72nd annual conference focuses on democracy in Latin America

January 18, 2024

On February 29-March 1, 2024, the University of Florida Center for Latin American Studies will host its 72nd Annual Conference, titled “Democratic Backsliding and Resistance in Latin America and Beyond.” The conference will bring scholars from across Latin America and the U.S. to discuss issues of democracy such as populism, LGBTQ+ and gender rights, democracies in crisis, and global perspectives from regions beyond Latin America.

The Bacardi Family Eminent Scholar, Flávia Biroli (University of Brasilia), will deliver the keynote speech, "The crisis is gendered: Approaching the challenges to democracy from the perspective of the disputes around gender" at 5:30 pm on Thursday, February 29. A reception will follow from 6:30 to 7:30.

The first panel precedes the keynote and reception, taking place from 2:30 - 5:00pm on Thursday, February 29. The remaining three panels will take place on Friday, March 1 from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.

See the full conference program here

See the full Thursday schedule here (with talk titles and speaker information)

See the full Friday schedule here (with talk titles and speaker information)

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE

About the 72^nd annual conference

This conference will explore authoritarian challenges to democracy, and resistance to authoritarianism in Latin America. The conference will feature four panels:

• The first panel explores struggles for gender and LGBTQ+ rights that aimed to democratize democracies, and how in the name of the “traditional family” conservative Catholics and Christians are attempting to roll back rights and to impose their views of family and sexuality.
• The second panel explores how populists rise to power and govern, and the conditions that could lead to democratic backsliding.
• The third panel will locate historically the most recent crises of democracy. Have Latin American democracies experience similar crises in the past? What is new in current debates on democracy?
• In the fourth panel experts of other world regions such as Africa, Europe, and the US will explore processes of democratic backsliding and resistance. 

In total, seventeen speakers will present at the conference:

• Sharon Austin, University of Florida
• Michael Bernhard, University of Florida
• Flávia Biroli, University of Brasilia
• Lenka Buštíková, University of Florida
• Elizabeth S. Corredor, Bryn Mawr College
• José Miguel Cruz, Florida International University
• Carlos de la Torre, University of Florida
• Luz del Alba Acevedo, University of Puerto Rico
• Laura Gamboa, University of Utah
• María Inclán, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas
• Miles Larmer, University of Florida
• Juan Pablo Luna, Universidad Católica de Chile
• Cecilia Menjivar, UCLA
• Pamela Neuman, Texas A&M International University
• Paulina Ochoa Espejo, Haverford College
• Mauro Porto, Tulane University
• Gabriel Vommaro, Universidad de San Martín/CONICET, Tulane University

History of the annual conference in Latin American Studies

The UF Center for Latin American Studies held its first annual conference in 1931, commemorating the founding of the Institute of Inter-American Affairs at the university. With the establishment of degree programs in the 1950s, the tradition continued, and since that time the Center’s annual conference has showcased the preeminence of Latin American Studies at the university, bringing together scholars, students, and community members to discuss and develop topics at the forefront of the field. 

More information on the 72^nd annual conference

All conference events will be held in Smathers Library Room 100 on the University of Florida campus.  Those planning to attend should register here.

For inquires related to the 2023 Annual Conference, contact Communications Specialist Christa Markley at cmarkley@latam.ufl.edu.

See details about the 72nd annual conference

Register for the 72nd annual conference

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