Michael Albertus regularly writes for public audiences, gives radio, television, and podcast interviews, and consults with governments, NGOs, and international institutions.
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In Venezuela, A Suspicious Win for the Strongman
By Michael Albertus July 29, 2024 In what appears to be a deeply unfair election riddled with irregularities, Venezuela’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, seems to have survived once again. The outcome, which is already facing challenges and unrest that could grow in the coming days, is not just a disappointment for the opposition and the millions of Venezuelans yearning for democratic change. The election was a crucial test of the durability of the new brand of authoritarianism gripping the Americas — and it has proved that the movement may not fade away anytime soon. ... Read the full article here |
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Why Land Reform Matters in South Africa's Election
By Michael Albertus May 27, 2024 For the first time since the end of apartheid in South Africa, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party is poised to lose its governing majority. While corruption and poverty are often cited for the setback the ANC is expected to face in elections later this month, its electoral fate is also closely tied to its performance on land issues. ... Read the full article here |
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Chile's Election Will Define Its National Identity and Political Struggles All Over Latin America
By Michael Albertus December 13, 2021 Chile’s presidential runoff election on Dec. 19 is the country’s most important election since its return to democracy in 1990. The bruising campaign has polarized the country and cemented a new identity politics. Mimicking trends in other Latin American countries and the United States, the struggle over national identity and what it means to be Chilean now overshadows traditional bread-and-butter issues. ... Read the full article here |
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How Authoritarians Turn Rural Areas Into Their Strongholds
By Michael Albertus April 11, 2021 Development economists typically tell a compelling story about land reform: Countries can supercharge their development by leveling inequality and radically reallocating assets. In East Asia, nations that followed this simple formula transformed themselves into economic powerhouses. So why haven’t more countries adopted this well-established blueprint? The governments that have the will and capacity to adopt major land reforms are typically authoritarian. Most authoritarian governments seek first and foremost to entrench their power. These governments would rather control their rural populations than see them thrive and become autonomous. For authoritarians, land reform is a convenient tool to destroy rival elites in the countryside while entangling rural workers in the tentacles of authoritarian influence. Read the full article here |
Additional Op-eds and Opinion Pieces
- “The Key to Renormalizing US-Cuba Relations.” Project Syndicate (6/9/2022).
- “Peru’s New President Isn’t as Radical as He Looks.” Foreign Policy (6/14/2021).
- “Chile’s Constitution is Too New for its Own Good.” Foreign Policy (5/21/2021).
- “There would probably be more yawns than outrage if Biden expanded the Supreme Court.” Washington Post, “The Monkey Cage” (4/20/2021).
- “Peru’s Election is About to Make its Problems Worse.” Foreign Policy (4/8/2021).
- "The Time to Return Land to Native Americans is Long Overdue." The Hill (3/9/2021).
- "Why Trump's Border Wall Failed." Washington Post, "The Monkey Cage" (2/17/2021).
- "Peru Needs a New Constitution." Foreign Policy (12/1/2020).
- “Will Chile Set an Example for True Democracy?” New York Times (10/19/2020).
- “Americans Are Officially Giving Up on Democracy.” Foreign Policy (10/16/2020).
- "Don’t Give Zimbabwe’s Government Aid Until it Gets Serious About Land Reform." Foreign Policy (8/11/2020).
- “The pandemic challenges democracies – but really hurts dictators.” Washington Post, "The Monkey Cage" (4/30/2020).
- "The Coronavirus Will Cause New Crises in Latin America." Foreign Policy (4/6/2020).
- "Pinochet Still Looms Large in Chilean Politics." Foreign Policy (11/5/2019).
- "Guaido's Make or Break Moment." Foreign Policy (4/30/2019).
- "There is Still a Way Out of Venezuela's Stalemate." Foreign Policy (2/26/2019).
- "Venezuela’s Best Path to Democracy? Pay Off the Military." New York Times (1/30/2019).
- "Chávez's Real Legacy is Disaster." Foreign Policy (12/6/2018).
- "The Military Is Back in Brazil." Foreign Policy (10/29/2018).
- "The Military Returns to Brazilian Politics." Foreign Policy (10/8/2018).
- "There's a Better Way to Take White Farmers' Land." Foriegn Policy (8/27/2018).
- "Latin America's New Authoritarianism." Slate (5/21/2018).
- "Why Are So Many Democracies Breaking Down?" New York Times (5/8/2018).
- "Crony capitalism and protectionism are the despot's way." Seattle Times (4/20/2018).
- "How flawed constitutions undermine democracy." Washington Post, "The Monkey Cage" (2/26/2018).
- "Even with a new Colombian peace deal, what happens in the countryside?" Washington Post, "The Monkey Cage" (11/13/2016).
- "Here are the 3 (big!) challenges facing Peru's next president." Washington Post, “The Monkey Cage” (4/12/2016).
- "This Land Was Your Land." Foreign Policy (11/13/2015).
- "The Key to Peace in Colombia is in its Countryside." Forbes (10/29/2015).
- "Piketty thinks South Africa needs to redistribute land. Democracies can't do that. Dictatorships can." Washington Post, “The Monkey Cage” (10/20/2015).
- "Land and Conflict in Brazil." International Relations and Security Network (9/2/2014).
- “Capitalism Need Not Churn Inexorably Toward Higher Inequality.” London School of Economics, “Politics and Policy Blog” (7/28/2014).
- "Land Reform and Rural Conflict in the Developing World." International Relations and Security Network (Week of 6/2/2014).
- "How Democracies are Gamed for Power and Profit: An Addendum to Picketty’s ‘Capital’." Washington Post, “The Monkey Cage” (5/27/2014).
- "A Glimmer of Hope for Democracy in Egypt." Seattle Times (1/31/2014).
- "Why Egypt’s New Constitution May Not Turn Out As Badly As You Think." Washington Post, “The Monkey Cage” (1/16/2014).
- "South Africa, Unequal by Design." Foreign Policy (1/3/2014).
- "The Odds are Good for Egypt." Foreign Policy (7/18/2013).
- "Land for Peace in Colombia." Foreign Affairs (4/16/2013).
- "Aftermath of Revolution." New York Times, Global/IHT (2/14/2013).
- "Chávez Rides Again" Foreign Policy (10/10/2012).
- "Colombia's Rebels and Land Reform" New York Times (10/9/2012).
- "Burma Can Bring It: Burma faces an uphill climb in its transition to democracy. But the odds may be better than you think." Foreign Policy (5/14/2012).
- "Needles Into Ploughshares: Want to fight Latin America's drug problem? Try land refom." Foreign Policy (4/12/2012).
- "For Enduring Democracies, Revolutions are the Best Bet" USA Today (3/2/2011).
