The first decade of the 21^st century gave Latin America much to celebrate. Open markets and largely stable economic policies enabled the region to take advantage of surging commodity prices and global demand, leading to several years of sustained growth. Even in the wake of the recent global economic downturn, many nations fared well--recovering quickly due to sound economic choices and continuing internal demand. Strong and consistent economic growth combined with focused public policies began to reverse decades of poverty and inequality and enabled a middle class to blossom. Many regional leaders took advantage of these developments to consolidate democratic institutions and craft new policies to better serve citizens' needs. Confident in their direction, many Latin American countries shined on the world stage, becoming important participants in multilateral institutions and forums.

Yet the decade also held many disappointments. Economic growth continues to be stable but modest compared to other regions of the world. Latin America ranks low in terms of competitiveness and human capital compared to other emerging economies. And, persistent stumbling blocks--poverty and high inequality, corruption, and the threat of transnational criminal organizations to public security--as well as more recent developments--the Honduran coup, and earthquakes in Haiti and Chile--test state and regional institutions. Leaders, particularly those in the Andean region, systematically weaken already feeble institutions, undermining democracy.

Latin America is emerging as a region of increasing differentiation. While seeking greater integration, independence, and sustainable growth, it faces significant challenges to achieving these goals. Mexico and Brazil stand out as leaders within Latin America and are today's bellwethers for how the region will fare in the next decade. How successful leading countries such as Mexico and Brazil are in confronting local and global challenges will set the tone within the region in years to come as well as for relations with the United States.

CFR's Latin America Studies program brings these and other relevant issues to the forefront of research, public debate, and policy discussion on the opportunities and challenges facing the Western Hemisphere. It will stimulate public dialogue and contribute to a better understanding of how the United States might invest in constructive ties with the region. Current projects focus on Brazil, Mexico, Globalization and Democracy, and Cuba.

This series provides a forum for policy experts, U.S. and foreign government officials, and journalists to discuss specific items on the G8 agenda and to assess the progress being made in achieving the goals set forth at the June 2004 summit meeting.

The U.S.-Asia Update Roundtable Series is an ongoing series that provides a forum for the discussion of the major issues that shape Chinese domestic policies and that have an impact on the U.S. relationship with China and the rest of the region. The Roundtable cosponsors events with the Council’s General Meetings and Corporate programs. Recent sessions have included speakers such as Michael Green, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; Major General Karl Eikenberry; and Randall Schriver, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Approximately six sessions are held each program year.

This series is made possible through generous support from the Starr Foundation.

This series provides a forum for policy experts, U.S. and foreign government officials, and journalists to discuss specific items on the G8 agenda and to assess the progress being made in achieving the goals set forth at the June 2004 summit meeting.

The activities carried out under this study group during previous years have supported the development of the project director’s recently published book, The Ideas that Conquered the World: Peace, Democracy, and Free Markets in the Twenty-first Century. Throughout the Fall, the project director will promote his by holding Council meetings in New York, Washington, and across the country. Following this book promotion, the project director will begin research on a new book, building on the first, related to America’s role in the world.

This roundtable brings together policymakers, practitioners, journalists, academics, and other concerned individuals for face-to-face dialogue on specific issues concerning refugees and the internally displaced. Recent subjects have included Sudan, Kosovo, Chechnya, the continuing refugee crisis in Africa, the internally displaced in Afghanistan, the problem of land mines as an impediment to refugee repatriation, the role of illicit diamond trade in perpetuating civil strife, and ways to improve collaboration among the governments, the United Nations, humanitarian relief organizations, and human rights groups.

Since September 11, 2001, refugees and displaced persons have become key issues in both the causes and effects of terrorism. Humanitarian assistance is already an integral part of the overall U.S. and international response to the terrorist attacks on the United States. This roundtable will examine the humanitarian consequences of military action; the impact of tightening borders on internal displacement and the refugee problem; the role of immigration policy in curbing terrorism; the impacts of the new anti-terrorism campaign on international refugee protection; and the relationship between military and relief operations.

The activities carried out under this study group during previous years have supported the development of the project director’s recently published book, The Ideas that Conquered the World: Peace, Democracy, and Free Markets in the Twenty-first Century. Throughout the Fall, the project director will promote his by holding Council meetings in New York, Washington, and across the country. Following this book promotion, the project director will begin research on a new book, building on the first, related to America’s role in the world.

The U.N. roundtable discusses the international security crises and political problems that can be addressed by U.S. foreign policy through the United Nations. The roundtable has looked at East Timor, Kosovo, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and nuclear nonproliferation, as well as U.N. reform. Roundtable discussants are drawn from the senior ranks of U.N. diplomatic missions, nongovernmental organizations, the U.N. Secretariat, academia, business, and journalism, as well as the U.S. government.

The Roundtable on Nationalism in Europe was established in January 2002 to examine critical issues regarding trends in an evolving Europe and to understand their relevance to transatlantic relations. Specifically, the series discusses new forms of nationalism in Europe, and in particular, the various national aspirations and strategies that are emerging as enlargement of the European Union proceeds. During the spring, the roundtable series held three sessions discussing Russia, the Balkans, and Central and Eastern Europe. In fall, the focus will broaden to include Western Europe. Among the topics are the radical right and its agenda in Europe and "European" nationalism, which includes prospects for the Euro as a major world currency.

This annual event surveys the past year’s lessons in conflict prevention, promotes discussion and coordination among those involved, and introduces the idea of preventive action to key U.S. constituencies, represented in part by the Council membership. The keynote speaker for this year’s conference was George Soros. The day-long event addressed four topics: (1) assistance to civil society as a tool of conflict prevention; (2) curbing the proliferation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons; (3) the failure of early warning in Kosovo; and (4) financial crises and the escalation of conflict. The conference was held at the Council’s New York office on December 11, 1998.