Latin American and Caribbean integration 200 years after the Amphictyonic Congress (1826-2026)

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General purpose

Within the framework of CLACSO's commitment to the production of critical, transformative and situated thought that contributes to the construction of the Greater Homeland, we present the bases for this Call for essays on the occasion of two centuries of a foundational milestone for the integration of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Two hundred years after the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama, we find ourselves at a crucial historical moment to reflect on the enduring relevance of the regional unity project and the paths to strengthening it. Originally convened by Simón Bolívar in 1826, this congress represented the most ambitious effort to federate the newly independent nations of Latin America and the Caribbean under a shared political and social vision. At that time, Bolívar envisioned that only through unity would our region become a symbol of cooperation and geopolitical strength, enabling our nations to jointly confront the political and economic challenges that emerged with independence.

While the Congress of Panama did not achieve the results the Great Liberator had hoped for, it marked the beginning of a tradition in Latin America and the Caribbean of associations, pacts, agreements, and alliances in diverse historical contexts. This tradition includes the American Congresses of the mid-19th century (all convened in response to external invasions of the region); the proclamations, campaigns, and actions of Martí, Ugarte, Mella, and Mariátegui, among others, at the turn of the century and the emergence of Latin Americanism as a cultural, political, and social expression of the region; the various proposals for autonomous economic integration to promote industrialization and development since the Second World War; and more recent projects such as MERCOSUR, ALBA, UNASUR, and CELAC, among others.

Recovering the legacy of the Congress of Panama during a period of renewed Monroe Doctrine influence is a political necessity for contemporary Latin American and Caribbean integration projects. This event constitutes a historical benchmark of regional unity with undeniable political, social, cultural, and educational value. It is imperative to conduct multidimensional research that unlocks its potential as a source of inspiration for current integration processes and their future projections. Likewise, the commemoration of the Amphictyonic Congress invites us to reflect on the historical and contemporary role of regional integration in the face of threats, disputes, and interference from imperial powers. In this regard, it is essential to examine both the unity initiatives promoted by Latin American and Caribbean state and political projects and those proposals for integration, cooperation, and solidarity developed by the peoples, social movements, Indigenous communities, Afro-descendant communities, peasant communities, and other historically marginalized groups, whose experiences have contributed to imagining and building alternative forms of regional articulation.

At CLACSO, we understand that to shape the future of our region, we must grasp the genealogy of integration processes, their potential, and the agendas that remain unresolved. This entails analyzing their doctrinal foundations, as well as the advances and setbacks that have shaped regional and subregional organizations over time. Studying this genealogy allows us to generate rigorous knowledge and foster a regional dialogue that strengthens collective understanding and critical debate on these processes, placing each one within its respective historical context.

The enduring relevance of Bolivarian ideals compels us to consider integration not only as an institutional agreement, but also as a comprehensive proposal encompassing cultural, social, and political dimensions. This implies, for example, thinking about regionalism and integration beyond markets and states as its sole agents, giving rise to an analysis of who promotes and encourages, as well as who hinders and obstructs, the various regional initiatives—that is, considering a social dimension of integration or the role of social actors within it. In a world undergoing rapid geopolitical reconfiguration with new and complex challenges, critical reflection and research on our shared history are fundamental tools for strengthening the sovereignty of our peoples and projecting the Amphictyonic legacy into the 21st century.

This call invites essayists, researchers and thinkers from across the region to contribute to this historical recovery, promoting a deep reflection on how the foundations of 1826 continue to resonate in the aspirations for unity and justice of Latin America and the Caribbean today.

Guiding principles of the call for proposals

• Active participation and co-creation
• Democratization of knowledge
• Critical, situated and transformative approach
• Recovery of subalternized knowledge

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Deadline for submitting essays: August 30, 2026

Date of publication of results: September 2026