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Colombia just joined on November 21st to the long list of Latin American countries where citizens have gone out to the streets to shout out for their rights and ask for changes in public policies or even a change of president. Chile, Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haití, Venezuela, and now Colombia make up the list ofContinue reading "Week 13 | The End?" read full post >>

I can’t believe how fast this month has passed! It feels like only last week we were being introduced to the complex dynamics of Latin America, and now we’re finishing up our final  projects. I hope everyone’s doing well in these busy last weeks. As I expected, this week’s lecture and readings culminate with uncertainty, […] read full post >>

And just like that, it’s the end of term! It’s been a fast paced and jam packed thirteen weeks in this course, but it’s been a pleasure. Before getting started on my last blog post, I want to thank everyone in our Thursday class for such enlightening and challenging discussions. Furthermore, I’d like to thankContinue reading "Week 13: Towards an Uncertain Future; Our Pasts Repeated" read full post >>

Hello! I am so ashamed I literally forgot all about this blog post on Monday because of the research assessment, but here it is! I think this week’s topic is one of the most important for our present day understanding … Continue reading → read full post >>

Hello! I am so ashamed I literally forgot all about this blog post on Monday because of the research assessment, but here it is! I think this week’s topic is one of the most important for our present day understanding … Continue reading → read full post >>

This week I found the conversation with Rota de Grandis to be interesting in terms of her analysis of disappearance as a form of oppression as well as reconciliation and recovery of a nation from an era of frequent disappearances. … Continue reading → read full post >>

This week I found the conversation with Rota de Grandis to be interesting in terms of her analysis of disappearance as a form of oppression as well as reconciliation and recovery of a nation from an era of frequent disappearances. … Continue reading → read full post >>

Latin America is very angry. In Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Bolivia, there are a plethora of protests for lack the of democracy; in Chile, Ecuador, and Haiti, there are protests due to the lack of opportunities and greater equality. Meanwhile, Argentina ... read full post >>

Latin America is very angry. In Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Bolivia, there are a plethora of protests for lack the of democracy; in Chile, Ecuador, and Haiti, there are protests due to the lack of opportunities and greater equality. Meanwhile, Argentina returns to the Peronist-Kirchnerist left, and Mexico does not see the exit to the growing spiral of narco-violence.

Latin America's rich and not-so-rich are very separated from its many poor and not-so-poor. The sad lesson is that democracy is necessary but not sufficient. From the Colonies to the present day, Latin American economies have been organized for the benefit of a few. After decades of dictatorships and authoritarian governments, many countries — in addition to electing their leaders with votes — expected a time of economic well-being for all. But this majority welfare has still not arrived. The future of Latin America is uncertain. It will always be like this until this changes.

Nevertheless, I am hopeful. I believe the new era of social organization will change the traditional attitude many civilians have towards the social contract. These protests that we are watching unfold are actually the product of the new spaces created by democracy; in the dictatorships of Pinochet, of Videla in Argentina or in Mexico of 1968, citizens were massacred for protesting. Today citizens are no longer afraid. These new spaces are the new forms of social organization that take place thanks to new technologies - from the internet and social networks to the use of cell phones - these tools will hopefully circumvent any attempt at control and censorship. Official press releases have to compete on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the fluidity of millions of videos, photos, and texts that contradict them. You can no longer govern if legitimacy and credibility are lost in networks. In my opinion, there is hope for our uncertain future due to an increase in certainty in the networks. read full post >>

For the video project, our group has discussed adding a ‘human’ element to what occurred in Latin America between the 1960s-1980s, rather than simply relate what happened on a macro level and risk losing a real sense of grief over … Continue reading → read full post >>