Science and Global Politics: Focus on Latin America

It's not an article, but I found it funny, and it pertains to Latin America.

Can't solve supply and demand problems without looking at the demand side, right? Seriously, though, the illegal drug trade is a good area for thinking about science and politics -- when we think about science and politics we tend to think of the hard sciences, but where the social sciences and medical sciences fit in terms of these human behavior issues is critical. To what extent are those in the behavioral sciences taken seriously by policymakers? When we think of legalization or decriminalization of drugs, are there interesting comparative medical and/or social scientific studies about the aftermath? Would that be useful info to know for the public, or are these matters only for experts? This would relate to the Ecuador article below as well--

In this article, the author details Chavez's control of the oil industry of Venezuela. Of particular interest is how Chavez utilized oil profits to support his own political campaign, and how state spending increased by 30% this year, subsidising food, housing, fuel and healthcare, all while oil production dropped to 2.5mb/d. This is indicative of the type of mismanagement and misappropriation that has been contributing to the decline of Venezuelan power in the Latin American sphere. Many are unsure of how much longer the "rob Peter to pay Paul" model can persist.

This article is fascinating. It discusses the drug violence in Brazil, and what could be done to combat it. The police are working to recover slums in order to prepare for the 2016 Olympics and the World Cup. Here, it is questioned what will happen to the drug stricken areas.

It's interesting to think that drug violence or youth culture could be impacted in such a way. However, I wonder if this is a phenomena unique to Brazil, or if it could be applicable to countries like the United States.

Chavez is up for reelection, and the populations is inspired by his opponent, a former governor. If Chavez is defeated, this would have world-wide ramifications for the oil industry, but also make sweeping change in Venezuela. Though it could easily turn out to be the same as the recent Russian elections, plagued with fraud and a refusal to let go of power.

Here's another article regarding current drug policy in Latin America. In this article the author explains why this joint declaration (no pun intended) is particularly unique since it triggers an actual evaluative process within the UN.

In reading this article, it is clearly stated that the U.S.'s war on drugs was of little benefit to the whole of Latin America. It seems that the joint declaration is a last effort to relieve some of the violence and upset occuring from drug wars. Interestingly, I feel this evaluative process could be what is necessary to relieve some of the surrounding tensions. The U.S. and Latin American need to find a common goal from which to work, in order to improve the struggles are ongoing.

Large-scale study that demonstrates that indigenous Amazonian villagers can record professional level scientific data: "After all the data verification was done, the researchers found that on average, the indigenous technicians were every bit as able to systematically record accurate data as trained scientists.  They were also probably better than scientists at detecting animals and their signs." It's amazing what possibilities exist when you change your framework of "how things are" and explore alternatives....what if professionals and the laity had been working together for the last 100 years on recording environmental data? [info on link from hsci grad student James Burnes]

Venezuela will soon be holding Presidential elections. This is an interactive article which describes the two leading candidates, Henrique Capriles and Hugo Chavez (the incumbent), and their views on the important issues facing Venezuela.

I found this article especially interesting after reading seasick. It is another example of how humans are impacting the ocean and these impacts are negative. In summary, due to pollution and waste from fishing shark attacks are becoming a serious problem in Brazil's coastal waters.

Two south Texas city council persons wrote a book last year on the effect of the illegal drug trade out of Mexico and the effectiveness of US policy responses. Their conclusion: Legalization of marijuana the "least bad" option at this point, as the only way to effectively battle the criminal cartels that export drugs is economically. Here I think is an example of ways in which international black and grey markets, in this case the illegal drug trade, can affect policy.

Unfortunately, we won't know if legalization of a drug will have a net positive impact on society until we try it. Although history does provide some analogies that could help policy makers make a decision, such as prohibition.

Many Latin American countries seem to be considering drug legalization to be the "least bad" and necessary solution to the heinous drug trafficking problems present Mexico, Columbia, Bolivia and Peru for example. I believe legalization efforts are a step in the right direction. Sadly, wealthy countries such as the United States and Western Europe drive the demand for drugs from Latin America, but we do not suffer the consequences of trafficking or the war on drugs. Instead, people who have nothing, poor coca growers and drug mules who have no other options, are punished most harshly for rich people's cocaine. This is clearly unjust. Although legalization would be a complicated and messy process, I hope that in the future Latin American countries as well as the United States will come together and legalize drugs so that fewer people will suffer in the illegal trafficking process.

Chinese economic growth is set to decline according to forecasts, which alarms S. American analysts because Latin America provides many of the materials and commodities that China is buying. Note how China's long term goal of urbanization is cited as proof of hope for Latin American markets, since as more Chinese move into the cities they will have need for appliances and lifestyles powered by materials and commodities acquired from S. American countries.

Although the article is talking about long term vs short term analysis, China is still the fastest growing country in the world, even if its growth rate declines by a few percentage points. Seeing as the United States has been able to maintain post-industrial growth rates in GDP over the past few decades, I don't see why that wouldn't be the case with China.

Industrialisation, but at what price?

Pay particular attention to the section under "The Region" which explains why Latin America is an interesting site to look at the intersection between science, politics, and culture.

Rosling is a global public health expert, and is passionate about how statistical data should inform our understanding of global regions, individual nations in comparison with each other, and he challenges the possibly erroneous conventional wisdom about differences between "first world" and "third world" nations in terms of social markers that exist. This item is also useful background for understanding the foundational aspects of any area of the globe, and it also points you to relevant data sources.

This animated data software is available at http://www.gapminder.org/ It could make a great format for your final project in lieu of a more conventional paper -- something to think about?