Jon Lee Anderson

published in The New Yorker
Historicism is a crucial element of Spain's identity. Between all the nations within its borders (with their own languages, history, and customs), its history of colonialism across the globe, and its Fascist dictator that ruled for half of the 20th century, how the country defines its past is critical. Biden's proclamation of Indigenous People's Day replacing Columbus Day, which coincides with "El Día de la Hispanidad," is a perfect example of this.
898 days ago

published in The New Yorker
Anderson investigates the accusations against Juan Orlando Hernández, the President of Honduras, for narco-trafficking. He analyzes U.S. intervention in the country, and the North Triangle more broadly, looking at both the past and present to reveal how narco-trafficking has influenced growth and stability in the region.
898 days ago

published in The New Yorker
As the United States removes all troops from Afghanistan, Anderson reflects on the nearly three decades he has reported on the country. He believes the Taliban have changed their public appearance, but still remain a fundamentalist group that is now in the edge of overtaking Kabul. Americans, either from the lack of knowledge or wish to forget, have little memory over the beginning if the war.
985 days ago

published in The New Yorker
Jon Lee Anderson travels to Brazil to interview Flordelis dos Santos, a celebrity pastor with her own Pentecostal church accused of murdering her husband, Anderson do Carmo. Flordelis became famous by making it out of one of Brazil's notorious favelas and adopting dozens of children from similar circumstances. But she has been accused of taking the children from households, and her husband Anderson do Carmo, murdered within their grounds, was himself one of these children that she adopted.
1029 days ago

published in The New Yorker
Kenyan wildlife has been on a steep decline since the 20th century. Conservation has tended to fall prey to economic development. Internationally, many see this as the fault of the locals, who don't see the importance of ecology. But dedicated environmentalists like Paula Kahumbu argue that there has always been support from Kenyans, but they have been drowned out by business and money. Her TV shows, watched by a majority of Kenyans, show that the support is there, it just needs to be mobilized.
1174 days ago