — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:49:00 -0400

The real achievement of Mr. Obama's first 100 days, say former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda and others, has been the ability to project humility -- an American trait Mr. Castañeda says was in short supply over the past eight years. ...

How Fidel Snookered Everyone

Cecille Isidro — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:56:00 -0400

Geopolitics makes for strange bedfellows indeed. After President Barack Obama's performance at last weekend's Summit of the Americas (and before that, on a quick visit to Mexico City) nearly everyone in Latin America and the United States was applauding the new president and fawning over his impressive performance. Everyone, that is, except for American conservatives, such as Newt Gingrich, and ... Fidel Castro. How in the world did Gingrich and an obviously rejuvenated Fidel end up as political blood brothers?

The Right Deal on Cuba

Cecille Isidro — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:55:00 -0400

Despite the rhetoric and the photo-ops, the Trinidad Summit of the Americas postponed any real discussion of U.S. policy toward Cuba. In the U.S., the extremist embargo has been a sop to the right-wing and Florida electorate. But in countries like Mexico, Chile and Brazil, the Latin policy of never taking Havana to task for its atrocious human-rights record is a sop to the domestic left.

At Summit of the Americas, the Issue Is Cuba | New York Times

Cecille Isidro — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:44:00 -0400

Jorge Castaneda, a professor of international relations at New York University and former foreign minister of Mexico, said that if Mr. Obama does meet with Mr. Chávez, even briefly, the president “runs the risk of bumping in and shaking hands and then ...

Obama Prepares For Mexico Talks On Drug Trade | Washington Post

Cecille Isidro — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:20:00 -0400

It will dominate the agenda, because the drug fight is all that Calderón talks about, all that he thinks about," said Jorge Castañeda, foreign secretary under Calderón's predecessor, Vicente Fox. "He wants to hear [Obama] say that Mexico was never a ...

A Failed Relationship: Slate Looks at America's Dysfunctional Ties With Mexico

Communications — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:40:00 -0400

Washington, DC -- How can two countries that share a 2,000-mile border and centuries of history know so little about each other? As President Barack Obama prepares for his April 16 visit to Mexico, Slate and the New America Foundation teamed up to produce a series of articles that explores the strained relations between the United States and Mexico.