Call for Papers: Social struggles for land in Latin America

RHN 7/2015 | Call

The Conference is organized by the Ghent University Research Group Communities / Comparisons / Connections, Belgium, El Seminario de Economía Social, Solidaria y Popular, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru and La Red Muqui, Proposal and Action Network, Peru.

24-25 June 2015, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru

Deadline: 10 February 2015

 

Social struggles for land in Latin America.
A historical, comparative and global analysis.

For centuries, the struggle for land has been a dominant factor in the shaping of Latin-American society and the formation of dynamic social movements. The central goal of this conference is to bring together both historical and contemporary perspectives and analyses on the struggles for land in Latin America. We aim to create a more profound dialogue between researchers, institutions and social and indigenous organizations (which include rural communities), between historical and contemporary perspectives, and between comparative (cases of different countries) and global views, on change and continuity in rural Latin America.

The thematic concept 'the struggles for land' incorporates the age-old confrontation of localized social organizations and the growing imperatives of the world market. It debates the impact of and the resistance against the imposition of extractivist economic models and legal frameworks that delegitimize and alter local forms of land tenure through normative reforms and counter reforms (revolutions and resistance). It questions the multiple ways this process of incorporation transformed local societies and ways of living. It debates the transition to a more solidary, post-extractivist societal model, respectful of nature, of the sustainable use of natural resources and of the collective rights of indigenous people, rural communities and the people in general. Indigenous peoples define this model as allin kausay (suma kawsay, suma qamaña, buen vivir, the good life).

This conference will bring together knowledge on historical and current changes that rural communities live in Latin America, from the perspective of access to and struggles over land. It will stimulate the exchange of experiences and analysis between experts and social leaders. It will inspire ideas and proposals to give continuity to this space of encounter and exchange.

We invite paper proposals that discuss the social struggles for land in Latin America in the last few centuries from a multitude of perspectives. These include land reforms and agrarian reforms; states and social movements; social, solidary and popular economic practices; different forms of extractivism (land, water, minerals); food sovereignty; leadership and social-economic organization of rural communities and indigenous peoples; migration; gender and generations, etc. We especially encourage submissions from scholars working within a historical and/or comparative and global perspective.

To propose a paper, send an abstract of maximum 500 words together with a short bio and institutional affiliation before February 10th 2015 to hanne.cottyn@ugent.be.

Notices of acceptance will be sent by March 1st 2015.

The working languages of the conference are English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Costs of lodgment and boarding will be financed by the organizers. There are fixed travel grants for selected presenters without means to cover their travel to Lima (please mention the approximate cost of travel).

The Conference is organized by

 

Organizing Committee:

  • Prof. Eric Vanhaute (Ghent University)
  • Dr. Hanne Cottyn (Ghent University and CATAPA-Grufides)
  • Prof. Luis Montoya (Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos)
  • Prof. Ela Pérez (Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos)
  • Dr. Javier Jahncke (Red Muqui)
  • Mattes Tempelmann (Red Muqui)
  • Edwin Alejandro (Red Muqui)