Venezuela in Crisis: A Socialist Dystopia

City-wide protests have occurred daily throughout Venezuela, a politically divided and economically destitute country, which was once South America’s wealthiest nation. Police meet protesters with rampant arrests, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Since the beginning of April, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have protested President Nicolás Maduro’s socialist government and its perpetration of the nation’s … Read more

A Bittersweet Ending to the Longest Civil War in Latin America: Colombia-FARC

Colombia has struggled for decades to combat the illegal drug trade, terrorism, and violence that FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) has contributed to since 1966. Known for being one of the richest guerrilla armies in the world,  FARC has approximately 8,000 rebel fighters that control many rural areas in the south and eastern portions … Read more

The Atacama Corridor: Spoil of War or Illegal Occupation?

On September 24, 2015, the International Court of Justice, or ICJ, overruled Chile’s preliminary objection to the court’s jurisdiction to hear a case filed by Bolivia against them two years prior, known as the Obligation to Negotiate Access to the Pacific Ocean (Bolivia v. Chile).  As the title of the case suggests, Bolivia is requesting … Read more

Who is to Blame for the Venezuela – Colombia Border Crisis?

Many Colombians are leaving Venezuela by crossing the Tachira river. (courtesy of BBC) In an effort to restore peace and order along the Colombian border, the President of Venezuela, Nicholas Maduro, has declared a state of emergency. Border crossings between Venezuela and Colombia have closed, martial law has been enacted in border regions, and Colombians … Read more