lasa sections

SectionReports[The texts of these reports have not been edited, appearing verbatim as received by theForum.]

ofthemareBoliviansorarefromelsewhereinLatinAmerica.InadditiontopayingtheSectionmembershipfee,some20membersdonated$700thatwasusedwithgeneralSectionfundstobringOskarVegaCamachofromBoliviatoparticipateasaspeakerinSectionactivities.

ForLASA2012,weplannedthreemajoractivitiesinadditiontoourSectionbusinessmeeting.Thelatterwasattendedby35members.GuillermoDelgadofromUCSantaCruzwasrecognizedasthenewchairuntilLASA2013.HernánPrudencontinuesasSecretary-Treasurer.IsabelScarboroughandChrisKruegerwereelectedascouncilmembersthroughLASA2014,joiningMiguelBuitragoandVictorUndawhoareservingthroughLASA2013.

PointsdiscussedattheBusinessMeeting(see full report on Bolivia Section Website)includedcriteriaforSection-sponsoredactivitiesattheLASACongresses;theneedtofurtherdeveloptheSectionwebsite,includingifpossibleavirtuallibraryofpapersonBoliviafrompastCongressesandthecreationofaFacebookpage;relationsbetweentheSectionandtheLASASecretariat;theideaofcloserrelationswithothercountrySections;theneedforfundraisingamongmembersandfromthirdpartiesinordertocarryoutSectionactivities.

TheSection’spanelon“VivirBien”wascancelledforlackofregistrationoftwoofthepresentersbutwithoutconsultationwiththeSection,whichwasengagedinspecialfundraisingatthetime.Theworkshopsession“BolivianStudiesInandBeyondBolivia”wasattendedbynearly50people,severalofwhomcommentedaboutthevalueofthisformattoprovidegreateropportunityfordiscussionamongmembers.Inaddition,andthankstothe

announcementsofeventsrelatedtoAsia-Americasconnections,andinformationaboutmembers’activitiesandpublications.

InpreparationforLASA2012,panelswerecoordinatedviaemailforthoseinterestedinpresentingonthetopicofAsiaandtheAmericas.PriortotheCongressemailsweresenttothememberlistwithdetailsofallsuchpanels.

TheSectionsessionforthe2012Congress,entitled“ElImpactodeChinaenlasEstructurasEconómicasyPolíticasdeAméricaLatina”,wasattendedbyapproximately50people.TheSectionwillcontinuetoofferitsmemberstheservicesitestablishedduringthe2010-2012term.

Bolivia Chris Krueger, Chair

FromJanuary2011,thefocusofCommitteeactivitywasonthepreparationforLASA2012,includingattemptstogatherinformationandopinionsaboutthestateofBolivianStudiesandideasforincreasingnorth-southcollaboration.MostoftheideasaboutSectionactivitiesthathadbeendiscussedatandafterRio(LASA2009)havetakenabackseatforlackoftimeandresourcesandremainonourcollectiveagenda.

Sectionmembershipvariesandhasreached139,butgenerallyhasbeenabout100.Areviewofmembershipjustpriorto

LASA2012showedthatof104members,twohaveaddressesinBolivia,sevenresideinotherLatinAmericancountries(mostlyArgentina),thirteeninEurope(mostlytheUK),seveninCanada,oneinNewZealand,andoneinJapan.Seventy-threemembersresideintheUnitedStates;several

Asia and the Americas Adrian H. Hearn, Co-chair

TheMay26thmeetingwasthefirstsincetheSectionchangeditsnamefrom“SectionforLatinAmericaandthePacificRim”atthe2011LASAcongress.Attendedby17people,thebusinessmeetingwasalsothefirstsinceAdrianHearnandEnriqueDusselPetersbecameco-chairs.Duringthemeetingtheco-chairsrecognizedthewinneroftheSection’swritingcompetition,andawardedthe$500prizetoMichelleBigenho,HampshireCollegeforheroutstandingbook,Intimate Distance: Andean Music in Japan(DukeUP,2012).Itwasoneoffourentriesreceivedbythecommitteeofthreereviewers.

AdrianHearn(UniversityofSydney)waselectedtoserveasChairfortheperiod2012-2013.Thefollowingexecutivecommitteewaselected:JuliaStrauss,treasurer(SchoolofOrientalandAfricanStudies(SOAS);AraceliAlonso(CityUniversityofNewYork);SeanBurgess(AustralianNationalUniversity);MonicaDehart(UniversityofPugetSound);EvanEllis(NationalDefenseUniversity);MelissaFitch(UniversityofArizona);andVladimirRouvinksi(UniversidadIcesi.)

Theoutgoingco-chairsinformedthemeeting’sattendeesabouttheSection’sactivitiesoverthepreceding18months:

1)TheSectionhasgrownto75members,asatisfyingoutcomeconsideringthatmanyotherSectionshavecontractedinsizesinceLASA2011;2)OnMay22ndtheco-chairshostedaresearchworkshopattheUniversityofCalifornia-BerkeleyCenterforLatinAmericanStudies,entitled“TheChinaFactorinMexico-USrelations.”Theworkshop’spapersareunderreviewforpublication;and3)TheSectionwebsitehasbeenfrequentlyupdatedwith

45

web-master.YajairaPadillaexplainedthatdespitethefactthattheSectionhadanofficialpositionfortreasurer,itdidnothaveanactingtreasurerandthatthisrolewasdesignatedbyLASAaspartofthesecretary’sduties.SheproposedthattheSectionfollowLASA’smodel.Allmemberspresentvotedinagreement.AsimilardiscussionfollowedwithregardtotheSectionweb-master.PadillaaskedmemberstoeliminatethispositionandletLASAruntheSectionwebpageortohavethestudentrepresentativetakeoverthisrole.Membersvotedtomaintainthepositionofweb-master.JoséJuanColínaskedfornominationsforthispositionaswellviaemail.

NextdiscussedwastheSectionwebsite.PadillaexplainedthatthewebsitewasnotbeingusedaseffectivelyasitcouldbeandthattheSectionneededtoestablishasystemsothatthesitecouldbeupdatedatleastmonthlywithnewsaboutandlinkstopublications,conferenceannouncements,graduatestudentscholarshipsandachievements,andpossiblyalinktoaSectionblog.Itwasresolvedthatpendingtheappointmentofanewweb-master,thewebsitewouldbemanagedbythisindividual.

ThefinalitemdiscussedwasadeclarationonbehalfoftheCAS-LASASectionregardingthehumanrightsabusesinHonduras.Theco-chairsprovidedSuyapaPortillo,oneoftheauthorsoftheletter,timeforabriefpresentation.AdraftoftheletterwasreadoutloudbyHéctorPerla.ItwasagreedbyallpresentthatoncetheletterwasfinalizeditwouldbepostedontheCAS-LASAlist-serveforapprovalbymembers.

Lastly,theSection’sgoalsfortheupcomingyearwerealsodiscussed.Theseinclude:offering2graduatestudentscholarships($750each)andallowingforspeakerfundsashadbeendoneinyearspast;cuttingSectioncostsbyoptingoutofthecommunalLASAreceptionfortheupcomingyear;providingaspecificoutlineofthestateddutiesoftheSectionweb-masterandstudentrepresentative;updatingtheweb-siteandcontactingmembersatleastmonthlytosolicitupdates.

Chazkel’s(CUNY)forherbookLaws of Chance: Brazil’s Clandestine Lottery and the Making of Urban Life,andtoRodrigoRodriguesSilveira,forhisDissertationfromtheUniversityofSalamanca,Gobierno Local y Estado de Bienestar: Regímenes y Resutados de la Política Social en Brasil.

Finally,theattendeesdealtwithafewotherissues,butitwasmainlydebatedhowtobestusethemoneylefttoimprovetheSectionactivities,atopicthatwaskeptopentofuturediscussions.

Central America José Juan Colín and Ellen Moodie, Incoming Co-chairs

TheCentralAmericanSectionhelditsBusinessMeetingonFriday,May25.Twenty-twoSectionmembersattendedthemeeting,alongwithSectionCo-ChairsYajairaPadillaandJoséJuanColínandAdvisoryBoardMemberWilliamClary.SectionSecretaryEllenMoodieandAdvisoryBoardMemberSonjaWolfcouldnotattendthemeetinggivenatimeconflictwiththeirplannedconferencepanel.Atthetimeofthemeeting,SectionMembershipstoodat225members,entitlingtheSectionto4sessionsatLASA2012.

ThefirstitemontheagendawasareminderandexplanationofthenewelectioncycleinkeepingwiththechangesmadetoLASA’selectoralprocess.YajairaPadillaexplainedthatthisyeartheSectionwouldneedtoelectanewco-chair(toreplaceher)aswellasanewsecretary;thenewco-chairwouldserveatermofoneyearandthesecretaryatermoftwoyears.TheSectionco-chairsaskedfornominationsforbothpositionsandproceededtoexplainthaton-lineelectionswouldbeheldimmediatelyfollowingtheCongress.ThenewSectionofficerswouldassumetheirpositionsonJune1st.TwonominationsweremadeforCo-chair(YansiPérezandEllenMoodie),butnotforsecretary.JoséJuanColínaskedthatmemberssendnominationsforsecretarytoeitherco-chairviaemail.

TheseconditemfordiscussionwastheroleoftheSectiontreasurerandthatof

cooperationfromtheSecretariat,theSectionheldaspecialsession“DevelopmentModelsandCurrentContextinBolivia”attheMarriottonSundayMay27from10-a.m.-2p.m.About20personsattendedandthediscussionwastapedforreviewandpossiblepublicationbytheBolivianStudiesJournal(CLASUniversityofPittsburgh).

Brazil César Braga-Pinto and Eduardo R. Gomes, Co-chairs

TheBrazilSectionBusinessMeetingwasheldonMay24,2012.Themeetingwasconductedbytheco-chairs,with32peoplepresent.TheTreasurerEmanuelleOliveirapresentedtheannualreportaboutthemembershipandfinancialsituationoftheSection.Asofthatday,theSectionhad382members.

Theelectionofnewmembersforvariouspositionswasthenannounced.Throughpreviousinternetvoting,DesmondArias(CUNY)andPedroErber(Cornell)wereelectedthetwonewco-chairsoftheSection,andAmyChazkel,thenewTreasurer.AngelaPaiva,JohnD.French,IvaniVassoler-Froelich,andJosephMarqueswerechosentofourvacantpositionsoftheExecutiveCouncil.

TheSectionawardswerepresentednext.Theprizeforbestbook,wasofferedtoJerryDávila’s(NorthCarolina)Hotel Trópico: Brazil and the Challenge of African Decolonization, 1950-1980.TheawardforbestarticlewasgiventoJohnD.French(Duke)andLuizValente(Brown),whoendeduptied.French’sworkwasHow the Not So Powerless Prevail: Industrial Labor Market Demand and the Contours of Militancy in Mid Twentieth Century São Paulo, Brazil,HAHR90:1;whereasValente’swasHistory, Fiction and National Identity in J. U. Ribeiro’s An Invincible Memory and R. Coover ‘s The Public Burning,Chasqui15(1).ThenewawardforbestDissertationwasgiventoUriRosenheck,Fighting for Home Abroad : Remembrance and Oblivion of World War II in Brazil,fromEmoryUniversity.Inaddition,thePrizeCommitteedecidedtoofferanHonoraryMentiontoAmy

lasaforum fall 2012 : volume xliii : issue 4

46

descripcióndeloscargos.Lamembresíaaprobóenformaunánime.

