On November 29, 2023, Ph.D. candidate Calla “Cici” Cameron from the Department of History shared her research experience in Ayacucho, Peru, as she followed a local mayoral election and participated in the campaigning process. This election, which took place in 2022, serves as an example of the role history plays in modern politics, as it was heavily influenced by the collective memory of war and violence, as well as familial ties and language. Calla found herself as an important figure in the election after friends and community members presented her as a diplomatic tie to the United States. After the presentation, students and faculty members asked Calla about the strategic use of Spanish and Quechua in the election, her role as an accidental participant in the campaign, and the ways in which community members viewed the candidates. To learn more about the project, please visit the LARS page. We thank Calla and the community for a productive and engaging conversation.
