This volume continues the series coverage of the National Debate Topic for the National Forensic League, the largest debate honor society in the country. Following the topic set by the league, the volume reveals the diversity of United States economic relations in Latin America, particularly given the different political conditions of many countries. Topics begin with a survey of perspectives on Latin American political, social, and economic life. Another chapter reviews the debates on the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA), the single major economic policy in the Americas. News stories on Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuela reveal common concerns for fostering productive economies, while negotiating the complexities of politics. Cuba and Venezuela represent two of the most argued about nations in the hemisphere, while Mexico continues to serve as one of the most important economic partners for the United States.

1. Latin America in the twenty-first century: -- The future of US-Latin American relations -- Gini back in the bottle: an unequal continent is becoming less so / by The Economist, October 12, 2013 -- Analysis: Obama faces Latin America revolt over drugs, trade / by Brian Winter, Reuters, November 9, 2012 -- The shameful legacy of the Monroe Doctrine: militarizing Latin America / by Conn Hallinan, Counterpunch.org, January 16, 2013 -- Obama seeks CEO's help in Latin America / by Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press, April 14, 2012 -- Remarks by President Obama at CEO Summit of Americas / by President Barack H. Obama, Whitehouse.gov, April 14, 2011 -- Latin America and the United States: Looking towards 2020 / by Sergio Bitar, Inter-American Dialogue, September 7. 2011 -- 2. NAFTA twenty years later: -- Assessing NAFTA -- In our opinion: NAFTA's success shows importance of free trade / by Deseret News, August 15, 2012 -- After some sluggish years, NAFTA creates border boomtowns / by Monica Ortiz Uribe, Fronteras, October 18, 2012 -- Last great interstate: a NAFTA highway fraught with controversy / by Terri Hall, Examiner, December 18, 2012 -- The failures of NAFTA / by Catie Duckworth, Council on Hemispheric Affairs, June 19, 2012 -- NAFTA: birth of a free trade world / by Devin Browne and Jill Replogle, Fronteras, September 4, 2012 -- Remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Latin America / by Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Department of State, March 18, 2011 -- 3. After Castro: Cuba's revolution at crossroads: -- Cuba: an imminent thaw? -- U.S. aggression towards Cuba continues: increase in U.S. support to counter-revolutionary groups / by Liberation, August 30. 2012 -- U.S.-Cuba policy: ending 50 years of failure / by Colonel Lawrence B. Wilkerson, USA (Ret), US Senate Committee on Finance, December 11, 2007 -- Cuban economy is still stagnant despite reforms: Cuban National /by Christopher Witrak, Minyanville, December 4, 2012 -- Time to end the Cuba embargo / by Doug Bandow, The National Interest, December 12, 2012 -- 4. Venezuela's socialist experiment: -- Venezuela post Chávez -- On the legacy of Hugo Chávez / by Greg Grandin, The Nation, March 5, 2103 -- Chávez or not, it's time to rethink the U.S.-Venezuela relationship / by Dane Bryant, World Politics Review, September 28, 2012 -- Hugo Chávez: man against the world / by Richard Gott, New Statesman, January 30, 2013 -- Chávez's economics lesson for Europe / by Richard Gott, The Guardian, May 16, 2012 -- Investors who think Venezuela's economy will open up after Chávez have another thing coming / by Linette Lopez, Business Insider, January 5, 2013 -- 5. The rise of Mexico: -- The United States and Mexico: achieving a balance -- The ebbing Mexican wave / by Economist, November 24, 2012 -- Remarks to the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America / by Jose W. Fernandez, US Department of State, February 7, 2013 -- Immigration reform and the English language / by Kevin Drum, Mother Jones, January 29, 2013 -- Ambassador Wayne's remarks at U.S. Chamber breakfast / by Ambassador to Mexico, E. Anthony Wayne, Embassy of the United States, Mexico, February 11, 2013 -- For returning migrants, good news about Mexico's economy doesn't apply / by Monica Ortiz Uribe, KPBS.org, December 31, 2012 -- A more ambitious agenda: a report of the Inter-American Dialogue's commission on Mexico-US relations / by Carla Hills and Ernesto Zedillo, Inter-America Dialogue, February 13, 2013 -- Highlighting the US-Mexico economic relationship / by Jose W. Fernandez, US Department of State, January 18, 2013 -- 6. Poverty and inequality in the Americas: -- The economics of women and children -- Poverty in Latin America lowest in three decades, U.N. says / by Associated Press, November 28, 2012 -- Poverty and inequality / by Equity for Children.org, November 27, 2012 -- Talking about poverty with Greg Kaufmann / by Theresa Riley, Bill Moyers.com, October 31, 2012 -- Remarks by President Obama on Latin America in Santiago, Chile / by President Barack H. Obama, Whitehouse.gov, March 21, 2011.