Events Detail

Hudson's Center for Latin American Studies

held a panel discussion on

Populism, Islamism, and "Indigenismo"

vs. Democracy in Latin America

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

             Gustavo de Arístegui

View Transcription Here

Russia, China, and Iran are actively promoting their agendas in Latin America with little opposition from the United States. The Russian military's recent joint operations with Venezuela, Iran's mounting influence in Latin American politics, and China's continued economic investment in the region all play into Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez's radical brand of populism. The growing influence of these regimes undermines democracy in the region.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently said he was "concerned about the level of subversive activity the Iranians are carrying on in a number of places in Latin America." Admiral James Stavridis, then head of U.S. Southern Command, seconded Gates' statement, adding that "We have seen... an increase in a wide level of activity by the Iranian government in this region." As the new Obama administration starts to pay more attention to our southern neighbors, Hudson Institute's Center for Latin American Studies conveyed a panel to discuss issues facing Latin American politics.

Keynote Address

Gustavo de Arístegui

Gustavo de Arístegui plays a leading role in Spain's National Parliament and has been the Foreign Affairs spokesman for the Popular Party since 2001. From 1996­­­­­­­–2000 he served as Chief of Staff of the Spanish Ministry of the Interior. He is the author of several books, the latest of which is entitled "Contra Occidente." He is also a professional diplomat.

  Daremblum, de Arístegui, Farah, and Fradkin

Hillel Fradkin

Hillel Fradkin is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Islam, Democracy, and the Future of the Muslim World at Hudson Institute. A former professor who taught Islamic thought at Yale, Columbia and the University of Chicago, he is the founder and editor of Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, the leading journal on contemporary Islamism.

Douglas Farah

Douglas Farah is a Senior Investigator for the NEFA Foundation and a Senior Fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center (IASC). A national security consultant to the U.S. government and military, Farah was a foreign correspondent covering Latin America and West Africa for the Washington Post for two decades. 

Moderated by Jaime Daremblum

Jaime Daremblum is a Senior Fellow and Director of Hudson Institute's Center for Latin American Studies

For more information, please email isaratsis@hudson.org

Betsy and Walter Stern Conference Center

Hudson Institute

1015 Fifteenth Street, NW, Sixth Floor

Washington, DC 20005