Centre of Latin American Studies, University of Cambridge

03/09/2026

As part of CLAS’s 60th anniversary, we are looking back at the creation of the Centre and the longer history of Latin American Studies at Cambridge.

The Centre of Latin American Studies was formally created sixty years ago on the 11th of June, 1966. The initiative for its creation came from the British government’s 1965 Report of the Committee on Latin American Studies (the so-called Parry Report, after its chair).

Indeed, the University of Cambridge was a pioneer of Latin American Studies in the UK. In 1947, a University Lectureship in Latin American Studies was established, split between the History faculty and the Spanish department. This was the first named post in Latin American Studies anywhere in the UK. It was first held by John Parry, a British historian. Parry departed in 1950, leaving for an imperial teaching post in the newly-created University College of the West Indies. He was replaced in his lectureship by John Street, another historian.

Research by Dr Rafael Shimabukuro, CLAS Research Associate.

University of Cambridge Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, Cambridge

27/08/2026

📢 Call for Papers: Crisis and Resilience in Latin American Politics

Pedro Mendes Loureiro, CLAS Director, is co-editing this special collection for Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, part of Nature Portfolio.

“This Collection seeks to explore continuity and change in Latin American politics in both historical and contemporary perspectives. Contributions may focus on individual countries, sub-regional developments or comparative perspectives that situate Latin America in dialogue with other parts of the world.”

Read the full call and submit your contribution by 12 November 2026: https://www.nature.com/collections/dgaccbigjj

21/08/2026

🌎 Study Latin America. Think with the world.

Interested in pursuing an MPhil or PhD in Latin American Studies at the University of Cambridge?

Cambridge is offering a series of online funding webinars for prospective international postgraduate students across all subjects. If you are considering Latin American Studies, these sessions can help you explore the funding opportunities available according to your country or region.

Upcoming sessions include:

🇺🇸 USA: Study at Cambridge with a Marshall Scholarship
📅 Friday 28 August

🌎 Latin America: International postgraduate funding opportunities at Cambridge for students from Latin America
📅 Tuesday 15 September
🕔 5.00–6.00 pm (UK time)

Further sessions are available for prospective students from Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, East Asia and South Asia.

Recordings of earlier webinars—including sessions on Gates Cambridge and Chevening opportunities—are available until 15 January 2027.

🔗 Find registration details and recordings here: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events/international-postgraduate-funding-webinars

19/08/2026

Recommended article 📚

Growing in and from Crisis: Environment, Labor, and Capital in Brazil’s Exponential Prison Expansion

Authors: Bruna Angotti, Graham Denyer Willis, Pedro Mendes Loureiro & Luiz Fernando Toledo (CLAS academics)

Abstract: Although there is widespread academic recognition of the damage effected by carceral systems, of the accelerating climate fallout, and of the unequal and crisis-ridden nature of capitalism, these three dimensions are rarely conceptualized in relation to each other. Drawing on extensive primary research conducted across Brazil, we document how managers have increasingly sought to make claims about the prison’s usefulness for combatting problems of the economy and environment, such as by using prisoners in climate-saving efforts and attracting private capital into prisons. […]

Read it here:

Although there is widespread academic recognition of the damage effected by carceral systems, of the accelerating climate fallout, and of the unequal and crisis-ridden nature of capitalism, these t...

17/08/2026

Recommended article 📚

From the infrastructure of food to food as infrastructure in Brazil’s urban peripheries

Authors: Mara Nogueira, Gareth A. Jones and Aiko Ikemura Amaral (CLAS Teaching Associate)

Abstract: Infrastructural debates have examined how unequal, uncertain and fragmented service provision shapes the everyday lives of marginalised citizens, yet have largely overlooked the relations with food. In Brazil’s urban peripheries access to food is mediated by combinations of people as infrastructure, social infrastructures and infrastructures of care. […]

Read it here:

Infrastructural debates have examined how unequal, uncertain and fragmented service provision shapes the everyday lives of marginalised citizens, yet have large...

14/08/2026

"Muchos lectores críticos de la situación actual enfatizan el rol del fujimorismo como representante de las élites socio-económicas en general, o de algunas mafias público-privadas en particular. Estos análisis, sin duda valiosos, corren el riesgo de ocultar la mayor fortaleza del fujimorismo: su capacidad de generar arraigo popular".

Lee las principales conclusiones de la investigación de Rafael Shimabukuro en este enlace:

https://tramacritica.pe/perspectivas/2026/07/24/fujimorismo-popular-cinco-propuestas-desde-abajo/

05/08/2026

✨ Ideas, encounters and community at CLAS

The final term of the 2025–26 academic year brought another rich programme of conversations, collaborations and gatherings to CLAS.

From seminars, book presentations, screenings and symposia to student achievements, visiting scholars and time spent together as a community, these photographs capture just a few of the people, ideas and moments that brought the Centre to life during Easter Term.

Thank you to our speakers, students, colleagues, partners and audiences for being part of another inspiring term at CLAS.

As we celebrate CLAS’s 60th anniversary, we look forward to sharing more from the Centre’s history and to continuing these conversations in the new academic year.

26/06/2026

🌎 Study Latin America. Think with the world.

Interested in pursuing an MPhil or PhD in Latin American Studies at the University of Cambridge?

Our students come from across the world, bringing different experiences, languages and perspectives to the study of Latin America. This summer, Cambridge is offering a series of online funding webinars for prospective international postgraduate students.

Sessions include:

• Latin America: International postgraduate funding opportunities at Cambridge — Thursday 2 July
• Latin America: University of Cambridge and Chevening Brazil — Thursday 2 July
• Latin America: University of Cambridge and Chevening Mexico — Friday 24 July
• USA: Study at Cambridge with a Marshall Scholarship — Friday 28 August

Further sessions are available for prospective students from Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, East Asia and South Asia.

Explore the full schedule and register here: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events/international-postgraduate-funding-webinars

20/05/2026

📢 CLAS Events – Easter Term 2026

Join us for this book presentation (in English):

Polycrisis. Environmental collapse, the rise of the far right, and competing narratives. A View from Latin America

Maristella Svampa (Simón Bolívar Professor 2022)

📆 Monday 01 June | 5:00pm
📍 Room S1, First Floor, Alison Richard Building

This presentation will explore the challenges facing progressive politics in Latin America and beyond, the expansion of authoritarian right-wing forces, and the possibilities for collective organisation in a time of systemic polycrisis.

✨ Free & open to all. Refreshments will be served after the event.