Advanced Diploma in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
6rd cohort | Virtual modality | Starts in April 2026
ACADEMIC COORDINATION
Ana Laura Rivoir (University of the Republic, Uruguay) and Efraín León Hernández (National Autonomous University of Mexico)
PROFESSORS
Alberto Riella (University of the Republic, Uruguay) | Ana Laura Rivoir Cabrera (University of the Republic, Uruguay) | Andrea Carolina Jiménez Martín (National University of Colombia) | Angelica Cuellar (Autonomous University of Mexico/ Latin American Sociological Association) | Breno Bringel (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) | Edna Castro (Federal University of Pará, Brazil) | Efraín León Hernández (National Autonomous University of Mexico) | Fabricio Pereira (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) | Fernando Correa (Federal University for Latin American Integration, Brazil) | Francesca Savoia (University of Bologna, Italy) | Francisca Viviana Fonseca Prieto (University of La Frontera, Chile) | Georgette Ramírez Kuri (National Autonomous University of Mexico) | Karina Batthyany (University of the Republic, Uruguay) | Licio Caetano do Rego Monteiro (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) | Nayar López (National Autonomous University of Mexico)| Patrick Illmer (National Autonomous University of Mexico)
Home: 30 / 04 / 2026 | Registration: 12/01/2026 al 30/04/2026
Virtual format | April to July 2026
This Postgraduate Diploma program is rooted in the rich and diverse tradition of critical and engaged social thought within Latin American Studies. We understand Latin American Studies as the accumulation of knowledge and reflection across various disciplines and interdisciplinary approaches that form a unified whole, encompassing its different regions: North America, Central America, the Caribbean, the Andes, and the Southern Cone.
This allows us to present a panoramic and complex view of the proposals emanating from Latin American critical social theory, empirical research, and the methodological challenges for its study. It encompasses a historical and structural perspective that reaches our present day with contemporary transformations and debates surrounding the most current crossroads and dilemmas.
The social processes analyzed are treated in two ways: first, as part of the ongoing social process and its theoretical framework, and second, as specific aspects of the region's complex socio-historical situations. The examination of change processes and the social, political, and economic actors involved is incorporated to understand the various power structures and transformations across the continent, and their interrelationships with the local, regional, and global levels.
The major events we are experiencing in the present day in Latin America and the world highlight the need to better understand and explain them. Latin American critical social theory contributes analytical frameworks and proactive perspectives on their complexity and integrity, always attentive to the categories and the set of discursive premises that constitute them.
Grounded in a profound historical perspective, Latin American critical social theory has remained vigilant regarding the spatial and temporal unity of contemporary sociohistorical conditions. Therefore, in addition to focusing on the singularity and novelty of recently emerging processes, it remains attentive to their coexistence with many other long-standing ones—economic, political, social, and cultural—including some that were thought to have been historically overcome, such as the rise of the far right and renewed US military interventionism. At the same time, it is attentive to the contradictory unity with the rest of the world. Thus, the diversity, complexity, and coexistence of these processes in the present day only serve to pose new challenges for critical social theory in its endeavor to account for them in a politically engaged manner.
Latin American Studies, specific to our region, has a deep tradition that, at various times and through a wealth of perspectives, has critically addressed this complexity. It is not merely a matter of regional studies, but rather of critical analytical approaches stemming from the critical thought of our America, grounded in interdisciplinarity and committed to social change, addressing the problems, tensions, and contradictions of our societies and peoples.
Therefore, reclaiming the work of Latin Americanists as an interdisciplinary dialogue also implies creatively transcending the barriers between the perspectives and particular methods of the disciplines. Thus, in addition to the necessary understanding and characterization of economic dependency, the exercise of power by old oligarchies, institutions, and the constitution of the multiple identities of our peoples, we must add the perspectives that arise from the study of new processes impacting every corner of the planet, such as the environmental and political crisis, as well as women's struggles for equality and the struggles for democracy and respect for diversity.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
To provide a general and panoramic view of the main theoretical and methodological discussions of Latin American studies based on the critical approach to its socio-political problems and crossroads, allowing those who participate in the diploma to access an expanded knowledge about Latin American studies.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
- To present the main theoretical, conceptual and methodological proposals developed within the framework of contemporary Latin American studies.
- To provide a panoramic view and to debate the current problems of the continent and the dilemmas for social change based on the development of explanatory capacity as well as concrete links with the various social forces.
- To provide spaces for exchange and debate around the elements presented in the classes, the bibliography and the exchange between participants.
