Foreword; B.Pastor Introduction - Inter-American Cooperation at a Crossroads; G.Mace, A.F.Cooper & T.M.Shaw PART I: A CHANGING LANDSCAPE Hemispheric Relations: Budding Contests in the Dawn of a New Era; D.Tussie The Obama Administration and Latin America: Towards a New Partnership?; D.Erikson The Caribbean in a Turbulent World; N.Girvan PART II: RESPONDING TO CHALLENGES Economic Integration in the Americas: An Unfinished Agenda; A.Estevadeordal & K.Suominen Building on Sub-Regional Economic Integration Projects to Forge an Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas; T.A.O'Keefe Demise of the Inter-American Democracy Promotion Regime?; T.Legler A More Secure Hemisphere?; R.Diamint Poverty Reduction and the role of Regional Institutions; N.Phillips PART III: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS The Successes, Failures and Future of the Mercosur; M.Schelhase Ruling the North American Market: NAFTA and its Extensions; L.Bélanger & R.Ouellet New Forms of Integration: The ALBA Institutions and Mechanisms; J.Altmann PART IV: RECONSTRUCTING A REGIONAL SYSTEM FOR THE AMERICAS Middle Powers and Hemispheric Diplomacy: Towards an A-10; J.Heine What Role for the Private Sector in Inter-American Multilateralism?; R.E.Feinberg Conclusion: The Need for Stronger Legitimacy; G.Mace & J.-P.Thérien