Power Politics: Latin America's Energy Challenges

World Politics Review features are original, in-depth analyses of key public-policy questions by leading experts.  


Summary: The past decade has seen major changes in Latin America's energy policy landscape. After two decades of market-based reforms, followed by a political backlash against the market, Latin American governments now demonstrate a diverse range of approaches to the role of the state in energy policy. As the region develops and its middle class grows, the tension between increased energy demand and heightened environmental concerns will increasingly determine the future of Latin American energy development. And with shale gas revolutionizing the regional energy outlook, Latin America would do well to learn from its recent experiences with energy integration.