WWU to Host Discussion on Right-Wing Politics in Latin America Feb. 21

Western Washington University Assistant Professor of Political Science Michael Wolff will lead a roundtable discussion titled “A New Wave of Right-wing Politics in Latin America?” from 10-11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21 in the Science, Math, and Technology Education (SMATE) building room 120.

This event is free and open to the public.

Latin America has long been prone to ideological pendulum swings between the Right and Left. The 21st century began with what has been dubbed “The Rise of the New Left.” Today, the pendulum seems to have begun to swing again, as political crisis spreads from one country to the next.

In the United States, however, the resurgence of the political Right in Latin America is not only confounding, but also not always very right, at least by traditional ideological measure. What is this new political movement all about, and where did it come from? What does it mean for the future of Latin America?

Wolff invites attendees to help answer these questions by assessing some of the most important political events and developments of the last few years. Topics include the 2016 impeachment of Brazil’s president, Dilma Rousseff; the unanticipated “no” vote in Colombia’s peace referendum in October, the impact of the new era’s politics on migrant communities in Latin America and the United States and more.

Panelists:

  • Ricardo Lopez, Department of History, Western Washington University
  • Joara Minharo, Department of Political Science, Wenatchee Valley College
  • Josh Fisher, Department of Anthropology, Western Washington University
  • James Loucky, Department of Anthropology, Western Washington University

Moderator:

  • Michael Wolff, Department of Political Science, Western Washington University

For more information about “A New Wave of Right-Wing Politics in Latin America,” contact Michael Wolff at Michael.Wolff@wwu.edu or (360) 650-2410.