The call is open, to be carried out internally, for the CALAS-IEAT Chair Program, promoted by the Maria Sibylla Merian Center for Advanced Latin American Studies (CALAS) and by the Institute of Advanced Transdisciplinary Studies (IEAT) of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). The program is administered by the IEAT and sponsored by CALAS. The Chair covers a three-month stay at the IEAT for the researcher. In line with the CALAS research program, candidates are expected to contribute to the development of new methodological and analytical approaches to understanding transformations and crises in Latin America.

For more information about CALAS, go to the Centre’s website: www.calas.lat

Thematic focus of the Call for the 2023 Chair: the crisis of democracy and citizenship claims

The CALAS-IEAT Chair, located at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), invites specialists in studies on Latin America who are interested in researching crisis experiences in the region and who want to address current problems, as well as explore perspectives for coping with these , promoting, in particular, transdisciplinary research on the crisis of democracy and the demands for citizenship in the Americas today. The research includes the political, social and cultural processes that provoke the democratic crisis, as well as those that led to claims for the extension of citizenship and civil and democratic rights. At the same time, it is about developing proposals to review, strengthen and expand democratic participation.

The crisis of democracy in Latin America is closely intertwined with global trends, but it also has peculiar characteristics that emerge from regional and local historical circumstances. In the eighties of the last century, post-dictatorial and post-war transitions implemented democracy in almost the entire subcontinent, which was consolidated in the nineties. While in the first decade of the new millennium neo-populist regimes (“socialism of the 21st century”) appear, it is in the second decade that signs of the “fatigue of democracies” (Alcántara Sáez) appear. In the subcontinent, democratic participation focuses primarily on the electoral aspect of the democratic exercise of power, which has led to a prioritization of freedom of expression and association, transparent elections, extension of suffrage and the election of public office. For various reasons, however, democratically elected public administrations only occasionally advanced in the implementation of public policies that benefited society in general and not clientele groups. The democracies, therefore, were unable to satisfy the growing social demands, which caused several social explosions which intensified in constellations of economic crisis. Tendencies of social frustration crystallized within the middle classes, particularly in the new segments of this social stratum, which are more vulnerable. At the same time, the strengthening of social movements expanded citizenship claims, such as, firstly, the expansion of economic participation, in the case of income redistribution policies, but also the extension of recognition of the rights of gender minorities and Ethnic groups. Against the citizen movements and their struggle to expand democratic rights, however, a group of forces was organized in the second decade of the millennium, determined to react and stop the generalization of access to civil rights. These groups, in their efforts to reverse the democratization of society, tend to favor authoritarian political models and are not afraid to resort to the use of force as a legitimate political resource. Quite tense elections in recent years have brought to power a new generation of popular leaders, with proposals and practices that are still little known and debated in Brazil. Since 2018, leftist leaders have reached the presidency of Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Honduras, Chile and Colombia, in addition to the recent election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

Social and Human Sciences are invited to carry out comprehensive approaches to the crises of democracy in the Americas and to improve the theoretical-methodological apparatus to carry out a more acute analysis of their processes. On the one hand, there is an incentive to study the different modes of social, economic, political and cultural transformation that caused the polarization of societies due to claims for the expansion of democratic representation and growing authoritarian reactions. On the other hand, it is about analyzing democratic institutions and their role in “democratic fatigue” as well as their ability to enforce constitutional norms for resolving political conflicts. As these are not isolated local developments but transnational trends, it is necessary to study how the processes are intertwined (or opposed) in the Americas. Proposals are expected for case studies of constellations of current democratic crisis (or in historical moments linked to the current era), but also theoretical works on the relationship between society and democracy. Finally, proposals are expected that not only contribute to a better understanding of the aforementioned crisis, its factors and causes, but also possible solutions and perspectives, which may also be useful for understanding this crisis in other parts of the planet.

