A new generation of prosecutors and activists are battling political corruption in attempts to transform Latin American politics and businesses for good. In its latest issue, Americas Quarterly speaks out of how a new generation of prosecutors and activists are beginning to make historic progress in the battle against graft, jailing those responsible, no matter how powerful they may truly be. The magazine identified five "corruption busters" from Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. Their stories of persistence define the anti-corruption work sweeping across much of the regions, resulting from stronger democracies, judicial systems, and civic engagement. Citing recent cases in Brazil, Guatemala, and Honduras, José Ugaz, Peruvian jurist and global chair of Transparency International, says the shift "reflects a trend in the region in order to confront corruption."
Venezuela was once the richest country in all of Latin America. While its democratic government was once praised world wide, today we see the democratic institutions of Venezuela and its economy laying in shambles. While today the country also has the highest rate of inflation seen all across the entire globe (741%) we are beginning to see many Venezuelans going without food and medical care. Over the last four years, its GDP has fallen 35%, and the country’s murder rate surpassed that of the most dangerous cities in the world.The country is in chaos, but its leaders surely aren't going anywhere.
Federal prosecutors in Brazil are investigating dozens of politicians involved in a massive corruption scandal. Thus raises the question how truly corrupt is Brazil?
Brazil corruption probe has sent shivers across Latin America. While Brazil's Supreme Court have ordered an investigation into 74 new politicians, including a third on current President Michel Temer's cabinet, this accusation follows information just recently obtained as part of a plea bargaining deal with the former president of Brazil's largest engineering company, Odebrecht. The probe has shaken the region's political establishment as a multinational investigation into who received almost a billion dollars worth of kickbacks in 10 Latin American countries widens. Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman reports live from Punta Catarina, Dominican Republic.