40 Years of Latin American Studies. The 20th FIEALC Conference

The Conference of the International Federation for Latin American and The Caribbean Studies (FIEALC) took place at the Center for Research on Latin American Studies for Development and Integration, of the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, from September 19 to 22. FIEALC brings together institutions and scholars interested in Latin American Studies from all five continents. It was founded in 1978 at a meeting of Latin Americanists organized by UNAM, the Union of Latin American and The Caribbean Universities (UDUAL), and UNESCO. This network was one of the first to work towards the recognition of a region that, until then, had been neglected by Social Sciences and Humanities. UNAM has had a special place in this organization. In support of its growth, a Coordinating and Disseminating Center for Latin American Studies (now called Center for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean) was established. Through this center, the FIEALC has maintained continuity, fostered collaboration, and gained knowledge.

The organization’s objectives have been to promote, intensify, and perfect knowledge of the region; to generate dialogues between cultures; to strengthen the exchange of ideas; to critically review methodologies; and to share and refine knowledge about a broad and complex region. Thus, the most urgent issues, the most pressing problems, and the most critical needs of our region have been reviewed at numerous conferences. The epistemological challenge has been to apply humanistic and social knowledge practically through informed discussions, new streams of thought, and action in our America. These challenges aim to achieve “integration through culture,” as philosopher Leopoldo Zea stated.

It is not surprising that humanistic and social disciplines have a special place in the activities organized by FIEALC. Thinking about the current problems of our societies forces us to delve deeper into the knowledge of their identities, histories, and forms of expression.

The topics addressed at the conference are: Historical and political relations of Latin America and the Caribbean, and their relationship with Europe, Asia and Africa; Latin America and the Caribbean facing the Asian challenge: the role of China; Globalization and economic development; Migratory processes and their identity challenges: historical evolution and current trends (ethnic minorities, refugees, exiles); Latin American philosophical thought; Latin America’s international relations with the world; Latin American integration processes: Economic, social and political aspects; Evolution of political and philosophical movements in Latin America and the Caribbean; Climate change, the new environmental challenges; Latin American literature as a political, socio-cultural and economic reflection of the region; Audiovisual arts and cultural industries; Approaches from social anthropology and Latin American and The Caribbean multiculturalism; New technologies in education and their impact on educational policies; COVID-19 as a transversal axis of the new regional and global context, and Challenges of the new geopolitics of the 21^st century. There were 18 carefully selected thematic panels with the participation of scholars from 14 American, European, and Asian countries.

This conference is a dialogue opportunity for specialists and encourages the work of young people who are beginning to study the region. In these spaces, they dialogue with experienced and acknowledged academics.

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