CFR's Global Brazil Initiative addresses the domestic, regional, and international dimensions of Brazil's emergence as a world power. Brazil's rise is today well established. Yet even as global challenges increasingly form part of the U.S.-Brazil agenda, the United States faces a glaring deficit in its understanding of Brazil's interests and influence. The scope and importance of Brazil's emergence extends well beyond the U.S.-Brazil relationship. To enhance the quality of public and policy debate on the bilateral and global dimensions of Brazil's rise, the program includes research, consultation, publication, and outreach exploring Brazil's international agenda. The Global Brazil Initiative is directed by Dr. Julia E. Sweig

CFR's Cuba in the Twenty-First Century program focuses on evolving circumstances within Cuba, U.S.-Cuba relations, and a comparative assessment of foreign engagement with Cuba. The program includes a roundtable series, a symposium, research, outreach, and publications. The Cuba in the Twenty-First Century program is directed by Dr. Julia E. Sweig.

CFR's Latin America Studies program convened this symposium in September 2008 on the interconnectedness of U.S. domestic policy priorities and Latin America and U.S.-Latin America relations.

The Western Hemisphere Transnational Roundtable Series investigated how economic, social, and human ties between Western Hemisphere nations have been rapidly developing. The program explored the ways in which citizens, families, civil society organizations, and the private sector shape transnational connections and interactions, as well as how governmental policies encourage, constrain, or attempt to guide U.S. bound migration.

The Globalization and Democracy Roundtable Series examined a broad range of issues facing Latin American and U.S. policymakers, drawing on the experience of practitioners and experts from the public sector, academia, and the private sector. The program examined the state of Latin America's social contract, the rule of law, the informal sector, the digital divide, physical infrastructure and human capacity building, taxation and governments' revenue stream, poverty and inequality, the potential for public-private partnerships, and the potential for energy resources to redress social exclusion.

The Latin America, America Latin Roundtable Series examined the broad and varied significance of the rising Latino demographic in the United States. Meetings covered such themes as remittances, transnational gangs, and the rise of the Latino media market.

This Council Special Report, "Bolivia on the Brink," encourages the U.S. government to redirect its policy toward Bolivia from a "wait and see" approach to an emphasis on conflict prevention and preserving the democratic process in order to address the nation's many challenges.

The contentious July 2006 Mexican presidential election placed Mexico squarely back on the U.S. foreign policy agenda. This Council Special Report, titled "Challenges for a Postelection Mexico," offers concrete policy recommendations to the U.S. government on how to help Mexico deal with future challenges.

With polls showing Hugo Chávez strongly in the lead in the Venezuelan presidential election on December 3, 2006, this Council Special Report argues that the United States needs to prepare for another six-year term with the controversial leader. The report, titled "Living with Hugo," proposes a new strategic framework for U.S. policy toward Venezuela.

The Study Group on Anti-Americanism proceeded from the core recognition that anti-American sentiment, when examined at the time of this project in 2005-2006, was characteristically different in scope and magnitude, and waiting for it to pass would be risky to American foreign policy and the American people.

The Andean Roundtable Series addressed strategic questions related to developments in Colombia's war, Venezuela's political crisis, the crises of governance in the Andean countries, as well as the policies of the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and other international organizations regarding Colombia's conflict and its spread. The roundtable series also addressed thematic issues such as the connection between energy and security, corruption, and the use of natural resources in the Andes. The series drew on a wide range of speakers, ranging from academia, the policy community, as well as U.S. and foreign government officials.

This follow-on report on "U.S. Policy Toward Cuba" complemented the earlier Task Force publication, "Independent Task Force on U.S.-Cuban Relations in the 21st Century."

The Latin America Roundtable provided updates on breaking economic and political events in Latin America. Seminars examined prospects for Colombia's future; the Chávez regime in Venezuela; Argentine presidential elections; the politics of Mexican economic and political transition; Latin America's response to the global economic crisis; and the problems of development and regional integration in the Caribbean. The roundtable also expanded its activities in Washington, D.C., to examine topics such as the consolidation of democracy, U.S.-Latin American relations, and country-specific focuses on Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba.

This roundtable addressed a range of issues related to Cuba and U.S.-Cuban relations, such as the resolution of outstanding property claims; bilateral and regional security interests; the status of the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay; the implications for the Western Hemisphere of the restoration of a Cuban sugar quota; the impact on the Caribbean economy of resuming normal bilateral trade relations; Cuban participation in the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA); prospects for Cuba's reentry into the Organization of American States (OAS); and the integration of Cuba into the international financial system. In addition, the roundtable examined history, culture, race, and religion as they pertain to current conditions on the island and to policy implications for the United States.

This Independent Task Force report represented a significant step forward in deepening a bipartisan consensus for a new U.S. policy toward Cuba. While avoiding the highly politicized debate over whether to lift the U.S. embargo on Cuba, the report touched on the terms for American investment in Cuba in its recommendation for the settlement of Cuban expropriation claims. The report sought to stimulate a discussion among those interested in crafting a creative and dynamic policy toward Cuba.