The Higher Diploma in Latin American and Caribbean Studies is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students; teachers at all levels; activists and members of trade union organizations, social movements and political parties; public officials; members and managers of non-governmental organizations and professionals interested in the subject.
The program consists of 5 modules, each with 3 weekly classes, taught consecutively and interconnected. The course combines synchronous and asynchronous learning.
Total workload of 128 hours.
The modules that comprise the advanced diploma are:
CLASS 1: Course presentation. Coordinators Efraín León and Ana Rivoir
Panel: “The Relevance of Latin American Social Theory.”
Teacher: Coordinator: Efraín León, Participants: Nayar López
Conceptual summary of the class
The panel proposes a presentation, discussion and debate on the contributions of Latin American critical social theory and its relevance to the present time.
CLASS 2: Geopolitics in Latin America and the Caribbean. Structural Foundations and Prospects of the Current Regional Order
Teacher: Georgette Ramírez Kuri
Conceptual summary of the class
The session presents the current geopolitical order in Latin America and the Caribbean. First, it examines these processes from a critical perspective, both as distinct historical processes and as a shared asymmetrical platform upon which current geopolitical conflicts are unfolding around strategic elements in the region.
CLASS 3: Geopolitics of Security in Latin America
Teacher: Licio Caetano do Rego Monteiro
Conceptual summary of the class
This class presents a current overview of militarization processes in Latin America, framed within a new geopolitics of security imposed through discourses and practices that militarize societies. It aims to identify the most general principles of this paradigm, as well as its implementation in most political dynamics across Latin America and the Caribbean.
CLASS 4: Conflicts, disputes for peace and alternative horizons in Our America
Teacher: Carolina Jiménez Martín
Conceptual summary of the class
The class presents an overview of the networks of resistance to dominant orders in Latin America. These networks unfold multiple social and political subjectivities that cannot be subsumed under a single hegemonic subjectivity. Numerous agendas, demands, and proposals are presented, reflecting indignations, feelings, and imagined worlds. This kaleidoscope of resistance reveals the different territorial planes that are woven and intersected. In every case, the defense of life, peace, and democracy are the central axes that connect these alternative horizons, which are being woven through the struggles in Our America.
CLASS 5: Controversies of dependency, Marxism and Latin American economic-political thought
Teacher: Fernando Correa
Conceptual summary of the class
The general postulates of dependency theory are presented, along with its relevance to explaining current economic and political processes, and its importance as a theoretical development that feeds into the general theory of universal critical thinking.
CLASS 6: Latin American critical social theory and its roots in the theory of history as politics
Teacher: Francesca Savoia
Conceptual summary of the class
The perspective of historicity in social theory. The specificities of the Latin American critical trajectory and its complementary relationship with the Gramscian tradition.
CLASS 7: Violence and authoritarianism, theoretical approaches from the Latin American region
Teacher: Patrick Illmer
Conceptual summary of the class
Theorizations of violence and authoritarianism. Relations between authoritarianism and state forms in the region. The perspective of state-civil society equations and their contributions to the analysis of contemporary dynamics of violence and authoritarianism.
CLASS 8: Latin America and the global society
Teacher: Ana Laura Rivoir
Conceptual summary of the class
An analysis will be conducted of the emergence and development of global society as a result of globalization. The main changes generated within the context of the network society driven by technological development will be presented, with particular attention to informational development and the social changes and inequalities in Latin America within this context.
CLASS 9: Contemporary Territories and Ruralities: Processes, Debates, Actors and Policies
Teacher: Alberto Riella
Conceptual summary of the class
This module aims to introduce students to the most relevant perspectives on the socio-political processes unfolding in rural Latin America today. It begins by presenting the various reasons for the rapid expansion of capitalism in rural areas and the excessive exploitation of their common resources. Next, it analyzes the multiple social and political tensions this has generated and the responses of agrarian social movements and Indigenous peoples. Finally, it delves into the main controversies surrounding public policies that promote these activities and threaten the food security and sustainability of our communities.
CLASS 10: Ecological crisis, (Neo) extractivism and environmental conflict in Latin America and the Caribbean
Teacher: Francisca Fonseca Prieto
Conceptual summary of the class
The ecological and environmental crisis—clearly manifested in the effects of climate change—is disproportionately impacting the poorest countries of the Global South. Global socio-environmental impacts are drastically exacerbated by the local environmental consequences of the (neo)extractivist model of raw material exports that has characterized Latin American and Caribbean economies. In recent decades, despite efforts to transition to more sustainable societies, environmental controversies and conflicts have intensified. These conflicts share a common thread: the occupation and exploitation of territories by large national and transnational extractive companies that enjoy the political support of opposing states, often those of the very people who live in the affected areas.
