Latin America and the Caribbean: Trends Outlook for Quarter 1, 2020

Abstract

A mixed bag of opportunities and risks impacts on Latin America and the Caribbean’s (LAC) ability to create an image as a stable environment for business and investment, and this is further impacted by the enormous challenge posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The increase in populist leaders, social unrest, corruption, climate change, drug-related issues and poverty have been a direct consequence of forced migration, organised crime, and governance maladministration. These issues have further impacted foreign policies of the LAC and its ability to converge as a region, and coupled with extreme climate events and fires devastating biodiverse areas, create a pessimistic image of otherwise optimistic societies. Many of the practical challenges in observing the LAC are due to language barriers and viewing the region through particular lenses that are already informed by an agenda. This report considers the regional developments through a discussion of pro-democracy protests and elections, security, gender trends, mass protests on rising costs and lack of service delivery for the marginalised, economic and financial matters, and heightening environmental concerns.