ElpremioMonserratOrdóñez2012fuepresentadoporElviraSánchez,CoordinadoradelComité.EltrabajoganadorfueCuentan. Relatos de escritoras colombianas contemporáneas. Selección y prólogo de Luz Mary Giraldo.Editoras:PalomaPérez,ClaudiaIvonneGiraldo yLucíaDonadíoquerecibeelpremiode$500.SeotorgaronmencionesdehonoraMujeres que hacen historia. Tierra, cuerpo y política en el Caribe colombiano,informedelGrupodeMemoriaHistóricadelaComisiónNacionaldeReparaciónyReconciliación,EditoraMaríaEmmaWillsyDecimos, Hacemos, Somos. Discurso, Identidades de género y sexualidadesde GabrielaCastellanosLlanos

ElpremioMichaelJiménez2012fuepresentadoporBrettTroyan,Coordinadoradelcomité.EllibroganadorfueViolent Democratization. Social Movements, Elites and Politics in Colombia´s Rural War Zones, 1984-2008 deLeahAnneCarroll.SeentregaronmencionesdehonoraRicardoEsquivelTrianaporNeutralidad y orden. Política exterior y militar en Colombia, 1886-1918 yaJuanaSuárezporSitios de contienda: producción cultural colombiana y el discurso de la violencia.

LareuniónconcluyóconunemotivohomenajedeagradecimientoyentregadeunaplacaaArturoEscobarportodassuscontribucionescomocolega,investigador,activistayprofesor.LeahCarrollofrecióunaspalabrasanombredelaSecciónColombiaLASA;CarlosRoseroanombredelascomunidadesafrocolombianasyungrupodeestudiantesleyódiferentestestimoniosyagradecimientos.

Durantelareuniónseagradecióalos/lassiguientescolegasdelEjecutivoydeloscomitésporsutrabajoenvariosfrentes.Trasconvocatoriaaeleccionesyalnotenernuevosvoluntarios,salvoporelcomitéasesor,losmiembrosdelactualComitéEjecutivosonJuanaSuárez,Chair;LinadelCastillo,Co-Chair;ConstanzaLópez,Coordinadoradecomunicaciones.ComitéAsesor:VirginiaBouvier(segundotérmino);OlgaSanmiguel(primertérmino);LeahCarroll(Memoriadelaseccióny

premioMichaelJiméneze,igualmente,paracrearunabecaparaestudiantesgraduados.Elpasosiguienteseríalograrconseguirfondosparaunabecaquepermitamayorparticipacióndegruposindígenasy/oafrodescendientesenelCongresoInternacionaldeLASA.Seinvitóalamembresíaasugerirdonantesoinstitucionesalasquepodamosapelarparaestasiniciativas.

Sobrelare-estructuracióndecomités,elcomitéejecutivodeterminólanecesidadderepensarladinámicadeloscomitésparalograrmayorparticipacióndelamembresíaymayoresresultados.ConexcepcióndelosComitésparalosPremiosMonserratOrdóñezyMichaelJiménezquehanfuncionadoenformaeficienteyactiva,seaprobóenformaunánimelasiguientemodificaciónalosestatutosdelasección:“Enarasdemayorefectividadyunaparticipaciónactivadelamembresía,elcomitéejecutivoresolvióeldía25demayoreconsiderarlaexistenciadecomitéspermanentesyreemplazarlosporcomitésad hoc.EnelcasodelComitédeDerechosHumanos,habrádosmiembrosfuncionandocomoliaison,unoenColombiaotroenEU,quesiempreestaránenloscomitésperolacategoríaad hocpermitiráquecolegasinteresadosodirectamenteafectadosporunasituaciónocasoparticularpuedanparticiparenformamásproactivaenlagestiónrequeridadelasección”

Enelcasodelosestudiantesgraduados,seharáunaencuestaparadeterminarcómopuedelaseccióntrabajarafavordelosestudiantesyadjudicarlesunrolmásactivoenlaSección.Encuantoalarecuperacióndelamembresía,elnúmerodemiembrosdelaSecciónlogrósobrepasarlos200alcomienzodelperiodoperoestamosdenuevoenaproximadamente135.Sereiterólainvitaciónarenovarlamembresíayaanimaracolegasyestudiantesapagarlacuotadelaseccióncuandorenuevensucicloconlaasociación.Respectoalaseleccionesparaloscargosdelcomitéejecutivo,sepropusorevisarelsistemadeeleccionesyutilizarunmecanismomásamplioeincluyente.Sevotóparasabersilamembresíaasistenteapoyaunaconvocatoriaparaelecciones,previa

The Co-chair elections took place through email during the first few days of June. Ellen Moodie (University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign) and José Juan Colín (University of Oklahoma) were elected co-chairs for 2012-2013. Cecilia Rivas (UC Santa Cruz) was selected as secretary/treasurer of the Section.

Colombia Juana Suárez, Chair

LaSecciónColombiasereunióeldía26demayodel2012,conunaasistenciade26miembros.EnelespaciodedicadoaanunciossepresentóunasolicituddecolaboracióndeFellowshipforReconciliationeiniciativasdeposiblescolaboracionesconWOLAylaAsociacióndeColombianistas.JuanaSuárezofreciódisculpasanombredelComitéEjecutivoporlaparquedaddelarecepciónsocial,organizadajuntoalaseccióndeCinelanochedel25demayo.ElinconvenientehaceobvioqueelsistemaderecepciónpropuestoporLASAescostosoypocoproductivoanivelsocialporlotantoserecomendaráconsiderarotrasopcionesparalapróximaversióndelcongreso.

Enelreportegeneraldelejecutivo,seinformósobrelasgestionesadelantadasporelcomitéduranteelperiodo2010-2012.Respectoacomunicaciones,sehaactualizadotantoelwebsitedelaSeccióncomoelsitioanexoalsitiodeLASA.LaSecciónhaabiertounapáginaenFacebook(LasaColombia)yunacuentaenTwitter(#Lasa_Colombia)quecomplementanperonoreemplazanlaspáginaswebyelboletín.Sereportaronadelantosencuantoabecasypremiosdelasección,loscomitésparalospremiostrabajaronensimplificarlosrequisitosydescripcióndelosmismos.EnconsultaconlosdonantesdelPremioMonserratOrdóñezsehahechouncambiomayorqueconsisteenalternarunaversióndetrabajoacadémicocontrabajocreativoparafortalecerlaproduccióndelúltimo(literaturaescritapormujeres)yasítenermayormaterialparalarealizacióndeartículos,monografíasytrabajoacadémicoengeneral.Sehatrabajadoactivamenteenincrementarelnúmerodebecasqueofrecelasección;seestánadelantandoconversacionesparadotardefondosel

47

conferencetheSecretariatsentanofficialmailwiththesignaturestogovernmentoffices,politiciansandmediainMexico.

CP&PhadagoodshowinginSanFranciscowithfourSectionslotsandtwomorechanneledthroughtheregulartracksystem.Wealsoheldourcustomarycompetitionfortravelgrants.Weawardedfourgrantsof500U$eachtohelpSectionmembersattendLASA2012.Theywenttothreedoctoralstudentsandonejuniormemberofstaff.TherecipientswereCalumMcNeil,MaríaBrockmanRojas,VivianNedwickandAntonioTorresRuiz.

InSanFranciscoweheldourBusinessMeetingandelections.ThelineupofourcurrentCouncilmembersisasfollows:JonBeasley-Murray,co-chair(UniversityofBritishColumbia);SilviaAres,co-Chair(IndependentScholar);AnaWortman(InstitutodeInvestigacionesGinoGermani);JoséPoblete(UniversityofCalifornia/SantaCruz);JustinRead(UniversityofBuffalo)andAntonioRuiz.

TheagendafortheCouncil’sone-yeartermincludesorganizingtheCP&PsessionsforLASA2013,updatingtheSection’swebsiteandweedingtheListservofdormantaccounts.

Decentralization and Sub-national Governance Julián Durazo Herrmann and Tyler Dickovick, Co-chairs

TheDecentralizationandSubnationalGovernanceSectionofLASAhadasuccessfulCongressinSanFranciscoin2012,havingsponsoredtwopanelsandorganizedathird. Attendancewasrelativelygood,exceptforthelateSaturdaypanel,whichseemstohavesufferedfromthescheduling.Inallcases,thecommentatorsdidagreatjobandparticipationfromthepublicwasexcellent.

Atthebusinessmeeting,theSectionelectedLauraFlamand(ElColegiodeMéxico)asthenewSectionchair.LaurawillbeassistedbyLorenaMoscovich(UniversidaddeBuenosAires)andoutgoingofficersJuliánDurazoHerrmann(UniversitéduQuébecàMontréal)andTylerDickovick

presentedtheawardtoMiguelBarnet,presidentofUNEAC,whoacceptedtheawardforNancyMorejón;KathleenWeaver,poetandtranslatorofNancy’swriting,readoneofherpoems,followedbyareadinginSpanishbyJohnDumoulin.OtherhighlightsofthemeetingincludedaminuteofsilenceinhonorofDebraEvensonandMaxAzicri,colleagueswhopassedawayinrecentmonths,thefirstroundofvotinginSectionelections,areportontheresolutionontheCubanFiveinitiatedbyJeanWeisman,andotherannouncements.TheSectionreceptionfollowedthebusinessmeeting,9:00-11:00pm,atSomaRestaurantandBar.

TheSectionsponsoredthreepanelsattheSanFranciscocongress,allofwhichwereverywellattended:“TheStateofCubanStudiesWorkshopsIandII”and“Unacercamientoalprocesodeajustedelmodeloecónomicocubano.”

ElectronicvotingbythosewhodidnotattendtheSectionbusinessmeetinginSanFranciscoconstitutedthesecondstageofourSectionelections.TwomembersoftheSectionExecutivehavecompletedtheirthree-yeartermsontheExecutiveCommittee,MirenUriarteandMayraEspín.ThecontinuingmembersoftheSectionExecutiveareIraidaLópez(ExecutiveCommittee/outsideofCuba),CarlosAlzugaray(ExecutiveCommittee/inCuba),andDouglasFriedman(Treasurer).Theresultsofthe2012electionsare:JorgeMarioSánchez(Co-chair/inCuba);SherylLutjens(Co-chair/outsideofCuba);MilagrosMartínez(ExecutiveCommittee/inCuba);andLanaWylie(ExecutiveCommittee/outsideofCuba).

Culture, Power & Politics Benjamin Arditi, Chair

ThemainactivityofCP&PwastoorganizetheSection’ssessionsinLASA2012andtofacilitatethecirculationofinformationsentbymembers–events,researchgrants,andsoon.WealsocollectedsignaturesforacommuniquédemandinganendtothekillingofacademicsandjournalistsinMexico.TheMexicoSectionandtheLASAExecutiveCouncilsupportedourinitiativeandaftertheSanFrancisco

tesorera);BrianBurke,Webmaster:BrianBurke.

Cuba Sheryl Lutjens, Co-chair

TheCubaSectioncontinuestopromoteacademicrelationsamongCuban,U.S.,andotherscholarsandworkedactivelytopromotetheparticipationofacademicsandintellectualsresidentinCubainLASA’sXXXInternationalCongressinSanFranciscoinMay2012.Theeffortsofindividuals,organizations,andtheSectionleadershiptowardacademicexchangeinthecontextofLASAareseenintheapproximately200paperorpanelproposalssubmittedbyCubanscholars,nearly100ofwhichwereapprovedbytheProgramCommittee.ReturningtoU.S.territoryforthefirsttimesincethe2005CongressinPuertoRico,therewasgreatsurpriseanddisappointmentthatvisasweredeniedto10Cubanscholars.Seventy-fourCubansparticipatedintheSanFranciscoCongress,theirtravelsupportedinwholeorinpartbyLASA,theFordFoundation,theSSRC,theReynoldsFoundation,andotherinstitutionsandorganizations.Arangeofinstitutionsandresearchcenterswererepresented,andtheparticipationofMarielaCastroEspín,headoftheCenterfortheStudyofSexualEducation,attractedattentionbyLASAmembers,thepublic,andthemedia.TheexceptionalworkofCarmenCastilloandMilagrosMartínezinfacilitatingthepromotionofparticipationinLASAisgreatlyappreciated,especiallygiventhatbothCarmitaandMilagrosweredeniedvisastoattendtheSanFranciscoCongress.

