Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers September 9 to September 15.

In Guatemala, money can’t buy elections; external factors drive Latin America’s economic upside.

AMLO ups spending, favoring the middle class and the military; Uruguay’s financial stability attracts investment—and crime follows; Peru’s democratic backsliding is passing the point of no return.

Halfway through his term, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is moving from bending democratic norms and laws to breaking them—a slide that the U.S. cannot afford to ignore.

Reviving the Monroe Doctrine would take a time machine.

Investment inflows perpetuate Mexico’s north-south divides; Washington fetes Uruguay.