RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kevin Casas-Zamora, February 03, 2012, The Brookings Institution
Kevin Casas-Zamora writes on the January 30 kidnapping of Carlos Pujalte, Mexico's ambassador to Venezuela. Casas-Zamora argues that the kidnapping of diplomats in Venezuela highlights the complicated reality of trying to lower crime rates in the region. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mauricio Cárdenas, February 09, 2011, The Brookings Institution
As political upheaval rages on in Egypt and the Middle East, its influence on the fight for democracy around the world is spreading. Mauricio Cárdenas examines the tense situation in Latin America as President Hugo Chávez prepares for Venezuela’s presidential elections in December 2012 amid an economic recession and growing opposition among Venezuelans. Read More
PAST EVENT
Monday, January 24, 2011
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Washington, DC
On January 24, the Latin America Initiative at Brookings hosted the launch of Dragon in the Tropics featuring Javier Corrales, co-author of the book and professor of political science at Amherst College. By examining the interplay between oil revenues and Venezuelan institutions, Dragon in the Tropics (Brookings Press, 2011) challenges conventional accounts of the Chávez regime and provides new perspectives on its influence. Jorge Castañeda, Global Distinguished Professor at New York University, provided a keynote address putting Venezuela into the larger context of Latin American politics. Read More
BOOK
Javier Corrales and Michael Penfold, January 05, 2011
Based on more than fifteen years' experience in researching and writing about Venezuela, Javier Corrales and Michael Penfold have crafted a comprehensive account of how the Chávez regime has revamped Venezuela, with a particular focus on its political transformation. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kevin Casas-Zamora, September 24, 2010, Foreign Policy
Kevin Casas-Zamora writes on the upcoming parliamentary elections in Venezuela. According to Casas-Zamora, Hugo Chávez's decision to politicize law-enforcement bodies, undermine local governments and befriend narcoterrorists has led to an alarmingly high crime rate, and could effect the outcome of Monday's elections. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mauricio Cárdenas and Javier Corrales, September 23, 2010, The Brookings Institution
On September 26, Venezuela will hold parliamentary elections. Mauricio Cárdenas and Javier Corrales explain why, despite significant economic mismanagement on the part of the current government, the upcoming election may not turn out so badly for Hugo Chávez and his ruling party. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Diana Villiers Negroponte, November 12, 2009, The Brookings Institution
In recent months, Colombia has experienced increased isolation from its neighbors in the Western Hemisphere, due to border and military disputes, refusals to cooperate on economic and political fronts and disenchantment with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Diana Negroponte examines the reasons for this isolation, and possible remedies the Obama administration may apply. 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
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
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
Kevin Casas-Zamora, February 18, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Having just celebrated his first decade in power to the tune of a national holiday, Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez is here to stay, writes Kevin Casas-Zamora. Though Chavez remains a formidable tactician and a better-than-average strategist, Casas-Zamora notes there are obstacles ahead like oil prices that have plummeted, crime, and an anti-Chavez opposition that is less marginalized than in the past. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kevin Casas-Zamora, February 14, 2009, Project Syndicate
Kevin Casas-Zamora examines Venezuela after 10 years of Hugo Chávez. Casas-Zamora argues that Venezuela remains under-developed even by Latin America standards and that recent history can show how perils may beset unjust democracies. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel L. Byman, May 2008, Saban Center Analysis Paper
The current United States approach to state sponsorship of terrorism is flawed, writes Daniel Byman. He suggests that instead of simply managing a list of state sponsors, Washington needs to recognize the complexity of sponsorship, monitor states using a broad definition of what constitutes state sponsorship, and use diplomatic pressure as well as political and economic penalties when needed. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Diana Villiers Negroponte, November 30, 2007, The Brookings Institution
Diana Negroponte discusses the upcoming referendum to accept or reject a new Constitution in Venezuela and the implications it may have for the country. Read More