Jorge I. Domínguez (born 1945), a scholar of Latin American studies in the United States, taught at
Harvard University
Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
from 1972 to 2018, when he retired as the Antonio Madero Professor for the Study of Mexico.
He began his teaching career at Harvard in 1972, and in 1979 was granted tenure. From 1995 to 2006, he served as director of Harvard's
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs
The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs (WCFIA), formerly Center for International Affairs (CFIA) is a research center for international affairs and the largest international research center within Harvard University's Faculty of Arts a ...
. From 2006 to 2015, he served as Harvard's first Vice Provost for International Affairs in the Office of the Provost, and Senior Advisor for International Studies to the Dean of the
Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
The Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the largest of the ten faculties that constitute Harvard University.
Headquartered principally in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and centered in the historic Harvard Yard, FAS is the only faculty respo ...
. He also chaired the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, served as an associate of Harvard's David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, and as an associate of Harvard's Leverett House.
Domínguez has published books and articles on
Latin America
Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...
and, in particular,
Cuba
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
. In 1989, Abraham F. Lowenthal described him in ''
Foreign Affairs
''Foreign Affairs'' is an American magazine of international relations and foreign policy of the United States, U.S. foreign policy published by the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonprofit organization, nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership or ...
'' as the dean of U.S. Cubanologists.
In February 2018, an article in ''
The Chronicle of Higher Education
''The Chronicle of Higher Education'' is an American newspaper and website that presents news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty and student affairs professionals, including staff members and administrators. A subscription ...
'' alleged that Domínguez had committed acts of
sexual assault
Sexual assault is an act of sexual abuse in which one intentionally Physical intimacy, sexually touches another person without that person's consent, or Coercion, coerces or physically forces a person to engage in a sexual act against their w ...
and
sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is a type of harassment based on the sex or gender of a victim. It can involve offensive sexist or sexual behavior, verbal or physical actions, up to bribery, coercion, and assault. Harassment may be explicit or implicit, wit ...
since the late 1970s. In response, Harvard launched a review of the allegations and placed Domínguez on paid administrative leave. He announced he would retire at the end of the Spring 2018 semester, and did so on June 18 of that year. Harvard's Title IX investigation concluded in May 2019 that Domínguez had engaged in unwelcome sexual conduct, and the university stripped him of his
emeritus
''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus".
In some c ...
status and disinvited him from its campus. In January 2020, the
Latin American Studies Association
The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is the largest association for scholars of Latin American studies. Founded in 1966, it has over 12,000 members, 45 percent of whom reside outside the United States (36 percent in Latin America and the ...
, of which he had been president, revoked his membership due to his violations of ethical standards."LASA Membership of Jorge Dominguez Revoked" LASA Forum accessed 29 July 2020
Background and education
Domínguez was born in
Havana
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center."Harvard Cuban scholar suspended over sex harassment charges," ''Miami Herald''. He left Cuba with his family for the United States in 1960, when he was 15 years of age.
He attended
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School ( Spanish: ''Colegio Preparatorio Jesuita Belén'') is a private, Catholic, all-male, preparatory school run by the Antilles Province of the Society of Jesus in Tamiami, Page 1anPage 2/ref> unincorporated Mi ...
in Miami, Florida, and in 1963 graduated from
Fordham Preparatory School
Fordham Preparatory School (commonly known as Fordham Prep) is an American, independent, boys' college-preparatory school in the Jesuit tradition located on the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University in the Bronx, a borough of New York City.
...
, in the Bronx in New York City. In 1967, he received his B.A. from
Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
. He went on to receive his M.A. (1968) and Ph.D. (1972) from
Harvard University
Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
. He was a member of the
Harvard Society of Fellows The Society of Fellows is a group of scholars selected at the beginnings of their careers by Harvard University for their potential to advance academic wisdom, upon whom are bestowed distinctive opportunities to foster their individual and intellect ...
.
Academic positions
Domínguez began his teaching career at Harvard in 1972, and by 1979 was granted tenure."Harvard Professor To Retire Amid Sexual Misconduct Claims From 18 Women," HuffPost
He was the Antonio Madero Professor for the Study of Mexico at Harvard until his retirement in June 2018.
