Topic: Security in Latin America

Speaker: Dr. Irene Mia, Armed Conflict Survey Editor, Senior Fellow for Latin America and Conflict, Security & Development, The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)

Presentation: 
Latin America is entering a new and more volatile security phase. Powerful organised criminal groups are expanding their reach across borders, diversifying into illicit markets ranging from cocaine and synthetic drugs to illegal gold mining and human trafficking. As these networks become more sophisticated and deeply embedded in local economies and governance, violence is intensifying in both long-standing hotspots and countries that were once considered relatively stable. At the same time, global dynamics—including shifting drug demand, new trafficking routes to Europe, and intensifying geopolitical competition—are reshaping the region’s security landscape and amplifying its global implications. 
 

This webinar will unpack the key trends shaping Latin America’s evolving security outlook. It will explore how organised crime is transforming into a globalised, diversified enterprise, why governments across the region are increasingly adopting tough-on-crime and militarised responses, and what these approaches mean for long-term stability, governance and human rights. The discussion will also examine the broader international context—from US policy shifts and Donroe doctrine to China’s expanding footprint—and what it all means for the future of security in the region and beyond.

Speaker's bio:

Irene is Senior Fellow for Conflict, Security & Development and Latin America at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). In her role she is responsible for the research programme on Latin America security, governance, geopolitics, economics and development. She is also providing leadership and management of the Conflict, Security & Development programme activities and staff and she is the editor of the Armed Conflict Survey, one of the IISS flagship publications.

She was previously Global Editorial Director, Thought Leadership at the Economist Group, where she was responsible for leading and growing the Thought Leadership business globally (including by overseeing large global client relationships from an editorial perspective and delivering high quality content) and she played a key role in disseminating and presenting the Economist Group's views and work to clients and other high-level audiences around the world. Previously, Irene was regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), where she provided intellectual and strategic leadership to the regional editorial team within the EIU's Country Analysis division. Before joining the Economist Group, she was director and senior Economist within the Centre for Global Competitiveness and Performance at the World Economic Forum, where she was responsible for competitiveness research on Latin America and Iberia and served as lead author and editor for a number of regional and topical competitiveness papers and reports among others. Before joining the World Economic Forum, she worked at the headquarters of Sudameris Bank in Paris for a number of years, holding various positions in the international affairs and international trade divisions.

She has written, lectured and advised extensively on development, conflict studies, international trade, geopolitics and geo-economics, Global South and Latin America.

Irene holds an MA in Latin American Studies from the Institute for Latin American Studies, London University, and a PhD in International Economic and Trade Law from L. Bocconi. She is also a member of the board of trustees of Canning House, UK and a member of the advisory board of the Global South Unit at The London Business School of Economics (LSE), UK.