On June 5th, 2024, the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University hosted a lecture titled "21st Century Politics in Latin America: Re-politicisation and Democratic Tensions", delivered by Dr. Juan Pablo Ferrero, Senior Lecturer in Latin American Studies at the Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies, University of Bath, United Kingdom. The lecture was moderated by Wang Shi’ao, Assistant Professor of IIAS. Over sixty attendees, including faculty and students from domestic and international universities, attended the lecture online.
In the lecture, Dr. Ferrero first gave a brief overview of the political history of Latin America, covering various stages the region has experienced from the early 19th century wars of independence to the present, including civil wars, state-building, oligarchic politics, populism , military dictatorship, democratization, and neoliberal economic models. Currently, the reaction of the contemporary Latin American right shares similarities with historical patterns, but also has new characteristics. Dr. Ferrero argued that to understand the reaction of conservative forces in contemporary Latin America, it is crucial to consider two key elements: re-politicisation and democratic tension. These elements shape the complex political landscape of present-day Latin America. Re-politicisation, on the one hand, is a response to local leftist movements in Latin America, while also reflecting a global trend. The democratic tension it generates brings new uncertainties to Latin American politics. Drawing upon discourse analysis, Dr. Ferrero proposed a framework that combines "controversies" and "contingencies" to comprehend the narratives that lend legitimacy to political orders in contemporary Latin America. Using Brazil and Argentina as case studies, Dr. Ferrero analyzed the controversies arising from the catalyzing effects of three contingencies—the 2008 financial crisis, the pandemic, and technological developments—on issues related to the economy, environment, and gender. However, whether such tensions will lead to a democratic breakdown or prompt a redefinition of citizenship remains to be observed.
During the Q&A session, Dr. Ferrero engaged in in-depth discussions with the audience on topics covered in the lecture, as well as issues concerning Latin America's relations with China, Europe, and the United States.
Dr. Juan Pablo Ferrero is a Senior Lecturer in Latin American Studies at the University of Bath's Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies, and serves as the editor of Bulletin of Latin American Research. His research focuses on democracy, social mobilization, discourse theory, and populism, particularly on political sociology in post-transitional Argentina and Brazil. His research results have been published in British Journal of Sociology, Journal of Political Ideologies, Latin American Politics and Society, and his published books include Democracy against Neoliberalism in Argentina and Brazil (2014) and Socio-Political Dynamics within the Crisis of the Left Argentina and Brazil (2019).
Text editor: Latin America and the Caribbean Studies research group
Proofreader: Latin America and the Caribbean Studies research group
