Americas Quarterly Releases "Memos to the Next U.S. President"

Seventeen regional leaders—including a president, prominent CEOs, and members of civil society—tell the next occupant of the White House what they see as the most pressing issues for U.S.-Latin America relations, with topics ranging from immigration to drugs to consulting indigenous leaders on climate change.

New York, July 12, 2016—Latin America has not been featured in the most positive light in the current U.S. election cycle. Whether portrayed as a source of unwelcome immigrants or the undeserving beneficiary of trade agreements, the continent is typically depicted as a threat rather than a partner or a place of opportunity. In its latest edition, Americas Quarterly (AQ) magazine proposes to elevate the debate, asking a group of pan-regional leaders a simple question: What would you tell the next U.S. president about Latin America?

"Memos to the Next U.S. President" includes a collection of insights and policy ideas from some of the continent’s leading thinkers that anyone interested in the future of the hemisphere, including the next occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, should consider. Among the authors, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos urges a rethink on the war on drugs; former Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhan calls for healing the relationship with his country; Guatemalan Attorney General Thelma Aldana requests U.S. support in the region’s struggle against corruption; and AQ Editor-in-Chief Brian Winter suggests it is time for the United States to start treating Latin Americans as equals. Combined, these thoughtful and provocative articles provide the next U.S. administration with a bold roadmap based on actual facts rather than campaign taglines.

Read the "Memos to the Next U.S. President."

This issue also includes:

• AQ’s Top 5: Our ranking of Latin America’s top scholars and scientists from a variety of fields, including astronomy, architecture, and economics.
• From Mexico to Argentina, an overview of the region’s key economic and social indicators.
• A profile of Agustín Carstens, one of Mexico’s most-respected financial minds.
• A deep look at the struggles of Latin America’s state-run oil companies.
• The debut of Cultura, our new cultural supplement, which, in this edition, focuses on Cuba.

Americas Quarterly is the leading publication on politics, business, and culture in Latin America. The complete third 2016 edition will be available July 25, 2016 at americasquarterly.org

For press inquiries or to request interviews with the authors, contact:
AS/COA Media Relations: mediarelations@as-coa.org | 1-212-277-8384 | 1-212-277-8333.

Americas Quarterly (AQ) is the premier publication dedicated to politics, business, and culture in the Western Hemisphere, with a focus on Latin America. Launched in 2007 and based in New York City, AQ’s award-winning magazine and website appeal to a broad audience interested in the region. Readers include top policymakers in Washington, Brasilia, Mexico City, and beyond; executives at Latin American multinationals and Fortune 500 companies; opinion leaders in universities and the media; and a vast array of general readers who are passionate about Latin America. Editorial board members include former Presidents Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Ricardo Lagos, Ernesto Zedillo, and Alejandro Toledo, as well as leading voices from business, journalism, finance, and academia. Americas Quarterly is an independent publication of Americas Society and Council of the Americas, which for more than 50 years have been dedicated to dialogue in our hemisphere.

Americas Society (AS) is the premier organization dedicated to education, debate, and dialogue in the Americas. Established by David Rockefeller in 1965, our mission is to foster an understanding of the contemporary political, social, and economic issues confronting Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, and to increase public awareness and appreciation of the diverse cultural heritage of the Americas and the importance of the inter-American relationship. Council of the Americas (COA) is the premier international business organization whose members share a common commitment to economic and social development, open markets, the rule of law, and democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere.