Latest Interviews
Showing 1–2 of 2 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist6 min
Inside El Salvador’s war on crime
El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele has implemented a nationwide security strategy that has imprisoned approximately 70,000 individuals, primarily young men detained on circumstantial evidence through group trials that bypass standard due process. This campaign has effectively dismantled democratic checks by purging the judiciary and gagging press coverage, yet it retains approval ratings between 80% and 90% by eliminating gang intimidation in exchange for a police state environment. Minister Gustavo Villatoro explicitly defended these measures as prioritizing citizen safety over human rights protocols while projecting a model where public popularity is sustained through the erosion of civil liberties.
- The Economist15 min
Hong Kong Protests: The Economist live Q&A
Robert Guest, Anna Bucks, Anna Box
Facing a strategic dilemma where military suppression would undermine the rule of law essential for its global economic standing, the Chinese government must balance the need to quell mass dissent in Hong Kong with the fear of triggering catastrophic regional consequences for Taiwan. The decentralized, non-violent movement involving up to 1.7 million citizens has successfully avoided a full-scale crackdown by maintaining discipline, while international powers like the US and UK lack the leverage to intervene directly. Ultimately, the protests have exposed a critical vulnerability in Beijing's authoritarian model, forcing a choice between a violent resolution that could destroy international business confidence or a political concession that risks further instability.