TheSectionhad296membersatthestartofJune2012.TheSectionbusinessmeetingwasheldonThursdayevening,May24,withapproximately125(membersandothers)attending.TheagendaofthemeetingincludedaninitialdiscussionofthestateofU.S.-Cubaacademicrelationsandspecifically,thedenialofvisasto10Cubanparticipants,theresponseofLASA,andtheSectionresolutionandotherpossibleactions.ThepresentationoftheSectionAwardforLifetimeContributiontoCubanStudiestoNancyMorejónfollowed.IraidaLópez,ChairofthePrizeCommittee,

lasaforum fall 2012 : volume xliii : issue 4

48

meetingclashedwithapanelonwhichtwooftheSection’sadvisorycouncilmemberswerepresentingpapers).Hence,itwasagreedtoconsulttheSectionmembersviaanemailabouttwoissuesdiscussedatthemeeting.Membershavebeenaskedtocomment(agreeordisagree)onthefollowing:1)WhethertheSectionChairandCommitteeshouldholdofficefortwoyearterms,giventhatLASAwillmeetevery12months;and2)whethertheSectionshouldawardtwoprizeforarticlespublishedbySection Members only–oneopentoallSectionmembersandtheotheronlytoearlycareeracademics(i.e.articlespublishedbypost-graduatestudentsorwithinthreeyearsofawardofaPhD). PrizeswouldbeselectedbyacommitteeofSectionmembers.

Thevastmajorityofvotersagreedwithbothproposals,andassuchtheSectionplanstomoveforwardwithbothpropositions.TheSectionofficerswererenewedforanotheryearasagreedbythemembershipviaemail:MahrukhDoctor(UniversityofHull),Chair;DiegoSanchez(Oxford),Secretary-Treasurer;andAndrewSchrank(UniversityofNewMexico)andKenShadlen(LondonSchoolofEconomicsandPoliticalScience)asAdvisoryCouncilmembers.

Ecuadorian Studies Carmen Martínez Novo, Chair

NineteenmembersattendedtheEcuadorianStudiesBusinessMeetinginSanFrancisco.TheChairreviewedtheactivitiesthattheSectionhascarriedoutsincetheMontrealmeeting.WeorganizedtheFifthEncounterofourSectioninQuitoonJune1-3,2011.Wehad59panelsand265papers.OurkeynotespeakerswereMarcBeckerfromTrumanStateUniversityandCarmenDianaDeerefromUniversityofFlorida,Gainesville,withJaquelineContrerasfromFLACSO,Ecuador.Inadditiontothepanelswehadafilmfestivalandabookexhibit.

Ourmembershiphasrisenfrom102membersin2009to122membersin2011.Wegavetwotravelgrantsforgraduatestudentsthisyear.OnewenttoNickRattrayfromtheUniversityofArizonaand

ZuñigaCollado(RESDAL)asthenewmembersoftheexecutivecommittee.LizaandMaiahwilljoinDeborahNordenandJoseManuelUgarteasthefourmemberexecutivecommittee.

KristinaMani’spaper“ResourcefulMilitaries:NewEconomicRoles,NewChallengesforDemocracy”wasselectedasthebestpaperpresentedbyaSectionmemberatthe2010Torontomeeting.Kristinawasrecognizedatthebusinessmeetingandshereceivedamonetaryaward.BudgetpermittingtheSectionwillagaincallfornominationsandselectabestpaperforthe2012SanFranciscomeeting.ThatdecisionwillbemadebythenewSectionleadership.TheSectionalsosupportedtwoparticipantswithtravelgrants,NataliaVargasPalaciosandJuanCarlosRuizVásquez.

Unfortunately,therewasadeclineinmembershipbetweentheTorontoandSanFranciscomeetings.AsaresultwemayonlybeabletosponsoronepanelattheWashington2013meeting.

Finally,wediscussedwaysofincreasingcommunicationamongmembers,suchasaFacebookgrouppage.Inthemeantime,memberswereencouragedtosenditemsofinterestforuploadingtothewebpage

Economics and Politics Mahrukh Doctor, Chair

TheEconomicsandPoliticsSectionaimstopromotepolicyrelevantdialogueaswellaspurescholarshipattheintersectionofeconomicsandpolitics.AttheLASACongressinSanFrancisco,theSectionorganizedtwopanelstodiscuss(i)changingdevelopmentstrategiesinLatinAmerica,and(ii)theimpactofconditionalcashtransferprogramsonpoliticsandtheeconomy.Thepanelsreflectedontheoreticalandcomparativedimensionsofeachissue,discussingavarietyofcountryexperiences.Bothpanelswerewellattendedandtheparticipantsraisedanumberofimportantissuesinthediscussionfollowingthepresentations.

TheSectionBusinessmeetingwasonlyattendedbyfourmembers(infactthe

(WashingtonandLeeUniversity.)Alsoatthemeeting,itwasannouncedthatImkeHarbershadearnedtheSection’sbestpaperawardforthepreviousLASAconference,forherpaperentitled“PublicFundingandtheDynamicsofElectoralCompetitioninMexicanStates”.ThefinalitemintheagendawastheannouncementthattheSection’swebsiteisupandrunningandthatitisopentocontributionsfromallSectionmembers.

OurcurrentSectionmembershipisat55members,whichmeanstheSectionisentitledtoasinglepanelatLASA2013. Severalcurrentmembers,includingthoselistedabove,willbeworkingtoencouragenewandformermemberstoregister.  

TheDecentralizationandSubnationalGovernanceSectionsponsoredthefollowingpanelsatLASA2012:“DecentralizationandSocialPolicy:ServiceProvision&FeedbackEffects”;and“DecentralizationandSocialForces: ConsequencesandResponses.”

InadditiontothetwoofficialSection-sponsoredpanelstheSectionorganizedathirdpanelthroughLASA’sgeneralprogramentitled“SubnationalandIntergovernmentalPowerPolitics”.

Defense, Public Security and Democracy Bertha Garcia-Gallegos and Orlando J. Pérez, Co-chairs

TheSectionBusinessMeetingwascalledtoorderat6:45pm,Friday,May25withaquorumof18memberspresent.

BerthaGarciaandOrlandoPerezconcludedtheirtermasco-chairseffectiveJune1.TheywereelectedattheRiomeetingin2009andre-electedinToronto.AttheSanFranciscobusinessmeetingHaroldTrinkunas(NavalPostgraduateSchool)andMarcosRobledoHoecker(UniversidadDiegoPortalesdeChile)wereelectedco-chairs.

DavidPion-BerlinandMariaCelinaD’Araujoconcludedtheirtermontheexecutivecommittee.MembersthenelectedMaiahJaskoski(NavalPostgraduateSchool)andLizaLorenza

49

AttheSectionBusinessmeetingonFridaythereweresixinattendance,includingtwopastSectionchairs.Toensurecontinuityofleadershipandintegrationofnewleadership,beginningatthe2013CongressinWashington,theSectionwillalternateelectionofco-chairs,withchairsservingstaggeredtwo-yearterms.Thisyear,HoranandCushmanagreedtocontinueasco-chairsintheinterim.BecauseanearlyafternoonmeetingtimemeantlimitedattendancetheSectionwillrequesta4:30businessmeeting,toallowmemberstoparticipateinmorethanoneSectionbusinessmeeting,butatmoreamenabletimefortheENVSection.

TheSectionwillsubmitaproposalforoneworkshop“NewDirectionsinEnvironmentalResearch”(K.McCaffreytoorganize)andonepanel:“EnvironmentalIssuesinUrbanContexts”(chairstoorganize.)AlsoforLASA2013wewillorganizeadinnerandafieldtripandwillexploreorganizingaWednesdayexcursiontoBaltimorefocusedonmarineenvironmentandmaritimeactivitiesorurbanenvironmentaljustice.AsanalternativewewillexploreajointfieldtripwiththeRuralStudiesSection.

AsaservicetoSectionmembers,willuseanew“scheduleapp”toproduceanenvironmentallythemedscheduleofCongresspanelsandactivities,distributedasPDFscreenshot.TwotravelgrantswillbeprovidedbytheSection.Duetolackofinterest,wewillnolongerhaveareception.

Inadditiontothelistserv,theSectionwillcreateaFacebookpageinthefallasanalternativewaytodistributeinfo,best/worstpractices,andmembernews.

Todrawattentiontoenvironmentally-themedpanels,theSectionwillexploresubmittingajointSection/trackchairproposaltotheLASAPresidentandtheExecutiveCouncil(EC)tochangenameoftheBIOtrackto“Environment,Biodiversity,andNaturalResources”(ENV)andtoindexpanelsundertwotracks(oneprimary,onesecondary).[Update: 2013 track chairs in support of change pursued this issue at the track chair meeting; the Secretariat agreed that these are workable ideas and provided guidelines

emancipación.”ThenewchairswillberesponsiblefororganizingtheSectionsessionsforthenextCongress.Therewasalsoinformationaboutthewebsite,whosefunctioningwasconsideredbyparticipantstobeapriorityforthenextchairs.Followingthisparticipantsalsosharedinformationoncongresses:theVXComparativeEducationWorldCongress(BuenosAires,24-28.06.2013);theCIESWesternConference(ArizonaStateUniversity25-27.10.2012),andtheXXXVCongresoInteramericanodelCircoloAmerindiano(Perugia,Italy,May2013.TheSectionalsoapprovedtheendorsementofamotionbyLASApresidencytoUSofficialsregardingrecentdenialsofvisastoLASAmembersfromCuba.Finally,thememberselectedthefollowingofficers:DanielSchugurensky(ArizonaStateUniversity),chair;CecíliaPittelli(UniversidaddeBuenosAires)co-chair;andMarkAbendroth(SUNY/EmpireStateCollege);FelipedeJesúsPérezCruz(UniónNacionaldeHistoriadoresdeCuba);ManuelLarrabure(YorkUniversity);andDaniloStreck(UniversidadedoValedoRiodosSinos)asCouncilmembers.

Environment Jennifer Horan and Gregory T. Cushman, Co-chairs

TheSectionworkshopatLASA2012“NewDirectionsinLatinAmericanEnvironmentalResearch21”registeredparticipantspluslatearrivalswithinstitutionalaffiliationsfrom8pluscountries.Allparticipantspresentedaspectsoftheirongoingresearch,leadingtomediateddiscussionofcurrenttrends.Keyissueswereurban-ruralrelationships,cultureofsustainability,disciplinaryintegrationofnaturalandsocialsciences,“forgotten”environments,normsofproceduralaccess;bestandworstenvironmentalpractices.

TheSectionpanel“ClimateChangeandGovernanceinLatinAmerica”hadfourpanelistsplusthechair&discussantrepresentingfivecountries,withapproximately25inattendance.TheSectionalsoorganizedaninformalSectiondinnerfor14.TheSectionawardednoprizesortravelgrants.

theothertoMaríaMorenofromtheUniversityofKentucky.ThedirectoryoftheSectionselectedthewinningproposals.IntheSanFranciscomeetingtheSectionsponsoredtwopanels:OneorganizedbyKettyWongfromUniversityofKansasandthesecondbyRutRománfromUniversityofVirginiaCollege/Wise.

