Latin American Perspective Research Articles

From Latin America

I present a Latin American perspective of the rise of the right in the world, how this affects the qualitative academy and Latin American universities, and the resistance possibility of hope. To further resistance, I propose we need to put together the efforts of researchers who are adherent to different methodologies, with the unifying condition that each has critical intentions and has the aim of creating communities conformed as immunitary democracies where we find ways to place our listening, knowledge, and instruments in the hands of the people.

Argentina's G20 Presidency Implications for the G20 Africa Partnership

The Institute for Global Dialogue, in partnership with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) hosted a seminar at the Burgers Park Hotel in Pretoria on July 3, 2018, on the theme “Argentina’s G20 Presidency: Implications for the Africa–G20 Partnership.” The seminar sought to situate Argentina’s G20 presidency in the context of Latin America, and specifically its relations with the African continent. As the seminar was held before the 2018 G20 summit, it was guided by the following questions: How will Argentina’s presidency frame Latin American–African relations in the context of the G20 partnership with Africa? How can African stakeholders utilise Argentinian priorities to achieve their own development priorities? Will Argentina position itself as a key actor in bringing a cohesive Latin American perspective to the G20? In light of Buenos Aires’ significance for South–South cooperation, what opportunities exist for advancing the interests of the Global South?

World Opioid and Substance Use Epidemic: A Latin American Perspective.

The opioid crisis is a growing social and public health phenomenon, particularly in developed countries such as the United States. Since the 1990s, this crisis has shown a variety of causal processes and consequences and has affected quality of life for millions of individuals, families, and communities across the globe. Although abuse of opioid‐based painkillers appears to have triggered the epidemic in the United States, in this article, the problem is examined with a focus on Latin America, where drug‐associated problems constitute threats to the health and quality of life for large segments of the population. After a review of the history of opium consumption and its consequences in the world and in Latin America, the authors present epidemiological data and information about regional market differences, professional involvement, clinical practices, public health realities, and prevention efforts. Recommendations are made for collaborative efforts to promote prevention policies and measures to improve the situation.

Abordajes sobre el ambiente en la teoría sociológica: diálogo entre formulaciones del Norte y cuestionamientos al desarrollo del Sur

El artículo presenta algunas reflexiones sobre el abordaje de la cuestión ambiental en las ciencias sociales, cuya tematización cobró relevancia a partir de la década de 1960 a raíz de las consecuencias negativas de la actividad humana que comenzaban a evidenciarse. El objetivo de estudio es revisar algunas de las discusiones con perspectiva sociológica que piensan las interrelaciones entre sociedad y ambiente, planteando un diálogo entre sus enfoques. Se sostiene que es necesario pensar la cuestión ambiental en ―y desde― América Latina y, a la vez, se considera útil interpelar propuestas teóricas elaboradas en otras latitudes para contrastar las diferentes interpretaciones del problema ambiental, y vislumbrar los posicionamientos frente al orden económico establecido.Por un lado, se abordan los debates suscitados a partir de finales de la década de 1970 entre algunos autores de países centrales, que dieron lugar a propuestas teóricas como el nuevo paradigma ambiental y las funciones del ambiente, considerados unos de los primeros planteamientos en el Norte; la modernización ecológica, cuyo éxito se ve reflejado en el modo en el que se procesa la cuestión ambiental actualmente; y la espiral de producción, una visión más radical de las causas y las consecuencias de la degradación ambiental. Por otro lado, se presentan algunas propuestas elaboradas en años más recientes por autores con una perspectiva latinoamericana respecto al desarrollo, sus alternativas y el lugar del ambiente en dichas discusiones. El análisis crítico del lugar de América Latina como proveedora de recursos naturales y el rescate de experiencias autóctonas latinoamericanas para pensar una salida al modelo actual de desarrollo, son elementos comunes a los autores. Finalmente, se establece un diálogo y contrapuntos entre los enfoques para considerar que su objeto de estudio es centralmente el mismo, pero que existen diferencias en los lugares de enunciación y, por lo tanto, en los diagnósticos y posibles soluciones a los problemas ambientales.

