Democracy and societyCuba has its back against the wall As fuel runs dry in Havana, Trump’s blockade risks humanitarian disaster and a dangerous new normal By Bert Hoffmann
Democracy and societyCosta Rica is not an outlier, but a warning sign Yesterday’s election marks the start of an authoritarian transformation, legitimised by a democratic mandate By Daniel Mann
Democracy and societyDemocracy can’t be imported Intervention can force change at the top, but it cannot deliver democracy. In Venezuela, the decisive struggle is between internal power blocs By Anika Oettler, Stefan Peters, Jonas Wolff
Economy and ecologyStrength in partnership The EU–Mercosur deal is more than a trade agreement. It is a commitment to rules-based cooperation in an increasingly unstable world By Bernd Lange
Foreign and security policyThe show must go on The absence of the president and the first lady shows that Venezuela is not a one-man dictatorship and never has been By Anja Dargatz
Democracy and societyFear over vision José Antonio Kast sweeps to victory, riding a wave of frustration and deep distrust toward the ruling left By Cäcilie Schildberg
Foreign and security policyReturn of the gunboats Trump’s mix of military muscle and tariff pressure signals a bid to fold Latin America back into a compliant US ‘backyard’ By Herbert Wulf
Democracy and societyTriumph of the old order The election results in Honduras are still uncertain. But one thing is clear — the ruling left-wing party has suffered a massive defeat By Daniel Mann
Democracy and societyChile needs a miracle The upcoming elections will reveal whether the country gives in to fear — or finds the courage to believe in a more just society By Cäcilie Schildberg
Democracy and societyCapitalism for all After 20 years of socialist rule, an outsider wins the election in Bolivia. Centrist politician Rodrigo Paz takes over a country in crisis By Christine-Felice Röhrs
Ceasefire is a big word for backing down With no agreement on core issues, the risk of renewed escalation between the US and Iran remains dangerously high
Who’s afraid of women at work? The unease is cultural — but the effects of representation are measurable
Nothing lasts forever And though we keep hearing that its race is run, social democracy can still stage a comeback. Its chance may lie in Asia