IntheSectionelectionswecompletelyrenewedourdirectory.RutRomán(UniversityofVirginiaCollege/Wise)waselectedasthenewchair.JulieWilliams(UniversidadSanFranciscodeQuito)becamevice-president.NicholasRattray(UniversityofArizona),NormanGonzalez(UniversityofMaryland),JenniferCollins(UniversityofWisconsinStevensPoint),andKathleenFineDare(FortLewisCollege)wereelectedvocals.ThemaindecisionsmadeatthemeetingarethattheSectionwillorganizeitsnextencounterinQuitoin2013,andthattheSectionwillcreateanawardforthebestbookinEcuadorianStudies.Acommitteewasformedtoimplementthegoals.

Educación y Políticas Educativas en América Latina Danilo Romeu Streck, Chair

TheSectionMeetingtookplaceasscheduledduringtheLASACongressProgramandwasattendedby14members.Thefirstitemoftheagendaconsistedofinformationpresentedbythecurrentchair.Hecommunicatedthatduetohealthproblemstheco-chair,MarthaNepomneschi,couldnotbepresent.InMay,theSectioncountsatotalof95members,alittlelessthenatthepreviousmeeting.Thereshouldbeanefforttoincreasemembership,sincemanyparticipantsintheCongresswhopresentpapersoneducationarenotregisteredasSectionmembers.

TheSectionpresentedtwosessionsattheCongressinSanFrancisco,whichexpresssomeofthebasicinterestsoftheparticipantsatLASA:“EducaciónenAméricaLatina:Lofundacionalenlaconstruccióndefuturo”and“Investigacionesystudiossobreexperienciaseducativascomoinstrumentdeaperture,descubrimiento,avancey

lasaforum fall 2012 : volume xliii : issue 4

50

FranciscoCongressandtheactivitiesbetweenthetwoCongresses.ELASsuccessfullyparticipatedintheSanFranciscoCongresswiththepanel:“TheEuropeanUnion:AnormativepowerintherelationshipwithLatinAmerica?”andtheWorkshop“Cuba,EuropeandUnitedStatestimesofchanges”.TheSectioncomplainedabouttherefusalofvisastoseveralCubanparticipants,whichaffectedvariouspanelsoftheCongress,includingoneofthepanelsoftheEuropeanSection.Inspiteofthisnegativeaspect,theEuropeanandLatinAmericaSectionparticipationwasquitegoodandgaveinterestingresults.TheSectionalsosponsoredfourotherpanelsintheInternationalRelationsTrack“Newperspectivesofregionalandextra-regionalrelationsofLatinAmerica”,“InternationalCooperationinLatinAmerica:IssuesoftheInterregionalAgenda”,“ThePoliticsandFinancesofLatinAmericanRegionalism:PartI,Politics”and“LatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanAssessmentandPerspectives.”

Atthismoment,theELASSectionhas74members.Therewere25memberspresentattheBusinessMeeting,duetothedepartureofseveralmemberspriortothemeeting.Theexpensesofthisperiodwere,firstlywiththeSectionWebpageand,secondly,asthetravelgrantsforthetwosponsoredpanels(atraditionoftheSection.)Severaltopicsweresuggestedduringthemeeting;notablyabroadconsensuswasreachedonfocusingtheaspectsofthe“Impact of the economic crisis upon the birregional relations”,eitherdirectlyorinsomehorizontalissues.

Sectionmemberselectedasco-chairsincludeAnnaAyuso(Cidob,Barcelona),andChristianGhymers(IRELAC-ICHEC,Brussels).TheelectedmembersoftheExecutiveCommitteeincludeBertHoffmann(GIGAGermanInstituteofGlobalandAreaStudies,Hamburg);CarlosQuenan(UniversitydelaSorbonneNouvelle),MiriamGomesSaraiva(UniversidadedoEstadodoRiodeJaneiro),SebastiánSantander(UniversitédeLiege,Liege);andEricaSimoneA.Resende(UniversidadeFederalRuraldoRiodeJaneiro).

decisionwasreachedregardingaSectionaward.

Activitiesduringthe2011-2012termincludedthe2ndERIPConference,organizedbyERIP,CILAS-UCSD(CenterforIberianandLatinAmericanStudies,UniversityofCalifornia,SanDiego),andLACES(LatinAmericanandCaribbeanEthnicStudies,journalpublishedbyTaylor&Francis,heldNovember3-5,2011attheUniversityofCalifornia,SanDiego.ItcoveredawidevarietyoftopicsrelatedtoIndigenouspeoplesandAfro-descendantsinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean.TheconferencecommitteeconsistedofDavidMares(CILAS),ShannonSpeed(ERIP,andLeonZamosc(LACES.)Morethan300participants,includingacademicsfromalldisciplinesinthehumanitiesandsocialsciencesandactivistsandpractitionersfromgrassrootsorganizationsandNGOs,participatedintheconference.Theprogramfeatured67thematicpanels,presentationsbyfeaturedspeakers,andreceptionsandotherevents.AkeynoteaddresswasgivenbyProf.LynnStephen(UniversityofOregon),entitled“OtrosSaberes:InsightsfromAfro-DescendantandIndigenousPeoplesinLatinAmerica.”

TwoawardsforBestGraduateStudentpaperweregiven.Twopublicationsresultedfromtheconference:LatinAmericanandCaribbeanEthnicStudiesspecialissueonBolivia,andabookincludingmanyofthehighqualityconferencepapers,currentlybeingeditedbyMarcBeckerandpublishedbySussexUniversityPress.

TheERIPSectionheldareceptionwithacashbarattheCongress.TwodoublesessionswerehostedbytheSection.

Europe and Latin America (ELAS) Anna Ayuso and Christian Ghymers, Co-Chairs

TheSectionBusinessMeetingstartedwithareportbythetwoco-chairselectedduringthepreviousLASAInternationalCongress–MiriamSaraiva(UniversidadedoEstadodoRiodeJaneiro)andCarlosQuenan(UniversitydelaSorbonneNouvelle.)TheirreportcoveredtheresultsoftheSan

for submitting a formal proposal to the incoming president and the EC, for consideration and possible implementation for the 2014 Congress.]

Ethnicity, Race and indigenous Peoples Shannon Speed, Chair

Electionswereheldviaemailpriortotheannualmeeting.Theresultswere:EmikoSaldívarTanaka(UniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbara)Chair;EmiliodelValleEscalante(UniversityofNorthCarolina,ChapelHill),Secretary-treasurer.ConsejomembersincludeTracyDevineGuzman(UniversityofMiami)andJulietHooker(UniversityofTexasatAustin).ContinuingmembersareLuisCárcamoHuechante(UniversityofTexas/Austin)andMargoTamez(UniversityofBritishColumbiaOkanagan).OutgoingmembersareShannonSpeedandRichStahler-Sholk.

TheSectionbusinessmeetingwasheldduringtheLASACongressinSanFrancisco.Itwasattendedby12people.Theagendawasasfollows:a.Introductions;b.Reportonelectionresultsandnewofficers;c.Reportonmembership;d.Budgetreport;e.DiscussionofERIPconference2013,includingwhetheritshouldbeannualandwhetheritshouldbeanimmediateprioritytoholditinLatinAmerica;f.DiscussionofextendingtermofChairfrom1.5yearsto2years,duetochangeinLASAmeetingschedule;g.DiscussionofSectionlistserve,websiteandsocialmediamaintenance;andh.DiscussionofthecreationofaSectionawardtobegivenoutatLASAtoraisetheprofileoftheSection.

ItwasreportedthattheSectionnowhas251members;sufficienttoallowustoinvitefourpanelsfornextyear’sLASAinWashington,D.C.

Decisionsincludedthefollowing:a.ThetermoftheSectionchairwillbeextendedto2years;b.theERIPemail-listservewillbeunmonitored;c.aFacebookpagewillbecreated;d.the3rdERIPconferencewillbeheldinfall2013;e.acallforproposalstohosttheconferencewillbedisseminated;andf.a“Callforproposals”willbepreparedforERIP’sconference.No

51

quehubieranobtenidosudoctoradoapartirdel2007yparaestudiantestrabajandoensusdisertaciones.ElcomitédeselecciónestuvointegradoporMontserratSagot,ElisabethMaieryConstanzaTabbush.Lasganadorasfueron:Primerlugar:SilkeStaabconsutrabajo:“(En)genderingthePost-neoliberalSocialState:ChangeandContinuityinChileanSocialPolicy”;segundolugar:HillaryHinerconsutrabajo:“Nuncavalidaronnuestrotrabajo:Pobladoras,violenciadegéneroyciudadaníaenChile,1990-2010”;Tercerlugar:PaschaBueno-Hansenconsutrabajo:“FeministHemisphericDialogues.”

Porsuparte,SaraPoggioyMaríaAmeliaViteriinformaronsobreelprocesodeedicióndellibroqueseestáfinanciandoconelremanentedelosfondosdeladonaciónhechaporUNIFEMhaceunosaños.Conestepropósito,sefirmóunconvenioconFLACSO-Ecuador,paralaedicióndellibroqueincluirálostrabajosganadoresdelPremio“ElsaChaney”delosañosanteriores.

Lareunióntambiénfueaprovechadaparainformarsobrelaexitosapreconferencia“LatinAmericanFeministandLGBTQMovements:DialoguesacrossBordersandBoundaries,co-organizadaenconjuntoconlaSeccióndeSexualidades.Lapreconferenciatuvolugarelmiércoles23demayoenunespaciocomunitario,el“Women`sBuilding,”ycontóconlaasistenciademásde100personas.LostrespanelesorganizadosestuvieronconformadosporintegrantesdeambasSeccionesparadiscutirtemáticascomolarelacióndelosmovimientosfeministasyLGBTQconelEstado,género,feminismosysexualidadestransnacionales,yencuentrosydesencuentrosentrelosmovimientosfeministasyLGBTQ.Laevaluacióndelapre-conferenciaporpartedelasasistentesfuemuypositivayseaprovechóparareconocertodoeltrabajologísticodeElisabethJayFriedman,comocontactolocal,loquecontribuyódeformadecisivaaléxitodelaactividad.

Sediscutiótambiénsobrelasperspectivasdelapróximapre-conferenciayaunquehubounreconocimientodeltrabajoconjuntoconlaSeccióndeSexualidades,algunasintegrantesopinaronqueparala

posibilidaddecontactaraembajadasenWashingtonparaobtenercolaboracionesycontactos.

Gender and feminist Studies Montserrat Sagot y Millie Thayer, Co-chairs

ElBusinessMeetingdelaSeccióntuvolugarelviernes25deMayoconunaasistenciadeaproximadamente40personas.LareuniónestuvocoordinadaporMillieThayer(UniversityofMassachusetts)yMontserratSagot(UniversidaddeCostaRica),Co-chairs,asícomoporElisabethFriedman(UniversityofSanFrancisco),Secretary-Treasurer.SeinformóqueenestemomentolaSeccióntiene237miembrosloquenospermitedenuevoorganizarcuatropanelesparaelsiguienteLASA.

