Latin America Publications
Mexico's Democratic Challenges: Politics, Government, and Society
May 01, 2010Only a decade ago, Mexico saw the end of seventy years of single-party hegemonic rule and the first free and fair election in its history. How has the country evolved since then, and what is the status of its democracy today? In this comprehensive new collection intended for use in undergraduate courses a group of distinguished scholars examines recent political developments in Mexico—including its 2006 election and the breakdown in consensus that nearly resulted—in order to assess the progress of its democratization. Focusing on transformations in Mexico's evolving political party system, institutions in transition, and the changing nature of state-society relations, contributors to this book discuss the challenges that Mexican democracy faces today as well as the potential it has for further change in the near future. more
Climate Change and Biofuels
Aug 07, 2009Sugarcane ethanol is not the villain that it is often made out to be and neither is the sugarcane industry. In Brazil, the sugarcane industry has set out to convince the Brazilian government to adopt a carbon cap and trade system domestically, independently of international negotiations. It is in their interest to reinsert the positive environmental externalities accrued from sugarcane ethanol use and production into the market system. It makes economic and environmental sense and it might spur a value-added product. The next best thing after organic sugar is carbon neutral sugarcane ethanol. more
Emerging Powers: India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) and the Future of South-South Cooperation
Aug 07, 2009Due to the current trends of political and economic restructuring, South-South cooperation is expected to play an increasingly important role in the post-recession world. India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) established a dialogue forum to increase multilateral collaboration on a number of issues, especially those relating to development. The Brazil Institute hosted a half-day conference on IBSA, revealing two key themes: current accomplishments in enhancing global governance, economic relations, and foreign policy strategies; and the potential to improve regional security in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. more
Inovação no Brasil: Políticas Públicas e Estratégias Empresariais
Jun 07, 2009De uma série de seminários co-patrocinados pelo Brazil Institute e Prospectiva Consultoria emergiram três conceitos-chaves sobre a busca de inovação no Brasil. Antes de tudo, a inovação deve ser definida amplamente, estendendo além das atividades de pesquisa aplicada. Segundo, é imperativo que políticas públicas e estratégias privadas sejam complementárias e interajam em maneiras conducentes para à geração de novas idéias. Finalmente, por realizar-se no contexto de mercados cada vez mais internacionais e competitivos, hoje em dia não é lógico pensar na inovação como um empreendimento exclusivamente doméstico. Nesta publicação, Ricardo Sennes, considerando estes temas, descreve e analisa as políticas públicas e as estratégias privadas que promovem a inovação no Brasil. more
Innovation in Brazil: Public Policies and Business Strategies
Jun 07, 2009Three key concepts have emerged from a series of five seminars, jointly hosted by the Brazil Institute and Prospectiva Consultoria of São Paulo, on the promotion of innovation in Brazil. First, innovation must be broadly defined, extending beyond applied research activities. Secondly, it is imperative that public policies and private strategies complement and interact with each other in order to create an environment conducive to generating innovative ideas. Finally, because innovation takes place against the backdrop of increasingly internationalized markets and competitive differentials, it no longer makes sense to think of innovation as an exclusively domestic venture. In this publication, Ricardo Sennes, keeping these three themes in mind, describes and analyzes the public policies and business strategies that promote innovation in Brazil. more
Confronting the Challenges of Organized Crime in Mexico and Latin America
Apr 01, 2009The following report seeks to highlight where common themes emerged in the discussion about organized crime and U.S.-Mexico security cooperation. more
Agriculture and Sustainability in the State of Mato Grosso
Mar 07, 2009The issues of global climate change, environmental preservation, as well as land use and food security have emerged as dominant themes on the international agenda. Nowhere is the convergence of these issues more apparent than in Brazil—a major food supplier and owner of more than 65 percent of the Amazon rain forest—and, especially, in the state of Mato Grosso. The third largest Brazilian state, Mato Grosso ,borders the southern stretches of the Amazon biome. As Brazil's leading producer of various foodstuffs, the state is at the center of a broader debate about economic development and environmental sustainability. To advance dialogue and promote effective policy that addresses these interlinked issues, the Brazil Institute convened a seminar on December 4, 2008, focused on "Agriculture and Sustainability" with the principal stakeholders. more
Brazil as a Regional Power: Views from the Hemisphere
Jan 07, 2009This report, based on a conference organized by the Latin American Program and the Brazil Institute, summarizes the multiple and complex perceptions held by Brazilians as well as a host of other countries in the region regarding Brazil's "emergence" as a regional and global power. more
2009-2010 Report of Activities
Jan 07, 2009Learn more about our past events, publications, and initiatives. more
