|
Despite a marked historiographical tendency to view Latin America through the lens of authoritarianism and to view democracy in Latin America as a recent advent, the region experimented with some of the most profoundly open and inclusive ideas of democracy in the early nineteenth century. These were, of course, troubled by intense civil wars—frequently linked to efforts at oligarchic restoration—geographical limitations, and pecuniary difficulties, among other problems. Occasioned by innovative research on the Haitian Revolution, the Peninsular War, the U.S. and Latin American independence movements, and the Revolutions of 1848, we have seen in recent years a flourishing scholarship on the nature of politics in late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth-century Latin America, including studies of popular politics, voting and elections, civil society, the press, political clubs and parties, officeholding, civil/military relations, and more. These have been further enriched by pioneering studies in the Atlantic World, subaltern studies, and the African Diaspora.
This conference seeks to bring together scholars working on these issues in an effort to make connections across the varied geography of Latin America between the late-colonial and early-national periods. In reconsidering the history of democracy in Latin America, the conference also seeks to engage with the wider theoretical concerns of scholars interested in these questions across disciplines, particularly in history, sociology, political science and anthropology.
We invite presentations on any aspect of these issues within any of three major thematic areas:
• Institutions
• Practices
• Ideas
Proposals (200-400 words) are due by August 15, 2011. Invitations to participate will be made by September 1, 2011. Completed papers will be due by December 1, 2011.
Please submit your proposal, c.v., and contact information to democracyconference@gmail.com.
The conference will be hosted by the Department of History and the Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University. For more information, contact Prof. Justin Wolfe at democracyconference@gmail.com.
|