CLASS 11: Social Movements in Latin America
Teacher: Breno Bringel
Conceptual summary of the class
This course will offer an overview of social movements in Latin America and the Caribbean, analyzing their historical contexts and recent and current developments. It will consider the forms of social mobilization, their expressions, actors, and demands, as well as their social and political impact. Theoretical tools will be provided to aid in the analysis and consideration of processes of collective action, mobilization, and social protest.
CLASS 12: Human Rights Violations and Truth Commissions in Latin America.
Teacher: Angélica Cuellar
CLASS 13: Theoretical, methodological and thematic challenges of Latin American studies
Teacher: Fabricio Pereira
Conceptual summary of the class
This class presents and discusses the relevance of Latin American studies and the challenges of adequately addressing the region's unity/diversity dilemma. It will explore the dilemmas of how to conceive of commonalities within diversity, as well as the theoretical and methodological challenges this entails.
CLASS 14: Main dilemmas, problems and theoretical and methodological proposals for the analysis of Latin American reality
Teacher: Edna Castro
Conceptual summary of the class
The class will explore various topics through critical thinking with a decolonial perspective. It will address the proposals of authors with their more theoretical and epistemic approach. Different discussions will be presented, including those on decolonial feminism; social inequality related to class, gender, and/or racism; critiques of racism and structural colonialism; emancipatory struggles for territories and knowledge; the ecology of knowledge; climate change and its causes; knowledge about nature and the preservation of life and Mother Earth.
In order to reflect on what are the main social and research problems that the social sciences should address and study in Latin America
CLASS 15: Closing Class
Teacher: Diploma Coordinators and Tutors
Closing Conference: Challenges for the social sciences in the Latin American context
Teacher: Karina Batthyany
Conceptual summary of the class
A synchronous class will be held for conceptual exchange and dialogue. A group assessment will be conducted, and guidelines for completing the final project will be discussed.
| Early registration (until 04/03) | General registration (May 6th to May 30st) | Registration without discount (30/04 to 05/05) | Payment in 3 installments | |
| Full or Associate Member Center | $150 | $220 | $300 | USD 360 (3 x USD 120) |
| No Link | $300 | $370 | $420 | USD 600 (3 x USD 200) |
* Residents of Argentina will pay the equivalent in Argentine pesos according to the official exchange rate of the Banco de la Nación Argentina (BNA) on the day of payment.
You must be registered in the CLACSO Single Registration System (SUIC) and enter your username and password. If you are not registered, click here. hereTo access the registration form, you must click the "Register" button on the webpage of the Diploma you are interested in.
Upon completion of the registration process, you will receive a confirmation in your email.
Classes will begin in April and will conclude in July 2026.
All registered participants will receive, on the first day of activities, the necessary instructions to access the classes, bibliography, and discussion forums through the CLACSO Virtual Training Space.
Accessing and navigating the Virtual Learning Environment is very simple and user-friendly. In any case, a technical and academic support team will always be available. For inquiries, you can write to [email protected]
You must write an email with the request to [email protected] We will send you the requested certificate as soon as possible.
Exceptional criteria: In exceptional cases and within the first 20 days of starting the Higher Diploma, the student may write to [email protected] Requesting withdrawal and stating the reasons. After the case is evaluated, a response will be sent to the request. If approved, the student may resume the Higher Diploma program if a new cohort is offered the following year. After that period of time has elapsed since the start of the course, no requests will be accepted.
Money paid will only be refunded in cases where the organizing institutions decide to cancel the activity.
Yes, the advanced diploma is certified by CLACSO. The diploma will be sent digitally and is completely free of charge.
Payment can be made in one installment, by credit card or bank transfer. We also offer the option of paying in 3 installments.
Yes. There will be discounts for students belonging to CLACSO Member Centers and CLACSO Associated Centers, for CLACSO Associate Researchers, and for all those who pay within the discount period.
You can check if you belong to a member center here:
The Advanced Diploma program integrates a dynamic of asynchronous and synchronous classes. Classes are primarily asynchronous. The schedule for synchronous sessions will be communicated by the Diploma coordinator at the beginning of the program, and participation in these sessions is not a prerequisite for passing the program.
Queries: WhatsApp: +54 9 11 3880 - 1388
E-mail: [email protected]
