Paul Gootenberg is a world-recognized figure in the history of illicit drugs and contemporary drug issues, especially from a hemispheric perspective, He is author or editor of seven books, most notably Andean Cocaine: The Making of a Global Drug (2008). He regularly contributes to reports and commissions on drug policy reform, such as the Beckely Foundation Report and the Open Society Foundations Drugs, Security, and Democracy program. Additionally, Paul's research and graduate training interests span most of modern Latin America, with special strengths in Andean and Mexican history and in questions of historical sociology.