SeinformatambiénquedesdehaceunañoaproximadamentesecreóunListserveparalaSección(originalmenteadministradoporGracielaMonteagudo)yquehasidounabuenaformadecomunicación,porloquesesugieremantenerloactivoyactualizado.TambiénsehablódelaposibilidaddecrearunapáginaenFacebook.EstavezlaSeccióntuvoderechoaorganizarcuatropaneles.Elprocesofueabierto,pormediodeunaconvocatoriaatodalaSección.Serecibieronunagrancantidaddepropuestasyalfinallasintegrantesdelajuntadirectivahicieronunaselecciónconbaseenunoscriteriosdefinidospreviamente.LospanelesseleccionadosparaserpatrocinadosporlaSecciónfueron:1)GenderingViolenceandMemoryinColombiaandGuatemala:ATransnationalFeministDialogue(AlisonCrosby,organizadora);2)LatinAmerica’sCultureWars:DisputingWomen’sBodies,Rights,Citizenship,andtheHegemonyofCulturalInterpretation(ElizabethMaier,organizadora);3)EngenderingtheDivide:Mujeres,Activismo,VidaprivadayEstado(GracielaMonteagudo,organizadora)y4)Beauty,RaceandFeministTheory:PerspectivesfromLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean(MeganRivers-Moore,organizadora).

SeanunciarontambiénlasganadorasdelPremio“ElsaChaney.”Enestaocasiónelpremioestuvodirigidoa“juniorscholars”

�ForthenextCongressinWashingtontheSectioncanorganisetwopanels;suggestionscanbesenttousbytheendofAugust.

film Studies Dorian Lugo-Bertrán, Co-Chair

EnelFilmStudiesSectionBusinessMeeting,Mayo25,2012,SanFrancisco,California,habíanpresentes16miembros.

Seeligieronlasnuevasautoridadesdelasecciónporvotounánime:TomasF.Crowder(SokaUniversityofAmerica)Chair;CatherineBenamou(UniversityofCalifornia/Irvine),Co-chair;DorianLugo-Bertrán(UniversidaddePuertoRico),Treasurer;

BeatrizUrraca(WidenerUniversity),Secretary;EmperatrizArreaza(UniversidaddeZulia)yVíctorCarreño(UniversidaddelZulia,vocales.

Lasactividadesdelaseccióngestionadaseneltérminocursadoincluyenlasactividadesplaneadasporlasecciónparaelcongresode2012:Unpanelsobremigraciónycine;unworkshopsobrecineeindustria;unworkshopsobre“intermediality”.Además,habian26mesassobrecineenelcongreso.SediocontinuidadalarelaciónconASAECA,auspiciandoelsimposioiberoamericanoarealizarseendiciembre.Secreóunafilosofíadelasecciónenespañol,inglésyportugués,disponibleenlawebdelasección.Seaumentólamembresíadelasección;en2004había90miembrosyen2010,159.Seenfatizaronlostemasinterdisciplinariosymultimedia.SecreóelgrupoYahooparacomunicacionesentrelosmiembros.SecreóunapolíticadecargosparalasecciónqueseencuentraenlapáginawebdeLASAcondescripciones.

Planesfuturos:Sepropusieronsietepaneles/talleresparaLASA2013ysellevaráacabounavotaciónporemailparaelegirdosdeellas.

SeabrióelllamadoalapostulacióndelFestivaldeCineaunacuraduríaparaelcongresodel2013.LosmiembrosdelaSecciónpuedenpostularse.Sehablódela

lasaforum fall 2012 : volume xliii : issue 4

52

thepaneltitled“SecureBorders,InsecureLives:TheHealthandHumanRightsConsequencesofSecurityPoliciesintheU.S.andMexico.”ThepanelreflectedSectionmembers’callforaspecialsessiononmigranthealthatthe2010BusinessMeeting.Thirty-twopeopleattendedthespecialsession,whichincludedexcellentpresentationsonhealthandhumanrightswithinthecontextoftheWaronDrugsandmigrantincarceration,CentralAmericanmigrationacrossMexico,MexicanrefugeesinElPaso,andreformationoftheMéridaInitiative.

Asperthediscussionatthebusinessmeeting,threekeyinitiativeswillguidetheworkofSectionofficersoverthenextyear.Inthecomingterm,HSSwillrevivetheSectionPrizeCompetitionforBestArticleandBestBook.TheBoardMemberswillreviewnominees.Second,theCo-chairswillbegincompilinganonlinebibliographyofscholarshipbySectionmembers.Finally,Sectionofficerswillplanpreand/orpostconferenceSectionactivitiesforLASA2013thatcapitalizeupontheWashingtonD.C.location.

Historia Reciente y Memoria Hillary Hiner, Secretary

Afterthe2010electionsinToronto,theSectiondecidedtomoveforwardonaseriesofinitiativesthatlookedtoexpandSectionmembership,astheSectionitselfwasestablishedonlyashortwhileagoandisstillconsolidatingitsmembershipbaseandLASAimage.TheSectionsecretarycreatedanumberofdigitalplatformsinordertocommunicatewithmembersandcirculateinformationaboutSectionactivities:awebsiteontheLASAsite(forLASAmembers),aFacebookpage(forLASAmembersandnon-LASAmembers),andalsothecontinueduseoftheGoogleGroupcreatedpreviously.

TheRecentHistoryandMemorySectionhasalsoorganizedtwomajoractivitiessince2010.First,during2010,theSectionorganizedaLASApaneltitled“MapeandolasfronterasdelaHistoriaReciente.Nuevasperspectivassobrefuentes,conceptosytemporalidades”forthe2012LASACongressinSanFrancisco.Second,

withtheScholarlyResourcesandResearchSection,“BuildingandRebuildingtheNationalPatrimony:UniversitiesandResearchArchivesRecoveringfromDisaster.”LASAprovidedtravelgrantsforallofourparticipants;unfortunately,twoofthemcouldnotattendtheconference.Wewelcomed,however,CarolinaGonzálezandJeanMarieTheodataspresenters.

WealsoorganizedasharedreceptionwithLatinoStudiesandtheScholarlyResourcesandResearchSectionduringLASA2012. 

TheSectionalsohelpedsponsoraconferenceorganizedbyitsformerchairandfounder,Henry“Chip”Carey,“HaitiaftertheApocalypse:InternationalResponsestotheEarthquakeandtheCholeraEpidemicandtheFutureofHispaniola.”

AttheSectionBusinessMeeting,memberswelcomedthepossibilityofcreatinganawardforthebestpaperpresentedatLASAonaHaitianorDominicantopic.SectionmembersalsoexpressedadesiretotakefulladvantageofLASA2013byinvitingtheSmithsoniantocollaborateontheSectionpanelandotherpossibleactivitiesincoordinationwiththeLASAprogrammingcommittee.

Health, Science, and Society Alexandra Puerto, Co-chair

TheHealth,Science,andSocietySectionBusinessMeetingtookplaceonFriday,May25,at6:30p.m.withelevenpaidmembersandtwopeoplewithlapsedmembershipsinattendance.NewofficerselectedattheBusinessMeetingincludedRebeccaHester(UTMedicalBranch)asCo-chairandJoséAmador(MiamiUniversity)asBoardMember.ThecontinuingofficersareAlexandraPuerto(OccidentalCollege)asCo-chair,PabloGómez(UWMadison)asSecretary/Treasurer,andTâniaSalgadoPimenta(FundaçãoOswaldoCruz),MarcosCueto(InstitutodeEstudiosPeruanos),andNielanBarnes(CSULongBeach)asBoardMembers.

HSSreviewedthreestrongproposalsfora2012specialsessionandchosetosponsor

próximavezdeberíapensarseenunformatounpocodistintoyconsiderarotrastemáticas,comolasmigraciones,sobretodotomandoencuentaelcontextodeunaciudadcomoWashington,DCyquehayalgunascompañerasqueyahanconformadoungrupodeestudiosobremigracionesyqueestánproponiendolaconformacióndeunanuevaSeccióndeLASAconesaárea.OtrassugerenciasfueronunacolaboraciónconlaSeccióndeEtnicidad,RazayPueblosIndígenasylaparticipacióndeactivistaslocalesenWashington.Variaspersonasopinaronqueseriabuenotratardefomentarundiálogodentrodelevento.

SiguiendolasnuevasregulacionesdeLASAparalaeleccióndelasjuntasdirectivasdelasSecciones,enestaocasiónseprocedióaelegiranuevasintegrantes.Laspersonaselectasfueron:VerónicaSchild(UniversityofWesternOntario)yConstanzaTabbush(CONYCET-UniversidaddeBuenosAires),Co-chairsporunaño;ElizabethJayFriedman(UniversityofSanFrancisco),Secretary-treasurercontinúaporunañomás.LosmiembrosdelBoardSaraPoggio(UniversityofMaryland/BaltimoreCounty)yMaríaAmeliaViteri(FLACSO-Ecuador)continúanporunañomás.Pascha-BuenoHansen(UniversityofDelaware)yGabrielaArguedas(UniversidaddeCostaRica)continúanpordosaños.

Haiti/Dominican Republic April Mayes and Kiran Jayaram, Co-chairs

Byconsensus,Sectionco-chairsKiranJayaram(ColumbiaCollege/TeachersCollege)andAprilMayes(PomonaCollege)willcontinuetoleadtheSectionuntilLASA2013. 

TheSectionhasfocusedongrowthforthepastyearandreceivedmanynewmembers.TheSectionnowhasapresenceonFacebookandtwoemailgroupswithover100interestedpeople.ThecurrentchallengeremainsgrowingtheSectionsothatHaiti-D.R.andtherestoftheCaribbeancanenjoygreaterrepresentationwithinLASA.

Thispastyear,theSectionqualifiedforonepanel.Weorganizedconcurrentpanels

53

panelsforthenextCongress;4)announcedthewinnersofdissertation,article,andbookawards;and5)openedupconversationtodiscussthefutureoftheSectionwithinLASA.

CarlosAlamo(VassarCollege)willcontinueastheSecretary/Treasurer.

DuringthecomingtermtheSectionplanstoexpandLatina/oStudiesSectionmembership,organizeSectionpanelsfor2013meeting,organizeAwardcommittees(book,article,dissertation),helpcoordinatediscussionaroundthedevelopmentofLatina/oStudies.ItisimportantfortheSectionofficerstoencouragemorepanelstobesubmittedthroughtheLASprogramSectiontoincreasemoreparticipationofLatinoStudies-themedpanelswithinLASA. 

Theco-chairsandsecretary/treasurerreachedouttospecificscholarsintheLatina/oStudiesSectiontoformcommitteesforeachoftheawards.Wethenputoutanopencallonourlistservinvitingourmemberstosubmittheirworkfortheappropriateaward.Applicantsemailedormailedtheirworktothecommitteeoftheircategory,andthecommitteemetelectronicallyoronthephonetodecideonthewinners.WeannouncedtheawardmembersatourbusinessmeetingduringtheLASACongress.

TheLASA Latina/oStudiesSectionFrankBonillaPublicIntellectualAwardwaswonbyFrancesAparicio(NorthwesternUniversity).TheAward CommitteeconsistedofCarmenWhalen(WilliamsCollege),DeniseSegura(UC-SantaBarbara),andDavidHernandez(UC-LosAngeles).

