The Institute of Latin American Studies at Stockholm University recently changed its name and has a now a Nordic profile with the new name “the Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies (NILAS)”. The Institute is intended to be a platform for Nordic collaborations in Latin American studies. This applies primarily to Latin America and the Nordic countries, but also between Nordic centres and Latin American-oriented universities and institutes in other parts of the world.

On 4 March, the official inauguration of the Institute was attended by, among others, several Latin American ambassadors to Sweden, representatives from the Finnish, Spanish and French embassies as well as representatives from the Swedish and Danish foreign ministries.

NILAS Director, Andrés Rivarola - Foto: Rickard Kilström
NILAS Director, Andrés Rivarola - Foto: Rickard Kilström

NILAS director Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano stated in his opening speech that the Institute of Latin American Studies was formed in the early 1950s as part of the Stockholm School of Economics. Since 1977, the institute belongs to Stockholm University. He also mentioned that there since the 1960s has been an ambition to create a Nordic Institute for Latin American Research - which is now being realized.

Institute researchers visible in the media

In her speech, President Astrid Söderbergh Widding emphasized that the Institute of Latin American Studies at Stockholm University has long profiled Stockholm University and that its expertise is in high demand. An example of this is that Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano is in second place in a compilation of the researchers at Stockholm University who appeared most frequently in the media last year, and number three on the same list is the Institute’s former director Fredrik Uggla. She also mentioned that the Institute's new Nordic status will further strengthen research and teaching and NILAS will become a Nordic hub for Latin American issues.

President Astrid Söderbergh Widding - Foto: Rickard Kilström
President Astrid Söderbergh Widding - Foto: Rickard Kilström

The board of NILAS then presented itself. In addition to Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano, there is Ken Benson, Professor of Spanish Literature History and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Humanities from Stockholm University. The Board also includes Maria Clara Medina at the University of Gothenburg, Benedicte Bull at the University of Oslo, Jussi Pakkasvirta at the University of Helsinki, and Georg Wink at the University of Copenhagen.

A 50-year-old dream comes true

The NILAS chair is Professor Benedicte Bull at the Centre for Development and the Environment at the University of Olso and former head of the Norwegian Latin American network Nolarnet. She gave a historical look back on the interest in Latin America and on the fact that there for fifty years has been an ambition to strengthen the relations between Latin American researchers in the Nordic countries: “Now we have what it takes to make this 50-year-old dream come true!”, she concluded.

Professor Benedicte Bull - Foto: Rickard Kilström
Professor Benedicte Bull - Foto: Rickard Kilström

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree 

In order to increase its international competitiveness, NILAS has recently started a collaboration with the University of Salamanca in Spain and Sorbonne Nouvelle in France. Within the collaboration, studies are offered in both Stockholm and Paris and Salamanca within the framework of an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree, Latin America and Europe in a Global World and representatives of these two universities also attended the event.

As part of the inaugural activities, a panel discussion was also held in Aula Magna on 5 March with the Chilean feminist collective Lastesis and Professor Merike Blofield from Hamburg University on feminism in Latin America.

 Inauguration of NILAS and Laglobe with ambassadors from Latin American countries - Foto: Rickard Kilström
Inauguration of NILAS and Laglobe with ambassadors from Latin American countries - Foto: Rickard Kilström

More information on the Institute's website: https://www.lai.su.se/