Latin America, a region of 20 countries and over 569 million people, is not new, the bringing together of various disciplinary approaches according to a single geographic region represents a fairly recent shift. Latin American studies includes a vast range of disciplinary perspectives, including history, sociology, economics, anthropology, and political science. Area studies in general have proliferated in the latter half of the twentieth century and Latin American studies in particular has been propelled forward as a distinct field of study by major international changes, such as the end of the Cold War. As the field continues to grow, to shape and be shaped by global politics, scholars are faced with an ever-increasing amount of new information. Scholars must constantly consider new discoveries, new interpretations, and new theoretical ideas in the field. The multidisciplinary nature of Latin American studies makes it particularly challenging to stay informed about every applicable area. A great deal of this work has moved online with the most recent scholarship, research, and statistics appearing in online databases.