Winter talks delve into U.S., Latin American relations

· 2 min read

Winter talks delve into U.S., Latin American relations

Ice crystals cover trees near the south entrance to Pound Hall. The building, located northeast of the intersection of 12th and R streets, is the new home to Nebraska's Services for Students with Disabilities office.

Scholars from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Kearney, Nebraska Wesleyan and Vanderbilt University will present a series of lectures focusing on the relationship between the U.S. and Latin America.

The 2020 Winter Lecture Series will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on the six successive Sundays from Feb. 9 to March 15 at the Unitarian Church of Lincoln. The lecture series is supported by the Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Committee, Humanities Nebraska and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The lectures are free and open to the public.

The lectures emphasize six countries and regions in Central and South America. They describe the historical, cultural, political and economic factors that contributed to the current issues that each face. The Latin American countries or regions were selected either because they face problems that are important at this time or they have become the focus of important U.S. federal policies.

“Our goal is to provide information in a context that allows questions and dialogue with our attendees,” said Dick Dienstbier, member of the lecture series planning committee and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute member.

Speakers and Schedule

Speakers will address specific topics and includes the following. The complete schedule can also be found online.

  • February 9

Professor Tim Borstelmann, History, UNL US Diplomatic History in the Western Hemisphere: From the Monroe Doctrine to our time.

  • February 16

Professor Jonathan Hiskey, Political Science, Vanderbilt University Central America and the Decision to Emigrate: Root Causes and Elusive Solutions.

  • February 23

Professor Sergio Wals, Political Science, UNL Mexico Yesterday and Today: Democratic Change and Transnational Challenges.

  • March 1

Professor Kelly Bauer, Political Science, Nebraska Wesleyan South American Indigenous Peoples: Challenges and Opportunities.

  • March 8

Professor Courtney Hillebrecht, Political Science, UNL Why States turn Right: The Case of Brazil.

  • March 15

Professor William Aviles, Chair, Political Science, UNK Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution and the Persistence of Authoritarianism.

Recent News