We are pleased to share with you the following articles and interviews by Dialogue members and staff.

“Latin America: The Next U.S. President’s Agenda,” by Peter Hakim, Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions 2008.

Repairing the U.S. relationship with Latin America will be a formidable challenge for the next President of the U.S. Trust and credibility have to be restored among the region’s leaders and ordinary citizens. The anti-Americanism that has taken hold region-wide has to be reversed, and the practice of political and economic cooperation has to be restored.

“Es la hora de tomarse un profundo respiro,” by Michael Shifter, La Nación (Argentina), December 26, 2007.

Las relaciones entre la Argentina y Estados Unidos son demasiado importantes para permitir que lo que se ha dado en llamar "el escándalo de la valija" continúe deteriorándolas hasta provocar una crisis grave. (English)

“Giving up the reins?,” by Marifeli Pérez-Stable, Miami Herald, December 20, 2007.

His era is ending, and the much-vaunted succession has already started, even if hobbled by his presence and the interim nature of last year's transfer of power. Cuba's political calendar -- the Jan. 20 election of deputies to the National Assembly and the subsequent selection of the Councils of State and Ministers -- will signal either a de jure succession or the Comandante's enduring obstinacy.

“Six Latin American Countries' Test Scores Near Bottom—Again,” by Jeffrey Puryear, Latin America Advisor, December 17, 2007.

Once again Latin America has scored near the bottom in a major international test of student achievement. How should we interpret its poor showing?

“Uma Saída Para A Bolívia,” by Sergio Fausto, O Estado de São Paulo, December 10, 2007.

Na mesma cerimônia em que foi chamado de xeique da Amazônia por Chávez e retribuiu o gracejo qualificando-o de rei do petróleo, o presidente Lula afirmou que Evo Morales “é a coisa mais extraordinária que aconteceu na América Latina nos últimos tempos”.

“La nueva dependencia de América Latina: El papel de sus líderes políticos frente a una nueva oportunidad,” by Michael Shifter, ideele (Peru), December 1, 2007.

En el 2007, un importante consenso parece estar creándose en América Latina. La mayoría coincide ahora en que el alto crecimiento económico, la reducción de la pobreza e incluso una cierta mejora en la reducción de la desigualdad son cambios bienvenidos y positivos, pero que no necesariamente mitigan la profunda frustración que sufren muchos en la región. (English)

Please note that you can find these and past articles on our website, http://www.thedialogue.org/page.cfm?pageID=41. Summaries of Dialogue-sponsored events may be found on http://www.thedialogue.org/page.cfm?pageID=81; these can also be accessed via the home page. In addition, we post, as they become available, Dialogue publications, newsletters, and articles published elsewhere written by Dialogue members and staff.

 1211 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20036

Tel: (202) 822-9002 Fax: (202) 822-9553 www.thedialogue.org