Since 1988, Brazilians have cleared more than 153,000 square miles of Amazonian rain forest, devastating the environment and driving global climate change forward ever faster. Recently, however, Brazil has changed its course, reducing the rate of deforestation by 83 percent since 2004. At the same time, it has become a test case for a controversial international climate-change prevention strategy that places a monetary value on the carbon stored in forests.

Julia E. Sweig addresses the transition of Catholic demographics and the cultural power of the papacy.

Julia E. Sweig argues the United States has been a marginal actor in Latin America, but this could change in the Obama administration's second term.

Julia E. Sweig argues that Hugo Chavez never fulfilled his more ambitious plans for the region, but the polarizing Venezuelan leader can take at least partial credit for helping redefine South America's institutional architecture.

Julia E. Sweig argues that President Obama has an opportunity to revitalize U.S. relations with its neighbors to the south.

Julia E. Sweig assesses the recent shift in Mexico's narrative under the newly inaugurated president, Enrique Peña Nieto, and the implications of this shift for Brazil.

Sebastian Mallaby argues that microeconomic struggles are tarnishing the macroeconomic success of the BRICs.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took office in 1999 on a populist platform. But three terms into his "socialist revolution," critics say the country increasingly resembles an authoritarian state. This interactive timeline offers a visual account of Chavez's rise to power and the impact of his presidency.

Claudio M. Loser and Antoine W. van Agtmael discuss perspectives on how Latin American countries have weathered the global financial crisis and assess what is at stake for the region's economies in the future.

Claudio M. Loser and Antoine W. van Agtmael discuss perspectives on how Latin American countries have weathered the global financial crisis and assess what is at stake for the region's economies in the future.

Claudio Loser and Antoine van Agtmael discuss perspectives on how Latin American countries have weathered the global financial crisis and assess what is at stake for the region's economies in the future.

Over the past several years, the most talked-about trend in the global economy has been the so-called rise of the rest, which saw the economies of many developing countries swiftly converging with those of their more developed peers.

While a new round of U.S. quantitative easing will have a negative impact on emerging markets like Brazil, the country should not blame U.S. monetary policy for the structural flaws in its economy, says expert Bernardo Wjuniski.

This joint statement was issued following the fourth meeting of the U.S.-Brazil Global Partnership Dialogue on October 24, 2012.

Michael Spence shares his bullish outlook on emerging markets and their ability to rebound from a global growth slowdown.

The victory of President Hugo Chávez raises questions about the country's future trajectory. Expert Jennifer McCoy details the post-election political landscape.

Longtime Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez's fourth term as president allows for the continuation of his "socialist revolution," but questions over his health remain a wildcard in assessing Venezuela's future.

In this column, Julia E. Sweig assesses Colombian president Juan Santos's progress as he begins negotiations with the FARC and the potential political implications the negotiations have for the future.

In this Contingency Planning Memorandum, Patrick D. Duddy argues that the United States should prepare for the possibility of political unrest surrounding Venezuela's 2012 presidential election.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gave these remarks at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London on August 19, 2012. This transcript was published in The Independent.