Decolonizing Environmental Justice Studies: A Latin American Perspective

ABSTRACTThe “environment” and “justice” of environmental justice are often defined through Western ways of thinking. Empirical environmental justice research, however, increasingly takes place in the context of the global South. As a result, there is a tendency to transpose Western concepts and frameworks to the global South, running the risk of being ineffective and of producing additional injustices. Drawing on decolonial thought, a Latin American and Caribbean theoretical movement, this paper analyses the problems which arise when Western concepts are used as the main organizing principles of non-Western environmental justice movements. Examples include failing to account for cases involving mutually undermining modes of life, hence presenting deliberate exposure to environmental harm as a fair solution; rendering invisible the fact that “participation” may contribute to the reproduction of environmental injustices, sometimes with the consent of those who are likely to be the first victims of environmental injustices; or reproducing the idea that communities in the global South do not produce knowledge, that their knowledge is inferior, or only useful for empirical observation, while Western science provides for the underlying theoretical framework. We conclude by highlighting some of the principles of a decolonial environmental justice.

Pan-American International Law: Latin American and USA Perspective

Pan-American International Law: Latin American and USA Perspective

Introduction to Topical Issue “Latin American Perspectives on Religion”

Introduction to Topical Issue “Latin American Perspectives on Religion”

Chilean Registry for Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Latin American Perspective

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are relatively rare and highly heterogeneous neoplasms. Despite this, recent studies from North America and Central Europe have suggested an increase in incidence. In Latin America, NET data are scarce and scattered with only a few studies reporting registries. Our goal was to establish a NET registry in Chile. Here, we report the establishment and our first 166 NET patients. We observed a slight preponderance of males, a median age at diagnosis of 53 years and a median overall survival of 110 months. As anticipated, most tumors were gastroenteropancreatic (GEP). Survival analyses demonstrated that non-GEP or stage IV tumors presented significantly lower overall survival (OS). Similarly, patients with surgery classified as R0 had better OS compared to R1, R2, or no surgery. Furthermore, patients with elevated chromogranin A (CgA) or high Ki67 showed a trend to poorer OS; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance (log-rank test p = 0.07). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a NET registry in Chile. Median OS in our registry (110 months) is in line with other registries from Argentina and Spain. Other variables including age at diagnosis and gender were similar to previous studies; however, our data indicate a high proportion of small-bowel NETs compared to other cohorts, reflecting the need for NET regional registries. Indeed, these registries may explain regional discrepancies in incidence and distribution, adding to our knowledge on this seemingly rare, highly heterogeneous disease.

Adriana Bolívar: Political discourse as dialogue. A Latin American perspective

Adriana Bolívar: Political discourse as dialogue. A Latin American perspective

Adriana Bolívar. 2018. Political Discourse as Dialogue. A Latin American Perspective

This article reviews Political Discourse as Dialogue. A Latin American Perspective 978-1-138-67878-1

From the Horizontal to the Diagonal Effect of Fundamental Rights within the Employment Contract: A Latin American Perspective

This work explains the development of the direct applicability of fundamental rights in labor matters in some Latin American countries, where courts and legal doctrine postulate the validity of these rights as limits to the power of the employer. This applicability, commonly known as “horizontal effect” of fundamental rights between private individuals, is especially important in the field of labor law, as opposed to other areas of private law. Firstly, because contrary to what has been postulated by the constitutional narrative, this applicability originated within labor law at the beginning of the twentieth century, and secondly, because, with regard to labor law, this applicability does not increases judicial discretion, but, on the contrary, endeavors to limit corporate discretion. Consequently, by recognizing the particularisms of labor law, we will postulate that we are dealing with a diagonal, rather than a horizontal, effect of fundamental rights.

Safety in Anesthesia: Latin American Perspective

This review intends to broadly illustrate the current anesthesia safety issues in Latin America, discussing the residency training schemes, anesthesia workforce shortages, equipment shortages, and safety initiatives in Latin America that include minimum standards and adverse event reporting systems. Latin America’s distinction is that of a continent of major contrasts which poses major difficulties as quality of anesthesia care ranges between that of high-income countries to that of very low income nations. A major effort to attenuate these is the creation and adoption of mandatory national standards that aim to guarantee that even in the worst conditions, minimal safety strategies are met to safeguard patients. Colombia’s and Brazil’s anesthesia societies have been at the forefront in Latin America in developing strategies to promote anesthesia safety. The creation, promotion, and adoption of Minimal Standards has been key to improve anesthesia safety in the continent.

