Panel discussion on security and militarism in the Americas


The Colloquium on the Global South will present a panel discussion on Security and Militarism in the Americas today, from 2:30 to 4:30pm in Room 305, York Lanes, on the Keele campus.


Chair and organizer Shana Shubs from York’s Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) will join panellists Elena Cirkovic (PhD candiate in political science), Simon Helweg-Larsen (MA candidate in social and political thought) and Justin Podur, a journalist with ZNET, to discuss the role of the military in many Latin American societies.



Right: A military review in Bolivia


While Latin America has emerged from the military dictatorships and armed conflicts of past decades, the military remains a powerful institution in many Latin American societies. A failure to bring those responsible for crimes against humanity to justice has only strengthened the impunity with which militarized groups operate. Have current discussions about “security” and the “war on terror’” been called upon to further US interests in the region and, increasingly, to legitimize the militarization of social unrest and popular dissent? Taking us to Venezuela, Guatemala and Peru, this panel will explore the current social, political and economic contexts of militarism and consider the consequences for local populations as well as the implications for the region as a whole.


For more information, visit the Colloquium on the Global South Web site.


The Colloquium on the Global South provides an open space for debate and critical inquiry for students, faculty members, NGOs, social activists, and policy makers. Presented by the University Consortium on the Global South (UCGS) which is located at York University, the presentations are free and do not require pre-registration. For further information, e-mail Rhonda Dynes at rdynes@yorku.ca or phone ext. 55237.