LARS offers an opportunity for Georgetown faculty, visiting researchers and fellows, and doctoral students whose work focuses on Latin America and the Caribbean to share their research so that our community can learn about, celebrate, and promote their work.
Alberto Maresca, a second-year MA candidate in the Center for Latin American Studies, analyzed de-dollarization as a geopolitical industrial policy within the BRICS framework, focusing on its implications for Cuba, Venezuela, and Argentina. He suggested the policy is best understood as a state-led, multilateral response to sanctions, monetary sovereignty concerns, and global financial shocks.
Isabella Castillo, a second-year student in the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) program, examined solid waste management in La Paz, Bolivia, identifying gaps in collection, recycling, and public awareness. She argued that technology, donor partnerships, and behavioral incentives could boost waste recovery and long-term sustainability.
Francisco Barnés, a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service (SFS), explored Mexico’s constitutional reform to dissolve COFECE and establish a new antitrust authority. He noted shared concerns over regulatory capture from both the government and private sector, warning that inadequate safeguards could deter investment and undermine reform.
Jianan Huang, a second-year MA candidate in the Center for Latin American Studies, evaluated gender budgeting in Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, finding it a valuable but limited tool. She emphasized the need for broader systemic reforms to improve labor and health outcomes and achieve lasting gender equity.
The presentations ended with an audience Q&A that allowed students and faculty to engage with the students’ research and provide their feedback.