Patterns in international ICT entrepreneurship: Mexico’s case

PropósitoEsta investigación persigue un entendimiento de los antecedentes en la internacionalización de la PyME para un pequeño conjunto de negocios mexicanos de TIC emprendedores, en conexión con posiciones subsectoriales en una curva con forma de sonrisa. Dichos antecedentes constituyen patrones exploratorios relacionados con características de internacionalización simplificadas, en función de la selección del mercado, los antecedentes del fundador, y las afiliaciones no espaciales, ofreciendo una técnica complementaria para la identificación de elementos que moldean la internacionalización de la PyME en América Latina.Diseño/metodología/enfoqueUna curva de valor añadido en forma de “sonrisa” es delineada de acuerdo con la clasificación industrial SCIAN, mapeando una muestra deliberada no probabilística de PyMEs mexicanas. csQCA ha sido aplicado a la muestra con base en datos secundarios. El comportamiento exportador de México en TIC es analizado también.HallazgosLas PyMEs internacionalizadas en la muestra tienden a agruparse en patrones que se aproximan a las posiciones de mayor valor añadido dentro de la curva de la “sonrisa,” ejemplificando un tipo de conglomerado no geográfico. Ciertos agrupamientos parecen prevalecer respecto a la selección del mercado (América del norte vs. Latinoamérica). Los antecedentes del fundador no determinan las opciones de internacionalización. La muestra incluyó contraejemplos (nuevos participantes, casos limitados que involucran actividades de I+D), los cuales sugieren validaciones relevantes de la literatura una vez analizados.Originalidad/valorEsta investigación contextualiza la internacionalización sectorial de la PyME desde una perspectiva latinoamericana, identificando patrones simples alrededor de subsectores particulares de TIC. Se enfoca en un tipo de emprendimiento internacional que llega a ser excepcional en regiones en desarrollo: orientado a la tecnología. csQCA se presenta como una técnica preliminar (exploratoria) para delinear marcos teóricos alternativos para la internacionalización de la PyME, específicamente, selección del mercado y comportamiento de conglomerados no espaciales alrededor de cadenas de valor añadido, llevando a nuevas perspectivas teóricas en la internacionalización de la PyME.

Laudato Si’: Integral Ecology and Preferential Option for the Poor

AbstractThis essay examines Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato si’ from a Latin American perspective and its reception in this part of the world, especially in Brazil. It focuses on two aspects of Laudato si’: its dialogical approach, and the connection it makes between ecological issues and poverty. These two aspects allow us to understand Francis’s proposal of integral ecology and how the preferential option for the poor becomes central to his perspective. In addition, this essay explains how Latin American theology and pastoral experience are present in Pope Francis’s thought.

Exploring supply chain sustainability research in Latin America

PurposeThe majority of the supply chain sustainability (SCS) literature is based on research perspectives and findings from studies conducted in developed countries. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the current Latin American publications on SCS (2007–2016) to explore whether another perspective exists.Design/methodology/approachAs part of a structured literature review, 123 peer-reviewed articles published in four Latin American databases were scanned. This literature review was combined with a qualitative content analysis using an inductive and deductive approach to move away from top–down approaches and to illuminate the Latin American perspective on SCS.FindingsThe analysis of the scientific literature demonstrates that the traditional three pillars of sustainability are not enough to understand the specificities of the region. This review shows that cultural and institutional dimensions enhance the understanding of SCS locally. In addition, three major triggers for SCS in Latin American economies were found: green supply chain management practices, local development and stakeholder engagement.Research limitations/implicationsA deeper understanding of the Latin American perspective can support scholars worldwide in developing the field of SCS in relevant directions and in comprehending the specificities of their own countries by infusing cultural and institutional elements into their conceptualisations of SCS.Originality/valueThis paper provides an unexplored perspective on SCS because it analyses Latin American publications and presents a mapping of current SCS issues and research gaps that offers insights to guide future research in the field.

Inclusión laboral, paz y sostenibilidad

Work is the natural means by which people actively participate in the economy and through which, in turn, they obtain resources to be able to develop. The labor inclusion, makes see the need for companies to see society in general, avoiding any kind of practices that could exclude or make differences among their employees. This article aims to make a cross-sectional approach on how labor exclusion can affect the development of companies and how this can be related to the contribution of organizations to sustainable development and the strengthening of peace. To achieve this, an approach is made from the Latin American perspective, framing the most usual exclusion problems of the region, as well as the possible inclusion mechanisms that can be included in the organizational practices to mitigate this problem.

