Arts & Sciences

Scholarly research is a major component of the Latin American and Caribbean Center's mission. Associated faculty and graduate students publish original research in politics, economics, religion, education, history, international relations and culture. Additionally, LACC commissions studies from the world's leading Latin American and Caribbeanists on the most current pressing issues. LACC also publishes a magazine, Hemisphere.

Hemisphere

LACC’s flagship publication, Hemisphere, recruits articles from academics and graduate students around the world who study Latin America and the Caribbean. Issues revolve around a central topic of contemporary relevance in the Americas, with an emphasis on the social sciences. Each issue includes feature articles, reports, book reviews, a photo essay and a bibliographic update. Hemisphere is designed to serve as a forum for new scholarship on Latin American and Caribbean issues. +More Info

Recent Commissioned Reports, Papers and Presentations

Assimilation or Transnationalism? Evidence from the Latino National Survey 2006

Silvia Pedraza, Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Michigan
September 2012
This commissioned paper presents the research findings of Pedraza and Back who used data from the 2006 National Latino Survey to assess the extent to which Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and South American immigrants have assimilated or engaged in transnational practices and which social characteristics might predict such behaviors. +Full Paper

Cinema and Reality in Haiti

Arnold Antonin, Film Director and Founder, Arnold Antonin Films, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
August 2012
This commissioned paper focuses on documentary film making and its role in depicting and constructing "reality" or "realities" in Haiti. More specifically, Antonin examines artistic subjectivity and the powerful interplay of the "imagined" and the "real" in Haiti and highlights the true impact of film on various facets of the Haitian existence. Antonin explores how film responds to a country characterized by contradictions and helps to not only actively and deliberately shape the cultural landscape of the country, but also its political, social and environmental. Part of LACC's 15th Annual Haitian Summer Institute Lecture Series. Part of LACC's Haitian Art Digital Archive (HADA) project. +Full Paper (Haitian Creole Version) +Full Paper (Spanish Version)

Hot Gingerbread: The Significance of Late 19th Century Architecture in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Olsen Jean Julien, Owner and Lead Architect, Phenixience Architecture and Engineering Firm, Haiti, Former Manager, Smithsonian Cultural Recovery Center, Haiti & Former Minister of Culture and Communication, Haiti
July 2012
This commissioned presentation examines Haitian architecture, and in particular, the development, evolution and value of traditional architecture of the 19th century. Additionally, Jean Julien examines issues related to the vulnerability of Haiti's architecture and the importance of preserving it as part of Haiti's cultural patrimony . Part of LACC's 15th Annual Haitian Summer Institute Lecture Series. Part of LACC's Haitian Art Digital Archive (HADA) project. +Full Presentation (Haitian Creole Version) - 180MB

Transformations in the Argentine Jewish Community: The Rise of New Social Actors

Damian Setton, Ph.D., Researcher, CONICET & Professor, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
February 2012
This commissioned paper addresses the civic, social, political and religious changes occurring within the Jewish community in Argentina. In his paper, Setton discusses nuanced processes of identification, new approaches to engagement and increased visibility of affiliated and non-affiliated Jews in larger Argentine society. Part of the LACC/Judaic Studies Program Latin American Jewry Series. +Full Paper

Art at The End of The Tunnel

Juan Carlos Botero, Author & Columnist
September 2011
This commissioned paper examines the influence of literature and the arts on the formation and transformation of Latin American politics and society. It explores the role of The Artist in the interpretation of and contribution to realities of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as those that exist beyond borders, and recognizes the importance of The Artist's effort to shed light on the human condition and unique ability to enhance the understanding of issues over time and space. +Full Paper

The Importance of the Creole Language in Haiti's Education System

Yves Dejean, Professor, State University of Haiti
September 2011
This commissioned paper by Professor Yves Dejean discusses the necessity for the full integration of Haitian Creole into the education system in Haiti. It examines how the failure to treat Haitian Creole as the primary language of instruction in Haiti results in the marginalization and under-education of the majority of Haitians, which ultimately has significant and negative impacts on the development of the country and its people. It also stresses the complexity of the Haitian Creole language and disproves stereotypes that question the capacity of Haitian Creole to sufficiently address issues related to science, social science, technology, etc. +Full Paper (Haitian Creole Version)

Cultural Recovery in Haiti: Conservation Efforts to Recover Patrimony Damaged by the January 12, 2010 Earthquake

Stephanie Hornbeck, Chief Conservator, Smithsonian Institution Haiti Cultural Recovery Project & Principal, Caryatid Conservation Services
September 2011
This commissioned report, authored by Stephanie Hornbeck, outlines the work being done by the Smithsonian in Haiti to protect, stabilize, conserve and restore some of the country's most important and treasured works of art. Project contributors include conservation experts from across the globe as well a members of the local community in Port-au-Prince. +Full Report

The Constitutional Isolation of Cuban Socialism

Rafael Rojas, Professor, CIDE, Mexico
August 2011
This commissioned paper, authored by Dr. Rafael Rojas, examines how historically even leftist Latin American governments have failed to embrace the Cuban constitution as a model and rather have opted for those based on liberal democratic principles. +Full Paper (Spanish Version)

The Media in Haiti: Internews' Efforts to Enhance Coverage and Build Capacity in Post-Quake Haiti

Yves Colon, Journalist & Lecturer, University of Miami
July 2011
This report is authored by journalist and scholar, Yves Colon. It provides a glimpse of the challenges faced by Internews in it works to provide educational and information news programming to the Haitian public and also offers prospects for an increased impact by the media on the future development of Haitian society. +Full Report

“Two Cousins”: A Short Story of Haiti and the United States of America During the 19th and 20th Centuries

Watson Denis, Professor at the State University of Haiti
August 2010
This commissioned paper, authored by Dr. Watson Denis, discusses historical and modern relations between Haiti and the U.S.A., two countries who liberated themselves from colonization and demanded their own independence. Dr. Denis argues that, despite vast cultural, economic, and political differences, Haiti and the U.S.A. are diplomatically and historically cousins. +Full Paper (English Version) +Full Paper (Haitian Creole Version)

Changing Identities Among Latin America's Youth

Dina Krauskopf, Emeritus Professor at the University of Costa Rica
March 2010
This commissioned paper, authored by Dr. Dina Krauskopf, explores the changing identities among Latin America's as a result of globalization. Dr. Krauskopf argues that identities among youth have become more important as being young has become an identity in and of itself and thus needs to be taken into account in policies throughout the region. +Full Paper

Nicaragua: A Lost Revolution

Sergio Ramirez, Author & Former Vice-President of Nicaragua
February 2010
This commissioned paper written by acclaimed author and political leader, Sergio Ramirez, focuses on contemporary politics in Nicaragua. Ramirez recounts important advances made during the Sandinista Revolution and examines how and why progress made decades ago seems to have vanished and left Nicaragua politically, socially and economically vulnerable once again. +Full Paper

Democratic Deficits and Hemispheric Security

Joseph S. Tulchin Senior Scholar, Woodrow Wilson Center
September 2009
In this commissioned paper, Dr. Joseph S. Tulchin examines how individual Latin American nations cooperate with other nations in order to maximize the security of each and of all nations in the region. The paper begins with a brief history of community security efforts and their successes and failure and concludes with Dr. Tulchin's proposed approach to enhance cooperation in the region on matters of defense and security. +Full Paper