From 1995 to 2006, he served as director of Harvard's
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs
The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs (WCFIA), formerly Center for International Affairs (CFIA) is a research center for international affairs and the largest international research center within Harvard University's Faculty of Arts a ...
. From 2006 to 2015, he served as Harvard's first Vice Provost for International Affairs in the Office of the Provost, and as Senior Advisor for International Studies to the Dean of the
Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
The Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the largest of the ten faculties that constitute Harvard University.
Headquartered principally in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and centered in the historic Harvard Yard, FAS is the only faculty respo ...
. Prior to his retirement, he also chaired the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, and also as an associate of Harvard's David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, and an associate of Harvard's Leverett House.
Scholarship
Domínguez' books include: ''The Construction of Democracy: Lessons from Practice and Research''; ''Between Compliance and Conflict: East Asia, Latin America and the New Pax Americana''; ''The Cuban Economy at the Start of the Twenty-First Century''; ''Mexico’s Pivotal Democratic Election: Candidates, Voters, and the Presidential Campaign of 2000''; ''Boundary Disputes in Latin America; Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America''; ''Mexico, Central, and South America: New Perspectives'', ''The United States and Mexico: Between Partnership and Conflict''; ''Democratic Politics in Latin America and the Caribbean''; ''International Security and Democracy''; ''Technopols; Democratizing Mexico''; and ''Conflictos Territoriales y Democracia en America Latina''.
Some articles written by Domínguez:
* "How Asia Can Tackle Crises", ''
The Straits Times
''The Straits Times'' (also known informally by its abbreviation ''ST'') is a Singaporean daily English-language newspaper owned by the SPH Media Trust. Established on 15 July 1845, it is the most-widely circulated newspaper in the country and ...
''; 19 July 2006
* "A Legacy of Mixed Messages", ''
The Boston Globe
''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...
''; 16 January 2006
* "Bush Administration Policy: A View toward Latin America"; ''ReVista'', Spring/Summer 2005
* "Liberty for Latin America"; ''
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
''; 13 March 2005
* "US and Cuba Cooperate on Many Issues"; The ''
Miami Herald
The ''Miami Herald'' is an American daily newspaper owned by McClatchy, The McClatchy Company and headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1903, it is the fifth-largest newspaper in Florida, serving Miami-Dade, Broward County, Fl ...
''; 29 February 2004
* "Cuba: His Brother's Keeper"; ''
Foreign Policy
Foreign policy, also known as external policy, is the set of strategies and actions a State (polity), state employs in its interactions with other states, unions, and international entities. It encompasses a wide range of objectives, includ ...
'', 139; November/December 2003
In addition to his substantive academic contributions, Domínguez worked over the years to develop the scholarly field of Latin Americanist social science in four large-scale multi-book multi-authored projects involving authors from the United States and most Latin American authors.
First, he encouraged U.S. and Mexican scholars to carry out research on Mexican public opinion and voting behavior. In particular, a team of research colleagues developed panel studies to interview and re-interview individuals during the same presidential election campaigns (2000, 2006, 2012), and within a year or two made the primary data for these surveys freely and universally available on the Web.
Second, working with international teams that featured Cuban social scientists, Domínguez fostered research by Cuban academics and supported their research, writing, and publication in English to make such work better known. This endeavor spanned U.S.-Cuban relations, macroeconomic and microeconomic policies, poverty, social mobility, and territorial inequalities. For this effort to advance and make known the work of Cuban scholars, and for his own research, he received the lifetime contribution award from the Cuba Section of the
Latin American Studies Association
The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is the largest association for scholars of Latin American studies. Founded in 1966, it has over 12,000 members, 45 percent of whom reside outside the United States (36 percent in Latin America and the ...
.
Third, as a founding member of the Washington, D.C.–based think tank
Inter-American Dialogue
The Inter-American Dialogue (Spanish and Portuguese: ''Diálogo Interamericano''), also known as the Dialogue or IAD, is a U.S.-based think tank in the field of international affairs primarily related to the Western Hemisphere. Headquartered in ...
, Domínguez and Dialogue colleagues generated assessments of the state of democratic politics across Latin America. The first book covered every country of Latin America, while the other three books focused on the large countries, with each volume featuring authors from across the continent. This project led to his appointment as a founding adviser for the non-profit
Club de Madrid
Club de Madrid is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization created to promote democracy and change in the international community. It is composed of 127 regular members from 74 countries, including 5 Nobel Peace Prize laureates and 2 ...
