Tagungen > Tagungsausschreibung

09.07.2010

CfP: European Solidarity with Latin America (1950s-2000s)

  • Ort: Leuven (Belgien)
  • Beginn: 02.06.11
  • Ende: 03.06.11
  • Disziplinen: Medien-/Kulturwissenschaft
  • Sprachen: Portugiesisch, Spanisch
  • Frist: 01.10.10

KU Leuven - Subfaculty of History, Research Unit Modernity & Society 1800-2000

 

The experiences of Latin America after the Second World War have

regularly moved European societies. In the context of the ongoing Cold

War and the attempts of the so-called Third World at self-assertion,

local events could become developments of global significance. The Latin

American drift to the Left that was initiated by the Cuban Revolution of

1959 and the ensuing tide of military golpes across the subcontinent

acted as triggers for the development of European protest and solidarity

movements. Refugees as well as opposition movements tried to bridge the

Atlantic in search of support for their struggle against dictatorship

and other human rights infractions. Stimulated by the appeal of Marxist

anti-imperialism and liberation theology, many solidarity committees

with countries such as Chile, Argentina, Nicaragua and El Salvador were

founded across Europe.

 

Since the end of the Cold War, Latin America has undergone changes which

have only deepened the interest of European social movements in the

subcontinent. The retreat of militaries into their barracks and the

growth of civil societies have created opportunities for NGOs in Europe

to develop partnerships with their Latin American counterparts.

Meanwhile, the advance of globalization has raised concerns about the

dominance of Western economic and financial institutions, mounting

environmental problems, and the destruction of indigenous cultures. As a

consequence, Latin America has assumed an important role in debates

about globalization today. The World Social Forum, held several times in

Porto Alegre, Brasil, has promoted Latin American social movements as

sites of innovatory social practices which European activists could both

support and draw inspiration from.

 

Starting from these observations, the conference wants to analyze the

various forms of solidarity with Latin America in Europe during the last

six decades. It aims at mapping out the roots and determinants of the

European solidarity and concerns with Latin American societies.

Attention will also be devoted to questions of convergence and

divergence between the different European solidarity movements.

 

Possible questions for analysis:

- Which groups in European society have developed an interest towards

particular Latin America countries or issues? How and for what ends did

and do different groups envision Latin America? How did and do they give

shape to solidarity?

- What were the roots and determinants of solidarity? What was the

influence of national factors such as language, political culture, or

the presence of expatriate Latin American minorities?

- What were the functions of transnational networks in the development

of action strategies and collective identities?

- What was the impact of democratization in Latin America and the end of

the Cold War on the solidarity movements in Europe? Has this caused

European solidarity groups to shift gear to new perspectives, new

causes, and new forms of action?

- Has the professed inevitability of neoliberal globalization reduced

the appeal of Marxist inspired movements for national liberation and

economic projects for self-reliance?

- Did the encounter between European and Latin American movements run

into cultural contradictions? How did Western conceptions of human

rights and environmentalism square with Latin American or indigenous

approaches towards nature and community?

 

Practical:

- organized by the research unit MoSA at K.U.Leuven

- The conference is scheduled June 2011

 

Applicants should submit a 500 word proposal and a brief C.V. (in Word

or PDF format) before 1 October 2010 to Mr. Kim Christiaens:

Kim.Christiaens@arts.kuleuven.be

Participants whose papers have been accepted will be notified by 1

November 2010.

Please send all queries to the same address.

 

Kim Christiaens

Blijde Inkomststraat 21, Bus 3307

B-3000 Leuven

Kim.Christiaens@arts.kuleuven.be

Von:  Kim Christiaens

Publiziert von: Kai Nonnenmacher