With the turn of the century, Latin American democracies seem to have entered a new phase of intense fluctuation. Political, economic and cultural developments have been disrupted by precipitous crises and countermovements, such as Argentina’s political and economic collapse in 2001 and its contested process of restoration, the rise and violent fall of Evo Morales in Bolivia, the peace agreement in Colombia, Chile’s ostensible stability and the recent protests against its economic inequality and state violence.

In cooperation with the GSGAS and the ReCentGlobe, the CEL-LE invites researchers to explore the roots and dynamics of recent disruptions in Latin America from a global perspective. As disruptions, we understand moments of disordering, whose outcomes and meaning are yet unforeseeable. Disruptions might be temporary disarrayments but may also anticipate structural change and advancement towards new political and economic orders. Based on this understanding, we aim to explore and relate both potentially destructive and productive impulses emanating from fluctuations, turmoils, and hindrances faced by the subcontinent since the 2000s.

The conveners invite researchers in the humanities and social sciences, and especially young scholars – Ph.D. researchers and Post-Docs – working on or interested in Latin America to address and discuss the following questions: Which are the main conflicts that Latin America has faced in the last decades? How do they relate to each other? What are the roots of these disruptions, and what impacts do they have at the regional level? How are the Latin American political regimes and communities responding to disruptions? How do disorders in Latin America relate to current challenges to democracy in other world regions?

Participation is free of charge.

We invite all those interested to send us an email to cel-le(at)uni-leipzig.de to obtain access to the talks via zoom.