Latin American Experiences and Reflections on Science and Humanism in Person Centered Medicine

Background: Person Centered Medicine (PCM) as an innovative programmatic development in medicine and health care has been evolving and maturing in recent years in Latin America, along with similar developments in other world regions. Science and humanism are key concepts in PCM and their articulation has been a main theme of the Lima Declaration 2016 emerging from the Second Latin American Conference of Person Centered Medicine.Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to identify key points on science and humanism as elements of Latin American perspectives on PCM, accompanying and supporting the Lima Declaration 2016 on Science and Humanism. Method: The approach used involved a selective review of the literature, both published and that presented at the Second Latin American Conference on Person Centered Medicine, as well as consultations with Latin American experts on PCM, and reflections among the co-authors on the meaning of the information obtained in the areas of clinical care, education, research, and public health.Results: The elucidated patterns and trends are synthesized, with focus on the articulation of science and humanism. These findings are characterized by the formulation of increasingly specific experiences and reflections that cover the main areas of medical work.Conclusions: The perspectives elucidated from the literature review and ensuing consultations and reflections are allowing the transition from a stage of slogans for action to another of increasingly specific proposals, particularly around the articulation of science and humanism in clinical care, medical education, research and public health.

Pluralism With Syncretism: A Perspective From Latin American Religious Diversity

Abstract The aim of this paper is to defend a type of pluralistic philosophical theory that addresses the specific characteristics of Latin American religious diversity. In order to do this, I will first try to show how, from a Latin American perspective, the discussion of religious diversity necessarily imposes the concept of syncretism and how this concept can be understood within the debate about diversity. After that, I will defend an understanding of religiosity that takes syncretism as something natural, given the functioning of our systems of practices and beliefs in general. Finally I will defend the advantages of a pluralistic philosophical perspective of religion that considers the phenomenon of syncretism and how it is necessary for an understanding of Latin American religiosity.

Architecture Of The 20th Century In The Patrimonial Inventory Of Quito

El patrimonio arquitectónico moderno de Quito no ha sido identificado, evaluado ni protegido. El Instituto Metropolitano del Patrimonio de Quito ha preseleccionado 125 objetos arquitectónicos, pero ninguno consta en el catálogo final protegido. La presente investigación hace un repaso de los principios básicos de la modernidad desde las visiones globales para revisarlos, dirigidos hacia una mirada latinoamericana —desde la visión de Bolívar Echeverría y otros autores latinoamericanos— con el fin de determinar la necesidad de definir con mayor precisión los parámetros de valoración de los predios a ser patrimoniados. En la actualidad el Instituto Metropolitano de Patrimonio no cuenta con las herramientas teóricas ni críticas para realizar dicha tarea, producto de un profundo vacío de conocimiento en el tema de la modernidad local. Además, como se expone en el artículo, varias de las edificaciones actualmente patrimoniadas y que pertenecen a la etapa ya de la modernidad en la ciudad no tienen un respaldo teórico que avale su calidad patrimonial. Por tanto, se evidencia la necesidad de estudio de las particularidades del modernismo en términos de expresión cultural local como premisa y base de una posterior identificación, valoración y protección del patrimonio moderno de la ciudad.

Decolonizing critical discourse studies: for a Latin American perspective

ABSTRACT Regarding an already consolidated tradition in discourse studies in Latin America, with featured importance in graduate programs in the field of Linguistics and a busy calendar of annual events in the field, it is possible to say that there is considerable amount of imported knowledge being applied and very little creativity in local theoretical or methodological production. Discourse studies are generally divided into two main schools of thought: French discourse analysis and English discourse analysis. The denomination that represents these lines of discourse sheds light on the colonized nature of the field. This colonization of discourse knowledge, in more immediate terms, indicates considerable effort applied to theories viewed as universally valid and scarcely modified for the situated context, but it also shows the implications of being a discourse analyst in a subordinate space within the academic field – a place where we, Latin American discourse researchers, occupy compared to our colleagues in the global North – and about contemplating theoretical alternatives. The decolonizing effort of this field should thus be directed to three converging paths: decolonizing knowledge, in the sense of criticizing theories and methods while understanding that there is no universal knowledge; decolonizing the power of the creative act of overcoming this universalizing knowledge, which means accepting the force of local methodological and theoretical production, especially by constantly questioning disciplinary separation and its impositions; and decolonizing the being, making strategic use of this paradoxical space, which contains the possibilities of knowledge communion, also including common knowledge. All this should have an impact on graduate-level education in discursive studies, in a virtuous cycle between consciousness, criticism and creativity.