RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Ted Piccone, October 27, 2009, The Brookings Institution
For the 18th year in a row, the United Nations General Assembly unequivocally calls for the end of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. Ted Piccone examines the long-running dispute between the international community and the United States and offers suggestions for the future of U.S.-Cuba relations. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Elizabeth Ferris, October 02, 2009, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement
The tragic earthquake in Sumatra, the tsunami in Samoa and the typhoon that hit the Philippines are just the latest in an increasing number of natural disasters. Last year alone natural disasters affected over 200 million people, killing 16,000 and displacing close to 50 million. Elizabeth Ferris evaluates the international capacity to respond to major disasters and argues that more should be done to reduce their impact. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Ted Piccone, June 02, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Ted Piccone writes that the future of the Organization of American States (OAS) depends on how it manages the readmission of Cuba to the regional organization. Piccone urges member states not to depart from the organization’s core democratic and human rights principles. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Abraham F. Lowenthal, May 04, 2009, The Miami Herald
Abe Lowenthal writes that among the important accomplishments by President Obama in his first 100 days has been a major step forward in U.S. relations with our neighbors in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lowenthal outlines policies the United States should pursue in the Americas and reminds the administration to keep it simple in the region. Read More
PAST EVENT
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
2:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Washington, DC
Preserving Cuba’s biodiversity is critically important to the natural resources and economies of coastal communities in the United States and other neighboring countries. On April 28, the Brookings Institution and the Environmental Defense Fund will host a discussion on U.S.-Cuba relations on marine and coastal resources conservation. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kevin Casas-Zamora, April 24, 2009, The Brookings Institution
All things considered, the Summit was a success for the President and for the U.S. writes Kevin Casas-Zamora. He concludes that despite the dearth of immediate results, the mutation in tone under Obama will lead in due course to concrete changes in the U.S. relationship with the region. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
As the White House and Congress struggle to reshape U.S. policy toward Cuba, the Brookings Institution launched a new report on U.S. Policy Toward a Cuba in Transition, entitled Cuba: A New Policy of Critical and Constructive Engagement. Brookings suggests a path forward on travel, trade, human rights and diplomatic engagement – all focused on helping Cubans define a democratic course for Cuba. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Ted Piccone, April 14, 2009, The Huffington Post
As the Summit of the Americas draws near, Ted Piccone analyzes Obama's debut before the hemisphere’s main gathering of democratically elected leaders and discusses what should come from the meeting. Piccone believes Obama should lead by example by implementing human rights reforms at home and by reminding colleagues they share a responsibility to follow universal democratic standards. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Brookings Project on U.S. Policy Toward a Cuba in Transition, April 13, 2009, The Brookings Institution
The Obama administration announced changes in U.S. policy toward Cuba, including lifting the ban on some types of travel between the two nations. This change represents a major shift in U.S. policy. A new Brookings report recommends further short-term and longer-term changes. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
April 13, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Leaders of the Western Hemisphere gathered in Trinidad and Tobago on April 17-19, 2009 for the fifth Summit of the Americas. In a series of commentary articles focused on the summit's agenda and key challenges, Brookings experts discuss critical economic, social, energy and climate change issues facing the leaders attending the summit and propose recommendations for policy action. Read More
VIDEO
Mauricio Cárdenas, April 10, 2009
Mauricio Cárdenas, director of the Latin America Initiative, says the focus of the fifth Summit of the Americas will be the global economic crisis. He also explains that the nations need to agree on strengthening regional development banks and that certain countries need open trade.
VIDEO
Vanda Felbab-Brown, April 08, 2009
Vanda Felbab-Brown previews the Summit of the Americas talks opening this week in Trinidad and Tobago and outlines some of the key political, economic and social issues up for discussion, including the role of the United States.
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Washington, DC
On April 1, Brookings hosted a panel discussion on the upcoming Summit of the Americas and the recently released book, The Obama Administration and the Americas: Agenda for Change (Brookings Institution Press, 2009), edited by Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Abraham F. Lowenthal, Brookings Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of Foreign Policy Theodore J. Piccone and University of Oxford Fellow Laurence Whitehead. Read More
BOOK
Abraham F. Lowenthal, Ted Piccone, Laurence Whitehead and Foreword by Strobe Talbott, April 01, 2009
The Obama administration inherits a daunting set of domestic and international policy challenges. The Obama Administration and the Americas, however, argues that the new administration should focus early and strategically on Latin America. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
U.S. Policy Toward a Cuba in Transition, February 27, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Under the auspices of the project “U.S. Policy toward a Cuba in Transition,” nineteen distinguished academics, opinion leaders and diplomats committed themselves to seeking ways to improve U.S.-Cuba policy. A great lesson of democracy is that it cannot be imposed; it must come from within. The project members find that U.S. policy should encompass the political, economic and diplomatic tools that are needed to help the Cuban people find the political space that is essential to engage in and direct the politics of their country. Read More