The Future of Latin America - Third World, First Hand

Third World, First Hand

Latin America is making its presence felt as one of the most vibrant regions in the world. The view that Latin America is merely an underdeveloped region famous for its violent guerrilla warfare, drug-trafficking, faltering economies and military dictatorships can no longer be sustained. Success stories are unfolding all across Latin America, with countries such as Peru, Uruguay and Chile showing firm economic progress, and Brazil emerging as a political and economic juggernaut. But what can we say about the new group of leftist leaders (the most famous of whom is Hugo Chávez of Venezuela) working to develop more equalitarian societies by turning away from the neoliberal paradigm? This evening Oscar Guardiola-Rivera, a Colombian academic and a leading young voice on Latin American philosophy, law and politics, and author of the book What if Latin America Ruled the World? How the South Will Take the North Through the 21st Century, will portray the promises of Latin America. Our second speaker is Michiel Baud, director of the inter-university Centre for Latin American Research and Documentation (CEDLA) and Professor in Latin American Studies at the University of Amsterdam. Chairman is Leandro Vergara Camus, political scientist at the University of Groningen.

Oscar Guardiola-Rivera teaches International Law and International Affairs at London University and is founder of the Centre for Cultural & Social Studies in Bogotá. He was one of the leaders of the Student Movement that initiated the 1990s wave of constitutional reform throughout Latin America.

Third World, First Hand consists of a series of public lectures by international speakers in which the audience is challenged by refreshing perspectives on several major global issues. The public lectures will go beyond the reporting in newspapers and television bulletins. The audience will be presented with innovative insights, and that is exactly what these tumultuous times demand of us: a reassessment of our old, stubbornly persistent ideas.

This public lecture series has been organized in co-operation with Globalisation Studies Groningen and is financed by NCDO.