TheLASA Latina/oStudiesSectionBook AwardwaswonbyRobertChaoRomerofor“TheChineseinMexico,1882-1940”,

UniversityofArizonaPress.LASA Latina/oStudiesSectionBook Award,HonorableMentionswenttoCarlosDecenafor“TacitSubjects:BelongingandSame-SexDesireAmongDominicanImmigrantMen”,DukeUniversityPressandCristinaBeltránfor“TheTroubleWithUnity:LatinoPoliticsandtheCreationofIdentity”,Oxford

QuiñonesMontoro(UniversidaddelaRepública,Uruguay,AgenciaNacionaldeInvestigacion,andComisionNacionaldeInvestigacionCientificamUdelar). CouncilmembersAndrewSchrank(UniversityofNewMexico)andCarolinaBankMuñoz(BrooklynCollege)arecontinuingforayear,asissecretary/treasurerMaggieGray(AdelphiUniversity).Inaddition,wehaveanewlyestablishedGraduateStudentCouncilwithco-chairsKatherineMaich(UniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley)andBelénFernándezMilmanda(CONICETandDiTellaandtheCatholicUniversityofArgentina),andmembersRicardoNóbrega (UniversidadedoEstadodoRiodeJaneiro)andPauloCruzTerra(UniversidadeFederalFluminense,Niterói,Brazil).TheGraduateStudentCouncilisanefforttoinvigoratestudentinvolvementinthesectionandofferleadershiptraining.Weputoutanemailcallfornominationstoourmembershipandallpositionswereelectedbyacclamation.

TheBusinessMeetingwasfruitful,withadozenmembersattending.AmaintopicofdiscussionwasabouthowtheSectioncanplayaroleindevelopingamoremodernunderstandingofthedivergenttopicsthatlaborstudiesencompasses.WeagreedtofocusaSectionpanelonnewdirectionsinlaborstudies,withthehopeofpublishingthepapers,underthedirectionofFernandoGroismanandAndrewSchrank.TheLaborSectionalsoestablishedaBestPaperAward.

Latino Studies Gabriela Núñez, Chair

TheLASALatina/oStudiesSectionBusinessMeetingwasheldonFriday,May25followingourlastofthreepanels“IssuesandTrendsinLatina/oStudiesToday”andpriortoourjoint-Sectionreception.Therewerethirtymemberspresent;Co-chairGabrielaNuñezandSecretary/TreasurerCarlosAlamopresidedoverthemeeting.Duringthemeetingwe1)introducedthenewCo-Chairs,MarkOvermyer-Velázquez(UniversityofConnecticut)andDebVargas(UniversityofCaliforniaRiverside);2)discussedthemostcurrentfinancialstatusfortheSection;3)discussedideasforSection-sponsored

betweenAugust2011andMay2012,theSectionalsoorganizedaBestBookinRecentHistoryandMemorycompetition.TheSectiondirectorychoseathreepersonjuryforthecontest,composedofVictoriaLangland,VaniaMarkarian,andCynthiaMilton,whoreceivedmanyexcellentsubmissionsandnarroweddownthefieldtosevenoutstandingfinalists.AttheSectionBusinessMeetinginSanFranciscothewinnersoftheBestBookPrizewereannounced:thecontestwinnerwasIsabellaCosse,forherbookPareja, sexualidad y familia en los años sesentaandthehonorablementionwasEugeniaAllier,forherbook,Batallas por la memoria: Los usos políticos del pasado reciente en Uruguay.

DuringthismeetingtheSectionalsodebatedwaysinwhichtopublicizeSectionnewsandrecruitnewmembers.Severaloptionswereconsidered,bothintermsofprintmediaanddigitalplatforms.Inaddition,theSectiontalkedaboutfutureprojects,suchasaBestArticleinRecentHistoryandMemory,andalsotheplanningoftheSection´spanelforLASA2013inWashingtonDC.

Lastly,theSectionelectednewofficers,choicesconfirmedbyemailconsultationwithourmembers.TheofficersoftheSectionfor2012-14areClaudioBarrientos(UniversidadDiegoPortales)andCynthiaMilton(UniversitédeMontréal),Co-chairs;HillaryHiner(UniversidadDiegoPortales),Secretary;andCouncilMembersAlejandroCerda(UniversidadAutónomaMetropolitana/Xochimilco),FlorenciaLevín(UniversidadNacionaldeGeneralSarmiento),VaniaMarkarian(UniversidaddelaRepública),andRodrigoSáMotta(UniversidadeFederaldeMinasGerais).

Labor Studies Maggie Gray, Secretary/Treasurer

TheLaborStudiesSectionannouncestheelectionofco-presidentsCeciliaSenénGonzález(CONICETandUniversityofBuenosAires)andMarkAnner(PennState).OurnewCouncilmembersareRoxandaMaurizio(UniversidadNacionaldeGeneralSarmiento,CONICET,andUniversityofBuenosAires)andMariela

lasaforum fall 2012 : volume xliii : issue 4

54

rankedpanel.Dr.RaúlTrejoDelarbe(InstitutodeInvestigacionesSociales,UniversidadNacionalAutónomadeMéxico)wasthekeynotespeaker

TheSectionSponsoredfourpanels/workshopsatthe2012SanFranciscomeetingincludingaworkshopentitled“DemocraticConsolidationorDemocraticRegression?MexicoontheEveofthe2012PresidentialElection”;apanel“Laguerraquenadiequiso:laguerracontraelnarcoysusconsecuencias:2007-2012”;anotherpanel“CensorshipinMexico:TheHistory,Theory,andPracticeofFreedomofSpeech”;andafinalpanelentitled“AconversationwithRaúlTrejoaboutfreedomofthepressinMexico”.

TheSectionCo-chairsfor2012-2013areNohemySolórzano-Thompson(WhitmanCollege)andMaríaEugeniaValdésVega(UniversidadAutónomaMetropolitana-Iztapalapa);theSecretary/Treasurerfor2012-2014isTedBeatty(UniversityofNotreDame).Councilmembersfor2012-2014includeHelgaBaitenmann(UCLInstituteoftheAmericas),IgnacioM.SánchezPrado(WashingtonUniversityinSaintLouis),andSoniaWolf(InstitutoparalaSeguridadylaDemocracia).Continuingcouncilmembers(termsendingin2013)areWilPansters,NoraHamilton,andGuadalupeRodríguezGómez.

TheSectionpresentedthefollowingawards:BestBookintheHumanitiestoBethE.JorgensenforDocuments in Crisis: Nonfiction Literatures in Twentieth Century Mexico;BestArticleorBookChapterintheHumanitiestoco-winnersIgnacioCoronaandYannaYannakakis;BestBookintheSocialSciencestoPaulEissforIn the Name of El Pueblo: Place, Community, and the Politics of History in Yucatán;an (HonorableMention)toPaulGillinghamforCuauhtémoc’s Bones: Forging National Identity in Modern Mexico.TheawardforBestArticleintheSocialScienceswaspresentedtoChristinaBuenofor“ForjandoPatrimonio:TheMakingofArchaeologicalPatrimonyinPorfirianMexico.”AnHonorableMentionwenttoHelgaBaitenmannfor“PopularParticipationinStateFormation:LandReforminRevolutionaryMexico.”TheBestPhDDissertationprizewas

andCouncilmembersNoraHamilton,SallieHughes,andWilPansters.Over60MexicoSectionmembers(aquorum)werepresent.Theagendaincluded1)MexicoSectionAccomplishments,2)Premios,and3)NewBusiness.

TheMexicoSectionisthelargestsectionwithinLASA,with415membersasofthelastcount.TheSectionhasbeenveryactivesinceitscreationthreeyearsago.

OneoftheSection’saccomplishmentshasbeenthecreationofproceduresconcerninghowtorespondtorequestsforofficialendorsementsandtoissuesofconcerntoMexicanists.TheseproceduresweredraftedaftertheSectionissuedastatementtotheBBCprotestingcommentsmadeaboutMexicoandMexicansintheBritishtelevisionshowTopGear,andwhentheSectionwasaskedtoissueastatementinsupportofMexicanjournalistCarmenAristegui,whowasfiredfromherbroadcastingpositionduetoherpoliticalcommentsandactivism.ThesenewSectionproceduresarefurtheramendedintheNewBusinesssectionbelowtoallowfortimelyresponsestoissuesthatinvolvepossiblephysicalharmandrequireimmediateaction.

TheSectioncurrentlyhoststwolist-servesforcommunicationtoandamongthemembership.NohemySolórzano-ThompsonmanagesbothliststhroughWhitmanCollege.Thefirstlist-serveisforofficialSectionbusiness;allSectionmembersareautomaticallysubscribedtothislist.OnlySectionofficerscanposttothelist;membersmayrequestthatinformationbeposted,buttheycannotdosothemselves.Thesecondlist-serveisoptionalformembersinterestedinengagingindiscussionandpostingitemsofprofessionalinteresttothemembership.Allsubscribedmembersmaysubmittothislist.

AttheTorontoconferenceandattheSanFranciscomeeting,theSectionsponsoredfourSectionpanels/sessions,themaximumnumberallowedbyLASA.The2012panelsarelistedbelow,butatthemeetingmemberswereespeciallyinvitedtothelastsession,onLalibertaddeprensaenMéxico.ThiswastheSection’shighest-

UniversityPress.Book Award CommitteememberswereJossianaArroyo(UniversityofTexas,Austin),GabriellaArredondo(UC-SantaCruz),AdrianBurgos(UniversityofIllinois,Urbana-Champaign)andGinettaCandelario(SmithCollege).

TheLASA Latina/oStudiesSectionArticle AwardwasgiventoAlbertSergioLagunafor“AquíEstáAlvarezGuedes:Cuban choteo andthePoliticsofPlay,LatinoStudies 8.4(2010):509-531.TheLASA Latina/oStudiesSectionArticle AwardHonorableMentionwasgiventoIsraelReyesfor“Lafronteraqueembizca:retóricavisualylaconstitucióndelsujetoen Migra Mouse deLaloAlcaraz,”,Revista Iberoamericana,77.234(Enero-Marzo2011):193-210andtoMariselMorenofor“FamilyMatters: Revisiting La gran familia puertorriqueña intheWorksofRosarioFerréandJudithOrtízCofer,” Centro Journal 22.2(Fall2010): 75-105.TheArticle Award CommitteeincludedRaulCoronado(UniversityofChicago)Chair;LazaroLima(BrynMawrCollege)andYajairaPadilla(UniversityofKansas).

TheLASA Latina/oStudiesSectionDissertation AwardwenttoWilson Valentín-Escobar(UniversityofMichigan)for“BodegaSurrealism:TheEmergenceofLatin@ArtivistsinNewYorkCity,1976-Present.”TheLASA Latina/oStudiesSectionDissertation Award,HonorableMentionwenttoLaura López-Sanders(StanfordUniversity)for“IsBrowntheNewBlack?:MediatedLatinoIncorporationinNewImmigrantDestinations.”TheDissertation Award CommitteeincludedDeborahVargas(UniversityofCalifornia,Irvine),Chair;RichardT.Rodriguez(UniversityofIllinois,Urbana-Champaign)andRebeccaHester(UniversityofTexas-MedicalBranch).

Mexico Nohemy Solórzano-Thompson, Incoming Co-chair

SectionofficerspresentattheBusinessMeetingonMay25,2012,wereKevinJ.Middlebrook,Co-Chair,andNohemySolórzano-Thompson,Secretary/Treasurer,

55

ElenaAlvarez(SUNY-EmpireStateCollege)willchairforanadditionalterm;Iliana M.Carrasco-Diaz(CIES,ConsorciodeInvestigacionEconomicaySocial)willcontinueasCo-chair. Allothermemberswillalsocontinue AngelinaCotler(UniversityofIllinois),SecretaryandEnriqueMayer(YaleUniversity),Treasurer. CouncilDirectorsinclude LauraBalbuenaGonzález (InstituteforStudyAbroad,ButlerUniversity),continuing,andElenaSabogal (WilliamPatersonUniversity);continuing. TracyDevineGuzmanfromtheUniversityofMiamiwaselectedtotheCouncil.ContinuingExOficioMembers/MiembrosExOficioinclude MarkCox (PresbyterianCollege).RosemaryThorpwillchairtheBookandArticleAwardsCommitteeandwillrevisethecurrentguidelines.

