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
Publiziert von: Kai Nonnenmacher