The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is the largest association for scholars of
Latin American studies
Latin American studies (LAS) is an academic and research field associated with the study of Latin America. The interdisciplinary study is a subfield of area studies, and can be composed of numerous disciplines such as economics, sociology, history ...
. 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 Caribbean), LASA brings together experts on Latin America from all disciplines and diverse occupational endeavors, across the globe.LASA About LASA /ref>
History
LASA was founded in 1966 following a meeting sponsored by the Joint Committee on Latin American Studies (composed of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), held at the Hispanic Foundation (now the Hispanic Division) of the
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...
, May 7, 1966. LASA's constitution and bylaws were drafted and on May 12, 1966 it was incorporated in Washington, DC as a legal, tax exempt organization, "non-profit professional body created by scholarly area specialists to meet their particular and growing needs." The incorporation of the LASA was the culmination of a long process to create such an organization after the failure of a previous attempt. In April 1958, Howard F. Cline, Director of the Hispanic Foundation of the Library of Congress (1952–71) and the ACLS organized a conference to explore the creation of a coordinating body for Latin American area studies. In 1959, the ACLS and the SSRC formed the Joint Committee on Latin American Studies, which ultimately led to the founding of LASA as an organization. The Constitution and Bylaws of the Latin American Studies Association were published in the ''
Latin American Research Review
The ''Latin American Research Review'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal covering research on Latin America and the Caribbean. It was established in 1965 by the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) and is published by LASA's publis ...
'' in 1966. LASA's first President after its 1966 incorporation was political scientist Kalman Silvert, who published extensively on Latin American political systems and conflict. LASA honors Silvert's memory with a major prize.
Mission
LASA's mission is "to foster intellectual discussion, research, and teaching on Latin America, the Caribbean, and its people throughout the Americas, promote the interests of its diverse membership, and encourage civic engagement through network building and public debate."
LASA Congresses
Every year, specialists on Latin America gather at the LASA International Congress. Featuring over 900 sessions, including plenary sessions and informal meetings, the Congress is the world's premier forum for expert discussion on Latin America and the Caribbean. The theme of the 2019 Boston LASA Congress is “Justice and Inclusion"
Regional Subgroups
At the 1992 LASA Congress in Los Angeles, scholars specializing in Brazil founded the Brazilian Studies Association (BRASA). BRASA now holds independent biennial meetings.
LASA Presidents
* Gerardo Otero (Simon Fraser University), 2021-2022
* Gioconda Herrera (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) Ecuador), 2020-2021
* Mara Viveros-Vigoya (Universidad Nacional de Colombia), 2019-2020
* Lynn M. Stephen (University of Oregon), 2018-2019
Aldo Panfichi (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú) 2017-2018
* Joanne Rappaport Georgetown University 2016-2017
* Gilbert Joseph (Yale University) 2015-2016
* Debra Castillo (Cornell University) 2014-2015
* Merilee Grindle (Harvard University), 2013-2014
*
Evelyne Huber
Evelyne Huber (formerly Evelyne Huber Stephens) is an American and Swiss political scientist specializing in comparative politics and a scholar of Latin America, currently the Morehead Alumni Professor of Political Science at the University of N ...
John Coatsworth
John Henry Coatsworth (born September 27, 1940) is an American historian of Latin America and the former provost of Columbia University. From 2012 until June 30, 2019, Coatsworth served as Columbia provost. From 2007 until February 2012 Coatswor ...
(Columbia University), (historian) 2009-2010
* Eric Hershberg (American University), 2007-2009
* Charles R. Hale (University of Texas, Austin), 2006-2007
* Sonia E. Alvarez (University of Massachusetts, Amherst), 2004-2006
*
Marysa Navarro
Marysa Navarro Aranguren (born 1934) is a Spanish-American historian specializing in the history of feminism, the history of Latin American women, and the history of Latin America. She occupies a prominent role as a promoter and activist in the a ...
Thomas Holloway
:
Thomas Holloway (22 September 180026 December 1883) was an English patent medicine vendor and philanthropist.
Early life
Holloway was born in Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, the eldest son of Thomas and Mary Holloway (née Chellew), who at the ...
(University of California, Davis), 2000-2001
* Franklin W. Knight (Johns Hopkins University), (historian) 1998-2000
*
Susan Eckstein
Susan is a feminine given name, from Persian "Susan" (lily flower), from Egyptian '' sšn'' and Coptic ''shoshen'' meaning "lotus flower", from Hebrew ''Shoshana'' meaning "lily" (in modern Hebrew this also means "rose" and a flower in general), ...
(Boston University), 1997-1998
*
Jane Jaquette
Jane may refer to:
* Jane (given name), a feminine given name
* Jane (surname), related to the given name
Film and television
* ''Jane'' (1915 film), a silent comedy film directed by Frank Lloyd
* ''Jane'' (2016 film), a South Korean drama fi ...
(George Washington University), (political scientist) 1994-1995
*
Carmen Diana Deere
Carmen Diana Deere (born August 1, 1945) is an American feminist economist who is an expert on land policy and agrarian reform, rural social movements, and gender in Latin American development. She has conducted extensive research on access to ...
(University of Massachusetts, Amherst), 1992-1994
* Lars Schoultz (University of North Carolina), 1991-1992
*
Jean Franco
Jean Franco (March 31, 1924 – December 14, 2022) was a British-born American academic and literary critic known for her pioneering work on Latin American literature.Risen, Clay"Jean Franco, 98, Pioneering Scholar of Latin American Literature, Die ...
(Columbia University), 1989-1991
* Paul Drake (University of California, San Diego), 1988-1989
* Cole Blasier (University of Pittsburgh), 1986-1988
* Wayne Cornelius (University of California, San Diego), (political scientist) 1985-1986
* Helen M. Safa (University of Florida), 1983-1985
* Jorge I. Domínguez (Harvard University), (political scientist) 1982-1983. Stripped of his LASA membership January 2020.
*
Peter H. Smith
Peter Hopkinson Smith (born January 17, 1940) is a scholar of Latin American history, politics, economics, and diplomacy. He is a distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science and the Simon Bolivar Professor of Latin American Studies at ...
* LASA/OXFAM Martin Diskin Dissertation Award
* Bryce Wood Book Award
* LASA/Oxfam America Martin Diskin Memorial Lectureship
* Premio Iberoamericano Book Award
* LASA Media Award
* Kalman H. Silvert Award - named for the first president of LASA
* Luciano Tomassini Award
*
Charles A. Hale
Charles Adam Hale (June 5, 1930 – September 29, 2008) was a distinguished historian of Mexico, who published major works on nineteenth and early twentieth-century Liberalism in Mexico.
Life
Hale was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Lloyd and ...
Fellowship for Mexican History - named for University of Iowa historian of Mexican liberalism
*
Guillermo O'Donnell
Guillermo Alberto O'Donnell Ure (February 24, 1936 – November 29, 2011) was a prominent Argentine political scientist, specializing in comparative politics, who spent most of his career working in Argentina and the United States, and who m ...
Democracy Award and Lectureship
* Howard F. Cline Book Prize in Mexican History, named for a founder of LASA
Publishing
LASA publishes an interdisciplinary scholarly journal, the ''
Latin American Research Review
The ''Latin American Research Review'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal covering research on Latin America and the Caribbean. It was established in 1965 by the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) and is published by LASA's publis ...
'' (LARR) founded in 1965 by a consortium of U.S. universities. ''LARR'' is an interdisciplinary journal that publishes original research and surveys of current research on Latin America and the Caribbean.
LASA has established a publishing house, the Latin American Research Commons, that publishes ''LARR'' and other books and journals.