OtherimportantissuesdiscussedatthemeetingincludedcreatingaFacebookaccount;developingourownfundraiserstohelpdefraysomeofourcosts,suchastravelawardsandother;andorganizingaconferenceinPeru. For2013itwasdecidedtoexplorethepossibilityofdoingitinLimaaftertheMayLASACongress. Somehostingorganizationsweresuggested.

Political institutions (LAPiS) Miguel Centellas, Chair

ThePoliticalInstitutionsSectionmetonSaturday,May26,with27memberspresent.WecongratulatedourSectionawardwinners,electednewofficers,anddiscussedanewjournalpartnership.OurmeetingwasalsoattendedbyJohnIshiyama(UniversityofNorthTexas),theincomingleadeditoroftheAmerican Political Science Review;hediscussedthejournal’sneweditorialdirectionandencouragedLAPISmemberstoconsiderarticlesubmissionstoAPSR.

Attheendof2011,theSectionhad156members,whichwasaslightincreasefromoverayearago.However,thosenumbersdeclinedinthefollowingmonths;formermembersareencouragedtorenewtheirmemberships.

The2012VanCottAwardwinnersforoutstandingbookpublishedsincethelast

Peru Elena Alvarez, Chair

Themeetingwascalledtoorderat6:45PMwith45membersinattendance. Thosepresentdiscussedthereportsenttothemembershiponactivitiesfrom October2010toMay2012. ThemainactivitieshadbeenselectingpanelsfortheSanFranciscoCongress,managingtheBookandArticleAwards,developingaquarterlybulletin, creatingcontentforthenewwebsite,andprovidingtravelgrantstothreeprofessionals..

TheSectionwasabletocollectabout$1400frommemberdonationstothePeruTravelFund. TheSectionreceivedthreeapplicationsfortravelgrantsandtheselectioncommitteemadeupofElenaAlvarez,AngelinaCotlerand ElenaSabogalselectedthreegranteesbasedonmeritandthecriteriaagreeduponduringthePeruSectionBusinessMeetingatLASA2010. Eachcandidatewasrequiredtopresentabudgetandeachreceivedapartialgranttocovertravelandotherexpenses. GranteesincludedRaulHopkins,TirsoGonzales,andMartinBargel.

TheFloraTristanBookAwardwasgrantedtoChristinaEwig(UWisconsin)forSecond-Wave Neoliberalism: Gender, Race and Health Sector Reform in Peru. TheJoseMariaArguedasAwardwenttoJessacaB.Leinaweaver,(BrownU)for“KinshipPathstoandfromtheNewEurope:  AUnifiedAnalysisofPeruvianAdoptionand Migration”inthe JournalofLatinAmericanandCaribbeanAnthropology.ALifetimeAchievementAwardwaspresentedtoDr.JulioCotleradistinguishedPeruviananthropologistandpoliticalscientist whohasstudiedkeyissuesofPeruviansociety. 

ThePeruSectionorganizedthreepanelsforLASA20121)“DifferentRuralLandscapesandParadigmaticApproaches inPeru, PapersinHonorofJoseMariaCaballero”;2)“Peru’sPost-CVRLandscape:AnInterdisciplinaryDialogueontheLegacyofthePeruvianTruthandReconciliationCommission”and3)“Intervenciones,memoriasy violenciaarmadaenelPerú(1980-1995).

presentedtoStephenC.J.Andesfor“TheVaticanandCatholicActivisminMexicoandChile,1920-1940”.

UnderNewBusinessSectionmembersdiscussedthepetitionpresentedbyDr.AlbertoOlvera,ananthropologistwhohaswrittenarticlesaboutpublicsecuritythatarecriticalofthegovernmentonthisissue,andhasaskedtheSectiontosupporthimbyapprovingastatementcondemningretaliationsagainstacademicsandjournalistswhospeakoutaboutthecurrentviolenceinMexico.

AfterthepetitiontosupportCarmenAristeguiwasapprovedbytheSection,newguidelinesweredevelopedtohandlethesesituations.Theystatethatafter10Sectionmembershaveendorsedapetition,asubcommitteeoftheExecutiveCouncilwillprepareaformalstatement,theapprovalofwhichrequirestwo-thirdssupportoftheSection’sCouncilandamajorityvoteoftheSectionmembership.

Followingdiscussion,itwasagreedthatincasesofurgencyinvolvingpotentialphysicalharmtothepetitioner(s),theSectionwillholdanexpeditedelectronicvotewithamaximum72-hourtimelimit.Iftherequiredmajorityisnotachievedinthisvote,thentheCouncilcanactonthepetitionifasubstantialnumberofSectionmembersclearlysupportthestatement.ThisprocedurewasemployedintheOlveracase.

Sectionmembersalsodiscussedtheideaofcreatingandawardingatravelgrant(dependingonavailabilityoffunds)thatwouldpermitoneormoreSectionmemberstoattendtheannualLASAcongress.TheCouncilwilldeveloponaproposaltobeapprovedbythemembership.

ItwasannouncedthatapetitioniscirculatingaboutFreedomUniversityattheUniversityofGeorgia–aprojecttoprovidecourseworktoundocumentedyouthinGeorgia(theBoardofRegentshasbannedthenfromtakingcoursesattheflagshipcampus).Thesecoursesaretaughtonavolunteerbasisandonweekends.

lasaforum fall 2012 : volume xliii : issue 4

56

Scholarly Research and Resources Holly Ackerman, Chair

TheSectiononScholarlyResearchandResourcesmetonFriday,May25th,2012withtwentymemberspresent.TheChair,HollyAckerman(DukeUniversity),reportedhowmuchwouldbeleftinthetreasuryfollowingpaymentforthereceptionandthattherearecurrently43membersintheSection.LASArulesrequireamembershipof50inordertoconstituteaSectionbuttheExecutiveCouncilhasbeenaskedtoprovisionallycontinueallSectionswith“closeto50”membersfortwomoreyearsandthenreviewthemembershiplevel.

SincethecurrentChairissteppingdown,thereisaneedforanewChairandforaSecretaryandaTreasurer.Thelattertwopositionshavenotbeenfilledinthepast.Therewerenonominationsfromthefloor.ANominatingCommitteechairedbyGayleWilliamswithassistancefromBrookeWooldridge(bothatFIU)wasformed.AnominatingperiodandelectionwillbeheldsoonbyemailinconsultationwiththeSecretariat.

DavidBlockpresentedareportontheUniversityofTexasexperimentinleadershipofitsTeresaLozanoLongInstituteofLatinAmericanStudies(LILAS)andBensonLibrary.Beginningin2014theywillbeco-directedbytheDirectoroftheBensonLibraryandafacultymemberfromLILAS.DavidpointedoutthattheLILASandtheBensonshareabuildingandexhibitspacewhichmakesthemodelphysicallyworkableandthatthenewmodelcameaboutfollowingconversationswithfacultyconcerningthepresent/futureofscholarlyresourcesandcurricula.Davidpromisestokeepusinformedabouttheprogressofthismodel.

BrookeWooldridgereportedontheDigitalLibraryoftheCaribbean(dLOC)whichhasgrownfromitsinitialninepartnerstoover30andnowhashadover13milliontotalviews.Thecollectionconsistsofmorethan10,000titlesand1.5millionpagesofcontent.dLOCrecentlyaddedimportantphotographicmaterialfromHaitiproducedbyastaffinHaitiwhichwastrainedandequippedthroughdLOC.Anewsystemof

Rural Studies Steven Zahniser, Chair

RuralStudiesimplementedmanyactivitiesatthe2012Congress.Afieldtriptookabout40peopletoMonterreyandSantaCruzCounties,wheretheyvisitedtwoagriculturallearningcenters,alargecommercialstrawberrygrowerandpackinghouse,andasmallerorganicgrower.TheSectionthanksDaveRunstenforplanningthisitinerary.

About25membersparticipatedintheSection’sBusinessMeeting.NewofficerswereelectedincludeKerryPreibisch(UniversityofGuelph),Chair;CliffordWelch(UniversidadeFederaldeSãoPaulo),Chair-ElectandCounselor;NashieliRangelLoera(UniversidadeEstadualdeCampinas),Secretary-Treasurer;andBernardoMançanoFernandes(UniversidadeEstadualPaulista);EricRendónSchneir(K.U.Leuven);andHannahWittman(SimonFraserUniversity),Counselors.

TheSectiondecidedtocreateaFacebookpage,whilekeepingitscurrentlistserveastheprimarymeansofcommunication.TheSectiondiscussedhowitcouldbeconsultedduringtheformulationoftheAgrarianandRuralLifeTrack’spapersessionsforthe2013Congress.TheSectionrenameditselfthe“Food,Agriculture,andRuralStudiesSection”tobetterreflectmembers’interests.ItwassuggestedthatthenextfieldtripvisittheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture;Zahniserwillinvestigate.

TheSectionalsosponsoredtwopanelsattheCongress:“Impactsandresponsestocorporateglobalism”(CandiArmijo,EfeGürcan,IvanSandovalCervantes)and“NewTrends,PromisingDevelopments,andDifficultRealities”(MyrnaMartínezNateras,EricRendónSchneir,IvonneVizcarraBordi).Fulfillingagoalsetatthe2010BusinessMeeting,theSectioninvitedandhelpedfundtheparticipationofaleaderfromanorganizationfocusedonruralimmigrants,MyrnaMartínezNaterasofthePanValleyInstitute.

LASAconferencewereJanaMorgan(UniversityofTennessee)forBankrupt Representation and Party System CollapseandToddEisenstadt(AmericanUniversity)forPolitics, Identity, and Mexico’s Indigenous Rights Movements. Bothbooksstoodoutfromamonganearlyadozenhigh-qualitysubmissions.TheawardcommitteeconsistedofTuliaFaletti(UniversityofPennsylvania),GiselaZaremberg(FLACSO-México),andMiguelCentellas(UniversityofMississippi).

TheSection’sBestPaperAwardforapaperpresentedatthe2010LASACongresswasawardedtoNoamLupufor“PartyBrandsandPartisanship:TheorywithEvidencefromSurveyExperimentsinArgentina.”

SectiontravelgrantswereawardedtoYen-PinSu(UniversityofPittsburgh)andAndreaCastagnola(FLACSO-México).

DuringtheSectionmeeting,wediscussedthepossibilityofanotherjournalpartnership(inadditiontoourcurrentpartnershipwiththeJournal of Politics of Latin America).TheeditorsofLatin American Politics and Societyapproacheduswithinterestinsimilarpartnership.Finaldetailsremaintobedetermined,butpriorconsultationwiththeexecutivecommitteeandsubsequentdiscussionwiththememberspresentattheSectionmeetingsuggestedthatapartnershipwithtwojournalswouldallowustotakeadvantageofthenew12-monthLASAconferenceschedule.

Finally,Sectionmemberselectedanewexecutiveboard.ExecutiveCouncilMemberTuliaFaletti(UniversityofPennsylvania)wasunanimouslyelectedSectionChair.AsperSectiontradition,theincumbentchair,MiguelCentellas(UniversityofMississippi),becameSecretary.Threenewmemberswereelectedtotheexecutivecouncil:AníbalPérez-Liñán(UniversityofPittsburgh),MoiraMackinnon(TulaneUniversity),andJanaMorgan(UniversityofTennessee).TheSectionalsoextendsitsappreciationtothe2010-2012LAPISexecutiveboardmembersfortheirservice:ToddEisenstadt(AmericanUniversity),MatthewCleary(SyracuseUniversity),andRyanCarlin(GeorgiaStateUniversity).

