Dr. Rodrigo Acuña is an Associate Lecturer in Spanish and Latin American Studies at the Department of International Studies at Macquarie University. A winner of the 2005 Benchmark Prize in Hispanic Studies by the University of New South Wales, Rodrigo's research interests include Inter-American relations, Cold War and Post-Cold War Latin America, Venezuelan history and politics, human rights and development policies from a multidisciplinary perspective. Rodrigo runs his own blog on Latin American politics and his opinion is often sought by the Australian media on developments in the region.