, whose members are former presidents and prime ministers of democratic countries the world over.
And fourth, Domínguez and Rafael Fernández de Castro designed a project of books on U.S. relations with key Latin American countries and subregions; most books with two authors—one from the United States, and one from the respective Latin American country. This project led also to his co-founding of ''Foreign Affairs Latinomérica'' and membership on its editorial board.
Sexual harassment and alleged sexual assault
In 1983, Domínguez was disciplined by Harvard's administration for "serious conduct" for sexually harassing
Terry Karl
Terry Lynn Karl (born November 21, 1947) is the Gildred Professor of Latin American Studies and Professor of Political Science at Stanford University. She specializes in comparative politics.
Early life and academics
Karl was born in St. Louis, ...
, then a junior faculty colleague in Harvard's Government Department (later, a professor of political science and Latin American studies at
Stanford University
Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
)."Harvard professor accused of sexual misconduct to retire," ''The Boston Globe'' He was forbidden to hold administrative responsibilities for three years. Nevertheless, Domínguez was subsequently promoted several times, and was appointed the Vice Provost for International Affairs.
On February 27, 2018, ''
The Chronicle of Higher Education
''The Chronicle of Higher Education'' is an American newspaper and website that presents news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty and student affairs professionals, including staff members and administrators. A subscription ...
'' reported that at least ten women, including graduate students and junior colleagues, described incidents in which Domínguez allegedly sexually assaulted or sexually harassed them, dating back to 1979 and continuing through at least 2015. According to the ''New York Times'', allegations from other women "ranged in severity, from inappropriate full-body hugs to claims by one woman that he grabbed her buttocks and tried to put his hand down her pants." According to the article, Domínguez stepped between the former Venezuelan president,
Rafael Caldera
Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez ( ; 24 January 1916 – 24 December 2009) was a Venezuelan politician and academician who was the 46th and 51st president of Venezuela from 1969 to 1974 and again from 1994 to 1999, thus becoming the longest se ...
, and Karl as they approached one another at a Harvard reception; Dominguez, speaking in Spanish, then introduced Karl to Caldera as his "slave". Karl recounted that he told her one evening, while walking across campus following a meeting, that "this would be a nice place for a rape", making Karl fear for her safety. She felt that despite the administration's acknowledgement of her complaint, Harvard did not take the issue of
sexual assault
Sexual assault is an act of sexual abuse in which one intentionally Physical intimacy, sexually touches another person without that person's consent, or Coercion, coerces or physically forces a person to engage in a sexual act against their w ...
seriously. Some accusers recalled that they dropped classes, abandoned projects, or, as in Karl's case, left the university to escape him.">"‘This Would be a Nice Place For a Rape’: Harvard Professor Jorge Domínguez To Retire After Harassment Allegations," ''Newsweek''
Domínguez said he was surprised and saddened by the allegations, suggested that his behavior may have been misinterpreted, and further said, "I do not go around making sexual advances."
In response to these accusations, Harvard University announced in March 2018 that it was soliciting additional information from university affiliates regarding Domínguez's alleged misconduct. He was placed on paid administrative leave pending conclusion of an internal review. Domínguez's membership in the Leverett HouseSenior Common Room was revoked.
On March 6, 2018, Domínguez resigned from his administrative positions and announced his intention to retire fully from Harvard at the end of the Spring 2018 semester. University administrators said that the sexual harassment investigations would not be affected by his retirement.
In May 2019, Harvard concluded its investigation, finding that Domínguez had engaged in unwelcome sexual conduct toward multiple people over a long time. As a result, Domínguez was stripped of his
emeritus
''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus".
In some c ...
status and privileges, and disinvited from the university campus and sponsored events.
The
Latin American Studies Association
The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is the largest association for scholars of Latin American studies. Founded in 1966, it has over 12,000 members, 45 percent of whom reside outside the United States (36 percent in Latin America and the ...
revoked the membership of Domínguez in January 2020.
In February 2021 Harvard formally apologized to Karl for failing to adequately enforce sanctions against Domínguez in her sexual harassment complaint against him.