57

Cárcamo-Huechante(UniversityofTexas/Austin),Chair,andLeilaGómez(UniversityofColorado/Boulder),Treasurer,ourre-electedofficers.

Forthe2010-2012period,weaimedtoimproveourcommunicationsasaLASASection.Thefirsttaskwastoconceptualizeandestablishawebsite,followingoneofthemainrecommendationsmadebymembersintheBusinessMeetinginTorontoinOctober2010.Inordertoimplementthisobjective,ourcolleagueKatherineKarr-CornejovolunteeredastheSectionwebmanager;inthepastyear,sheworkedincollaborationwiththeLASASecretariattolaunchourwebpresence.Today,ourwebsitefunctionsasthemainmodeofpubliccommunication,andwealsomaintainalistserver.Oure-mailaddress,isalsoanimportanttooltoreceivequestions,commentsandinformationfrommembersaswellasmaterialstopostonthewebpage.

Atthe2012LASACongressinSanFrancisco,ourSectionheldseveralpanelswhichcontributedtoourgrowingvisibility.Firstofall,distinguishedscholarandliterarycriticJosefinaLudmerwasourmainguestoftheyear.Shespokeatapanelthatbroughttogetheraround100attendees.Secondly,wehadaspecialpanelonthecriticallegacyofDavidViñas,aneventthatgatheredaround40peopleintheaudience.

Anotherpathofworkhasbeentobuildbridgesbetweenthehumanitiesandthehistorical,political,economicandsocialsciences.Tofurtherthoseends,wefeaturedtwointerdisciplinarypanelsatthe2012LASACongress.Thefirstfocusedontheissueofpoverty,includingpapersthataddressedthisissueinthecontemporaryurbancontextsofMontevideo,SantiagoandBuenosAires;thiswasaconversationthatwasenrichedwithpanelistsformsociology,politicaleconomy,urbanstudies,andculturalstudies.Oursecondinterdisciplinarypaneloftheyeardiscussedthehistorical,sociologicalandculturalimplicationsoftherecentwavesofimmigrationinBuenosAires;specifically,thepresentersspokeaboutthedevelopmentsoftheimmigrant

theSectionalsoparticipatedinthelargeJointSectionReceptiononFridaynightattheconference.

AsofMay8,2012,theSexualitiesSectionhad84registeredmembers.MuchoftheBusinessMeetingfocusedontwotopics:ideasforapreconferenceatLASA2013andsomepossiblechangesthatneedtobetakenintoaccountnowthattheLASACongressmeetsannually.

TherewasalargediscussionabouttheprosandconsofcontinuallycosponsoringthepreconferencewiththeGenderandFeministStudiesSection.Somememberswantedtokeepitthesamebecauseithasbeensuchasuccessinthepast,whileotherswantedtobranchouttoseeifotherSectionswouldliketocosponsorinthefuturetokeepthetopicsfresh.Thedecisionwasmadetoletthenewco-chairssortthisout.

ThesecondtopicfordiscussionfocusedonSectionAwards:nowthattheLASACongressmeetsevery12monthsinsteadofevery18months,thereSectionessentiallyhasa50percentlessmoneytospendoneveryCongress.ThisespeciallyaffectsSectionAwards,whichwerenotgivenoutthisyearoutoffearthattheywoulddepletetheSectionbudgetforthenextyear.ThedecisionwasmadethatinthefuturetheSectionshoulddefinitelycontinuetogiveoutawards,butremovethemoneyprizeifthemoneyisnotthere.

Finally,BenSifuentes-JáureguiandYolandaMartínez-SanMiguel,bothofRutgersUniversity,wereelectedasCo-chairsoftheSection.NoSecretary-Treasurerwasselectedatthetime.

NoSectionawardsweregiventhisyearduetofundingissues.

Southern Cone Studies Luis E. Cárcamo-Huechante, Chair and Leila Gómez, Treasurer

OnMay25,2012,theSouthernConeStudiesSectionhelditsannualBusinessMeetingattheLASACongressinSanFrancisco,California,with40membersinattendance.ThemeetingwasledbyLuis

membershiphasbeenaddedtopromoteuseandtocoverfinancialshortfallresultingfromtheendofFederalgrants.Memberscanjoinatvariouslevels(from$1000andup)thatincluderightstoidentifymaterialsfordigitization.

AlongdiscussionfollowedonthefuturedirectionoftheSection.TheapproachusedthisyearwastoworkwithotherSectionsonathemeofmutualinterest.ThemodelholdspromiseforincludingmorefacultyintheSection.AdditionalsuggestionsforconsiderationbythefutureSectionleadersincluded:UsingtheSectionpaneltopresenta“Howto”sessionthatwouldinterestgraduatestudentsandfacultysuchas“Howtoreadcolonialtexts;”featuringworkandthearchives/methodsusedbynewscholars;featuringimportantregionalblogsandopenaccessarchives;andoverviewsofissuesinemergingmethodssuchasdigitalhumanities.AplanofactivitieswillbefinalizedbythenewChairandotherofficers.

Sexualities Studies Shawn Schulenberg, Chair

TogetherwiththeGenderandFeministStudiesSection,theSexualitiesSectionco-organizedandco-sponsoredafulldaypre-conferenceattheWomen’sBuildingintheMissionDistrictinSanFranciscocalled“LatinAmericanFeministandLGBTQMovements:DialoguesacrossBordersandBoundaries.”Threepanelswereorganizedaroundtheideasofintersectionalityandactivismwiththreepanelsentitled,“FeministandLGBTMovementsandtheState,”TransnationalGenders/Feminisms/Sexualities,and“EncuentrosyDesencuentrosamongLGBTandFeministMovements.”Morethan100people,academicsandlocalactivistsalike,attendedthepreconference.Overall,thedaywasagreatsuccess!

ThisyeartheSectionorganizedtwopanelsattheconferenceinSanFrancisco:“Out:RethinkingLatin/oAmericanMasculinities”and“QueerLatin@ExperiencesinSpaceandTime.”Bothpanelswerewellattendedandgooddiscussionstookplace.Asinyearspast,

lasaforum fall 2012 : volume xliii : issue 4

58

(UniversityofGeorgia),whowillserveasgraduatestudentrepresentative.

ThemeetingendedwithabriefstatementfromMargaritaLopezMaya.SheindicatedthatshehopestosecuremoreresourcestohelppeopleattendLASAsothatpeoplecanparticipateintheacademicdiscussion.Shewelcomescommentsorsuggestions.

SectionnominationsweresolicitedviatheSectionlistserv.ElectionswereconductedonlineandhostedbyLASA.PresidentoftheSectionfor2012-2013isMargaritaLópezMaya;Secretary-treasurerisJanaMorgan(UniversityofTennessee).Newlyelectedmembersofcouncil,through2014includeTomásStraka,IraidaCasique(UniversidadSimónBolívar),RaúlSanchezUrribarri(LaTrobeUniversity),andTimGill,GradStudentRepresentative.Continuingmembers,through2013areÁngelÁlvarez(UniversidadCentraldeVenezuela),DanielHellinger(WebsterUniversity),SujathaFernandes(CityUniversityofNewYork/QueensCollege),JunIshibashi(UniversityofTokyo),KimMorse(WashburnUniversity),ElizabethNichols(DruryUniversity),andAlejandroVelasco(NewYorkUniversity).  n

ofanawardinhonorofFernandoCoronil,andwillsendaconcreteproposalconcerningcreatingtheawardtotheExecutiveCouncilinordertoworkoutthelogisticsandtheofficiallyestablishtheaward.

SectionPresidentDavidSmildethendiscussedtherecentestablishmentoftheVenezuelanScholarsTravelFund.AsaresultofSectioninitiatives,theLASASecretariatgaveprioritytotheissueandcreatedtheVenezuelanTravelersScholarsFundandhelpedtoraisemoney.Thefundreached$10,700.Forthisconference,manyVenezuelanssubmittedproposals;twenty-threequalifiedtoreceivefunding.LASAcameupwiththefundingfor13applicants,andtheother10receivedfundingoutoftheVenezuelanScholarsTravelFund.TheSectionExecutiveCouncilisseekinganexceptiontotheLASArulesthatlimitfundingtoonceeveryfouryearsfortravelfundrecipients.Withoutsuchanexceptiontheinitiativewillquicklybecomeunsustainable.Wealsoneedtodevelopastrategyforraisingmoremoney.

AquestionwasaskedabouttheSectionlistserv.TherewasalsodiscussionaboutholdingaconferenceinVenezuelaaswehaddoneinthepast.IncomingPresidentMargaritaLopezMayaindicatedthatshewouldworkonthis.TherewasalsoasuggestionabouttryingtobringmoreyoungscholarsintotheSection,especiallygradstudents.OtherSectionshavefundsforstudenttravelortoholdmentoringsessions.TherewerecomplaintsthatonceagainseveralVenezuelasessionswerescheduledatthesametime—includingoneorganizedbygraduatestudentsthattookplaceatthesametimeastheBusinessmeeting.TheproblemseemstobethatLASAonlycross-checkstheSectionpanelsinsteadofcross-checkingallpanelsfocusingonVenezuela.

SmildethankedtheoutgoingmemberoftheSectionExecutiveCouncil,JavierCorrales.Healsoacknowledgedincomingmembers–TomásStraka(UniversidadCatólicaAndrésBello)whowasre-electedtoasecondterm,aswellasIraidaCasique(UniversidadSimónBolívar),RaúlSanchez(LaTrobeUniversity),andTimGill

communitiesfromParaguay,Bolivia,andKoreaincontemporaryArgentina.

OurdiscussionattheBusinessMeetingledustoundertakenewtaskstocontinueenrichingtheintellectualdebatesandexpandingthemembershipoftheSection.Theseinclude:establishingcorrespondentsinBuenosAires,SantiagoandMontevideo;increasingtheparticipationofgraduatestudentsandemergingscholarsinthefield;andinstitutingbookawardsinthehumanitiesandsocialsciences.

Venezuelan Studies Jana Morgan, Secretary/Treasurer

TheSectionBusinessMeetingwasheldfrom6:30untilabout8pmonFriday,May25,2012.Therewere32membersinattendance.OutgoingSectionPresidentDavidSmilde(UniversityofGeorgia)presidedoverthemeeting.ThemeetingbeganwithanHomenajetoanthropologistandformerfacultymemberatCUNYGraduateCenter,FernandoCoronil.HiswifeandfellowanthropologistJulieSkurskiwasinattendance.MargaritaLopezMaya(UniversidadCentraldeVenezuela/CENDES)andCharlesBriggs(UniversityofCalifornia/Berkeley)eachofferedremembrancesofProfessorCoronilandhiscontributionstoresearchonVenezuela.ThetimeendedwithallinattendancestandingforamomentofsilenceinmemoryofProfessorCoronil.

NexttheawardcommitteeshonoredtherecipientsoftheSectionawardsforBestArticleintheHumanitiesandBestArticleintheSocialSciences.TheawardforBestArticleintheHumanitieswaspresentedtoAndrewTillmanforhispaper“IntheServiceofEl Comandante:BolivarianHistoryandHistorianinChávez’sVenezuela.”ThecommitteealsorecognizedLuisDunoGottbergwithanHonorableMentionforhispaper“Narrativassemáticasycambiosocial: metasparauncuadrovenezolano.”ThecommitteeselectedthewinneroftheBestArticleintheSocialSciences,LeslieGates,forherpaper“InterestGroupsinVenezuela:LessonsfromtheFailureofa‘ModelDemocracy’andtheRiseofBolivarianDemocracy.”Thecommitteerecommendedthecreation

59