The Woodrow Wilson Center on Latin America’s new publication, In the Wake of War, assesses the impact of civil war on democratization in Latin America, with a special emphasis on state capacity. Contributors concentrate on seven countries—Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru—where state weakness fostered conflict, and where state reconstruction presents multiple challenges. In addition to case studies, it explores cross-cutting themes such as the role of the international community in supporting peace, the explosion of post-war criminal and social violence, and the value of truth and historical clarification.
Cuban Economic and Social Development: Policy Reforms and Challenges of the 21st Century provides the most detailed analysis to date of the ongoing economic reform in Cuba. Published by Harvard University’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, the edited volume presents the views of prominent Cuban economists and sociologists on a decade of economic and social trends, with suggestions on next steps to promote economic growth and improve social welfare. The authors cover trade, capital inflows, exchange rates, monetary and fiscal policy, and the agricultural sector—as well as economic and social policies that have produced declines for some groups and dramatic new economic opportunities for others.
Public-private collaboration has in recent years led to groundbreaking public policy in areas such as education, healthcare and citizen security. Alianzas Público-Privadas y Seguridad Ciudadana: Gúia para la Acción (Public-Private Partnerships and Citizen Safety: A Guide to Action), a joint report by the World Bank, the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, Colombia and Brazil’s Instituto de Criminologia e Política Criminal, is a practical guide that demonstrates how companies can improve community safety by helping firms understand the importance of citizen security to economic development. It explores the role the private sector can play by leveraging its resources and influence. The guide features best practices from across the region, with an emphasis on Brazil and Colombia.
