Political scientist and expert on Brazil Peter Kingstone will deliver the 2012 Gary Wynia Memorial Lecture on Friday, Feb. 17 at 4:30 p.m. in the Gould Library Athenaeum. Focused on the explosive economic and political growth of this South American giant in recent decades, Kingstone’s presentation is entitled “Democracy, Development, and the Puzzling Success of Brazil.” This event is free and open to the public.
In recent years, Brazil has increasingly come to be seen as one of the giants of the developing world alongside such powers as China and India. This is reflected not only in its staggering economic growth, but also through its role as a leader in international relations and in such prestigious symbols as the upcoming 2016 Olympics. However it was not always so, and as late as the 1990s, Brazil was dismissed as “feckless,” “ungovernable,” and “paralyzed.” In his talk, Kingstone will address the rapidity of this country’s transformation, and the shortcomings suggested in the ways that we traditionally understand democracy, development, and the adaptability of human behavior.
A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Kingstone is currently a professor at the University of Connecticut. He has worked extensively on the topics of democratization and neoliberal economic reforms, and is the author of numerous books and articles, including Crafting Coalitions for Reform: Business Preference, Political Institutions, and Neoliberal Reform in Brazil (Penn State Press, 1999) and The Political Economy of Latin America: Reflections on Neoliberalism and Development (Routledge, 2010).
Gary Wynia was the William R. Kenan Professor of Latin American Politics and former chair of the Department of Political Science at Carleton College. Deemed one of the world’s top experts on Argentinian politics, Wynia was consulted by numerous political leaders for his vast knowledge of Latin American politics, including U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. He made several contributions to the literary genre of Latin American politics, including the book The Politics of Latin American Development (Cambridge, 1978), Argentina in the Post-war Era (New Mexico, 1978), and Argentina: Illusions and Realities (Holmes and Meier, 1986). Carleton College continues to honor Wynia for his contributions and strong leadership.
This event is sponsored by the Carleton College Department of Latin American Studies. For further information and disability accommodations, call (507) 222-4085 or contact amontero@carleton.edu. The Gould Library Athenaeum is located on the Carleton campus off of College Street and is also accessible via Highway 19 in Northfield.