U.S. President Barack Obama told an audience in Rio that Brazil is a “thriving democracy” and a model for movements rising against authoritarian governments in the Middle East and North Africa.

As long as Cuba remains under U.S. embargo, it is unlikely that the country will rise up against its repressive regime as we have seen other countries do recently, writes AS/COA's Christopher Sabatini.

Six months since he took office, Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos’ high approval rating and backing in Congress could help usher through a law that would provide reparations to victims of his country’s conflict.

An AS/COA panel featuring Director of the Latin American Public Opinion Project Mitchell Seligson explored the findings of a 2010 public opinion poll across 26 countries in the Western Hemisphere.

After a first-round vote fraught with controversy, Haiti's electoral commission has removed the ruling-party candidate from the March 20 runoff. Meanwhile, the return from exile of two past presidents muddies Haiti's political landscape.

Exclusive Preview: Albert Fishlow explores what Dilma's government will mean for Brazil's economic and foreign policy in the forthcoming AQ.

Recovery efforts have been sluggish and a runoff election may see delays that could further undermine progress. But some observers note that goals set for rebuilding after last year's earthquake were overly ambitious.