Key research themes
1. How have social identities and cultural politics shaped nation-building and societal cohesion in modern Latin America?
This research theme investigates the role of cultural expressions, racial and ethnic identities (including Indigenous, African, and mixed heritage), and gender in the political and social formation of nation-states in Latin America from independence onward. It explores how ideological constructs such as Indigenismo influenced national unity, while simultaneously perpetuating structural inequalities and stereotypes toward Indigenous populations. Methodologies include literary analysis, sociopolitical theory, and critical cultural studies to map the intersections of identity and power within Latin American societies.
2. What are the historical trajectories and impacts of political violence, state-building, and institutional development in nineteenth and twentieth-century Latin America?
This theme addresses the processes of political incorporation, social polarization, and state formation amid competing political ideologies, revolutions, and civil conflicts in Latin America. It explores how state-society relations evolved under diverse developmental and neoliberal models, the operationalization of violence in political economy, and governance challenges. Methodologically, the studies deploy comparative politics, political economy, and historical institutionalism frameworks, often employing case studies to detail the mechanisms of violence and institutional change.
3. How have technological initiatives and scientific developments influenced social and political transformations in Latin America’s modern history?
This theme explores the intersection of science, technology, and society in Latin America, focusing on how technological transfers, innovation projects, and scientific institutionalization shaped modernization efforts and geopolitical dynamics. Studies investigate the adaptation of imported technologies, development of indigenous scientific fields, and national programs such as missile development, assessing their societal impact and role in international relations. Methodologies include interdisciplinary approaches combining historiographical analysis, policy studies, and technology transfer analyses.