Call

For the 2023 Call for the Chair, the research project that will be carried out must be related to the issue of political crises, as explained above, in an interdisciplinary and transregional approach, which can also be historical, developing an innovative vision of the theme of democracy.

Academics working in research in the Humanities or Social Sciences, of any nationality, may apply. The minimum academic degree required is a completed doctorate prior to the proposal submission date. In addition, the works presented and the academic trajectory will be evaluated, especially in the scope of the main theme and the quality of the project presented.

CALAS and IEAT/UFMG are committed to inclusion and gender parity.

Conditions of the Chair

The CALAS-IEAT Chair will offer a scholarship with a remuneration compatible with the previous remuneration of the selected researcher, for a stay of up to 3 (three) months, to be paid directly by the project in Germany. This scholarship includes visa expenses, accommodation, medical insurance, work materials and personal remuneration. In case the applicant occupies a permanent position, the grant can be used to finance a temporary replacement. In addition, the Chair will cover the cost of round trip airfare to Belo Horizonte and to the main headquarters of CALAS, in Guadalajara, Mexico.

IEAT / UFMG will provide a properly equipped workplace (computer, internet access, etc.) and access to the University’s libraries. In addition, the professor will have the support of student assistants.

Applicants must present the consent of a UFMG researcher as contact and “host”, who will support them in coordinating their activities at UFMG. For information about UFMG academics and potential partners, check out http://somos.ufmg.br/.

Tasks foreseen for the CALAS-IEAT Chair

• Research project in Brazil, with the agreement of the host.

• Write at least one scholarly article on project results. The search for an adequate means of publication is the responsibility of the professor.

• Present the project’s results in a master conference at UFMG.

• Present project results in a keynote lecture at CALAS’ main headquarters in Guadalajara, Mexico.

• Carry out at least three transdisciplinary academic activities (with other researchers and/or graduate students), within the scope of UFMG, related to the research theme of the CALAS-IEAT Chair. These activities must be coordinated by the UFMG “host” researcher.

• Submit a final report on the activities carried out during the Chair no later than three months after the end of the stay.

Candidacy

Complete the online application form and attach it together with the following documents in portuguese, spanish or english:

  • Letter of motivation, in which the qualities to occupy the Chair are demonstrated, as well as the expectations and objectives.
  • Summary of the research project, including a schedule and a work plan with a maximum of 2,000 (two thousand) words and 20 (twenty) bibliographic sources, with the agreement of the host(s).
  • Two-page curriculum vitae and a list of the most relevant publications.
  • Copy of doctoral degree.
  • Letter of consent from the host researcher at UFMG.

Selection process

An international scientific committee from CALAS and IEAT/UFMG will make the selection. There will be no appeals regarding the results. Applications that do not meet the edict criteria will be rejected. The projects will be evaluated according to the following aspects: relevance, contextualization of the problem in Latin America, adequate theoretical articulation, clear objectives, pertinent methodology, transdisciplinarity, presentation of the expected academic products, presence or indication of referral or solution proposal. The curriculum vitae will be adopted as a tiebreaker. The name of the successful candidate will be made available on the IEAT/UFMG website (https://www.ufmg.br/ieat/) and on the CALAS website (http://www.calas.lat/en).

Important dates

  • Call Launch: December 6, 2022
  • Deadline for submission of proposals: April 16, 2023
  • Results: May 15, 2023
  • Beginning of the chair: September 1, 2023

Information about the Chair

Prof. Estevam Barbosa de Las Casas, IEAT/UFMG.
Phone: +55-31-9 9239-4999 E-mail: direitoria@ieat.ufmg.br
Doctor Jochen Kemner, Centro María Sibylla Merian de Estudios Latinoamericanas Avanzados.
Phone: ++52 33 3819 3000 (ext. 23594), email: info@calas.lat

CALAS-IEAT Chair Call

Place: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Date: Saturday, December 3, 2022
Dates: Monday, December 5, 2022 to Sunday, April 16, 2023