As it has sought to be recognized as a developed nation with equitable human rights, the government of Panama has been an active player in international discussion of indigenous rights. The indigenous people of Panama continue to face serious challenges. Our research examines the Ngäbe Buglé because they are the largest and most politically active indigenous groups in Panama. Almost half of the indigenous people live on semiautonomous reservations (comarcas). Although some may hail Panama's creation of comarcas as a milestone for indigenous rights, norms are only partially effective in this case. The influence of key stakeholders can influence how norms are carried out. In Panama, the government alternates between attempting to constrain civil society and giving in to demands when the protests can no longer be ignored. The Panamanian government has shown little respect for indigenous rights in its battle over natural resources located on the comarcas; moreover, the indigenous do not enjoy the same rights and privileges as those Panamanians living outside of the comarcas.

Guatemalan politics were dominated in 2018 by political strife between the Jimmy Morales administration and the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). The most pressing issues in Guatemala continue to be corruption and the weakness of the rule-of-law. The year began with but guarded optimism that CICIG could continue its work despite worries about the President's commitment to democracy, but ended with a constitutional crisis that threatened CICIG's work in Guatemala. With general elections approaching in 2019, democracy in Guatemala hangs in the balance. However, at the end of 2018, the makeup of the election was still in doubt and Guatemala was in a constitutional crisis that has not been resolved.

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