Latin American Studies Association

Cynthia McClintock, mcclin@gwu.edu (George Washington University)

The 2012 meeting theme “Representation and Renewal” highlights issues that are central to inquiry in Latin American politics. This year, we are especially interested in papers that explore such questions as: What is the quality of representation in Latin America? Procedural democracy has advanced in most Latin American countries; has the translation of citizens’ collective aspirations into effective public initiatives advanced as well? How can errant relationships between governors and governed be improved and renewed? In Latin American countries where procedural democracy may or may not have advanced, are there alternative approaches to representation—in particular, direct or participatory democracy—that hold promise? Also, new representative institutions have emerged in Latin America at both the sub-national and super-national levels; how are these new institutions representing citizens and how are tensions among sub-national, national, and super-national institutions being resolved?

The Latin American Studies Association Related Group welcomes submissions from a broad range of theoretical and empirical approaches and encourages theme and non-theme proposals. Our preference is to co-sponsor panels with APSA sections; accordingly, submissions should be made to us and another section, such as Comparative Democratization, Comparative Politics of Developing Countries, Comparative Politics, International Collaboration, or International Political Economy.