MANAGUA – Amid accusations of fraud and expressions of serious doubt by international observers, Daniel Ortega’s re-election as Nicaragua’s president constitutes a new kind of “incumbent’s” coup – one that establishes a dangerous precedent for Latin America. What to do about it poses a grave dilemma for the Organization of American States (OAS).

LIMA, Peru—Voters in one of the world's most dynamic economies went to the polls Sunday to choose between two divisive presidential candidates espousing starkly conflicting economic visions.

Organised crime is moving south from Mexico into a bunch of small countries far too weak to deal with it

Last month, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez received total power to rule by decree from an outgoing subservient National Assembly. "For the Obama administration, this is an important - watershed moment," says Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) International Affairs Fellow Joel Hirst. "The OAS appears to be willing to discuss Venezuela's faltering democracy at a forum of its peers, but only if it receives support from a large group of democracies in the region. The administration, always the proponent of multi-literalism, has a perfect opportunity to see this philosophy put to action."

Brazil's rapid economic growth has transformed the country into a new global heavyweight, but Brazil must not let an overly ambitious foreign policy agenda distract it from lingering domestic challenges.

Venezuela holds elections for its National Assembly on September 26, where all 165 seats will be in play between President Hugo Chávez's Socialist Party and the multiparty opposition's Coalition for Democratic Unity.

For the Obama administration, the prospect of a nuclearized Iran is dismal to contemplate— it would create major new national-security challenges and crush the president’s dream of ending nuclear proliferation. But the view from Jerusalem is still more dire: a nuclearized Iran represents, among other things, a threat to Israel’s very existence. In the gap between Washington’s and Jerusalem’s views of Iran lies the question: who, if anyone, will stop Iran before it goes nuclear, and how? As Washington and Jerusalem study each other intensely, here’s an inside look at the strategic calculations on both sides—and at how, if things remain on the current course, an Israeli air strike will unfold.

In search of soft power, Brazil is turning itself into one of the world's biggest aid donors. But is it going too far, too fast?

THE smashed windows and broken doors have been replaced, but daylight still shines through holes punched into the porch of the Holiday Inn in Managua by home-made mortars. On April 20th the hotel became the latest battleground in Daniel Ortega’s struggle to remain president of Nicaragua after his term ends early in 2012. Faced with dismal poll ratings and constitutional obstacles, Mr Ortega has taken to unleashing mobs.

There is no razor wire along Stanley’s waterfront. No sandbagged gun emplacements have appeared around the Governor’s residence, and the only weapons in sight are the ornamental cannons near the tiny cathedral.