The turmoil down south

摘要

For the past two years, Americans have had many reasons to focus their minds farther afield. Yet just for a moment, they should take a quick glance at their own hemisphere. After five years of little or no economic growth in many countries, and with 43% of its population in poverty, Latin America is seething with frustration. Many of its democracies, some barely a generation old, are facing unprecedented tests. Some are rising to the challenge. But others, especially in the Andes, risk becoming unstable or failed states, in thrall to an ugly anti-American authoritarian populism. This is bad news for Latin Americans, but also for the United States-not least because one of the main causes of the trouble is Washington's ill-conceived war on illegal drugs.