Digital Commons Network^™

Public Rhetoric And Private Strategy: The World Bank's Relationship With Mexico Through The 1980s Debt Crisis, Phillip Purcell

Holster Scholar Projects

This project investigates how the World Bank's relationship with Mexico changed through the 1980s debt crisis and whether the institution's internal assessments differed from its public presentation. Drawing on archival memoranda, correspondence, briefing papers, and publicly available reports, the study compares World Bank deliberations with official statements and publications. It demonstrates that examining these private and public records together provides a clearer understanding of how the Bank formulated policy, exercised influence over Mexico's economic strategy, and responded to the challenges of debt, adjustment, and reform. More broadly, the project contributes to understanding the role of international financial institutions in shaping …

Notes From The Field - Conference Proceedings, Summer Fellows 2025, Center For Latin American, Caribbean, And Latino Studies (Clacls)

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

CLACLS presents proceedings papers from the third CLACLS Summer Fellows Showcase Conference, held on November 12, 2025.

The daylong event showcased the research endeavors of fourteen Summer Fellows, who offered succinct presentations on their projects funded by the CLACLS Summer fellowship. The included three panels: “Feminist and Queer Critical Perspectives”, “Language, Archive and Power”, “Social Movements and Political Imaginations.”

Mental Health Stigma In Latin American Youth With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Ryan J Mccarty, Matias Jensen, Elissa Paz Jensen Santa Cruz, Melisa N Sagarnaga, Pamela Claisse Quiroz, Tomás Miño, Paola Giusti-Rodriguez, Mayra C Martinez Mallen, Maria B Moyano, Dayan Berrones, Jacey L Anderberg, Renee M Frederick, Hannah C Moore, Josselyn S Muñoz, Vanessa Zavala Cruz, Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative For Ocd Genomics (Latino), Brazilian Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Working Group (Gttoc), Ogechi C Onyeka, Andrew D Wiese, James J Crowley, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an impairing mental health condition that affects individuals across the lifespan. Some literature has evaluated mental health stigma in adults with OCD but limited attention has been given to youth, as well as those of Latino ancestry. The present study reported the extent of stigma experiences among Latin American youth with OCD, as well as examined sociodemographic, clinical and psychological correlates. 235 youth with clinician confirmed diagnoses of OCD from 10 North and South American countries completed questionnaires assessing stigma experiences, symptomatology, and functioning. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were also collected. The average OCD stigma response …

Intersecciones Hispánicas Número Completo 3

Intersecciones Hispánicas: Revista de Cultura, Literatura y Lingüística

No abstract provided.

Academic Year 2026–27 Annual Estimate Of The Strategic Security Environment, Us Army War College

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The Academic Year 2026–27 Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment provides a framework for those aspiring to tackle the Department of War’s most pressing challenges. This year’s authors highlight trending challenges and identify potential tension points across 10 sections organized under the broad themes of 1) Regional Challenges and Opportunities and 2) Institutional Challenges. This assessment represents the collective expertise of the US Army War College. The narrative is supplemented by a tailored list of 105 command-sponsored questions from 47 different Army and Joint organizations from across the Department of War. Combined, the distinct yet complementary narrative and question …

The Fellowship Of Christ's Sufferings: Toward A Practical Philosophy Of Worship For Missions In The Latin American Church, Moriah Hope Joseph

Senior Honors Theses

Within Latin America, evil and suffering are ever-present realities that cannot be concealed, and the Hispanic society is aching for relief. Liberation Theology and the prosperity gospel – and their accompanying worship practices – have been offered as tools to help alleviate the experience of suffering. But these theological perspectives and practices have accomplished little in edifying the Church by way of truth. Thus, the call for the modern missionary is to instead preach worship that is a response to the incarnate Christ in suffering. The missionary must advocate for worship practices that provide space for biblical lament, reveal a …

Businesses Entering The Latin American Market, Valeria Rangel

Honors Capstones

This study examines the strategies global companies use to successfully enter and compete in Spanish-speaking markets in Latin America. As the region continues to experience economic development and growing demand for infrastructure and energy-efficient technologies, it presents important opportunities for multinational organizations. However, companies expanding into these markets must consider cultural differences, regulatory environments, and regional economic conditions when designing effective market entry strategies.

This research analyzes the key factors that influence global market expansion, including regional economic conditions, trade policies, and marketing strategies. Particular attention is given to the importance of localization, customer relationships, and digital communication when engaging …

America First: U.S Justification For Intervention In Latin America, Lenardo Buentello

Posters - 2026

In November 2025, the United States released a new National Security Strategy that strongly focuses on securing key resources before rival countries, especially in the Western Hemisphere. This approach is like policies like the Monroe Doctrine, which emphasized U.S. influence in the region. This strategy is already being put into action in Venezuela, where U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on drug trafficking charges. These actions reflect the strategy’s focus on national security and resource control. Many countries question whether the U.S. acted legally and argue that it ignored international norms. Latin America has become a region …

Does It Matter Who Tells The Story? Newspaper Coverage Of Immigration Across Three Latin American Countries, Fernando Severino, Sebastian Rivera

Faculty Publications - Communications

This study examines the news media’s coverage of intraregional immigration issues in three Latin American countries –Colombia, Chile, and Mexico– from 2014 to 2018, when immigration became a salient political issue in these nations. We examine the news coverage by utilizing a novel sample of approximately 20,000 news articles and relying on a Structure Topic Modelling (STM) analysis to detect the most prevalent topics in the news. Our findings reveal that policy issues and stories related to human rights constitute the primary focus of news media coverage on immigration in those countries. We also investigate whether there are differences in …

From Victim To Villain: How Gendered Narratives Shape Drug Courier Trials, Serafina C. Russo

Journal of Race, Gender, and Ethnicity

This article examines how gendered stereotypes, coercive trafficking dynamics, and permissive evidentiary practices create systemic bias in criminal prosecutions of women, particularly in drug trafficking cases. It highlights how courts often allow expert testimony and generalized narratives that blur neutral analysis with character judgment, inviting jurors to rely on cultural assumptions rather than objective facts. The “blind mule” phenomenon demonstrates the human cost, disproportionately affecting women from marginalized backgrounds, and reflects violations of due process and the presumption of innocence. The article argues for judicial and legislative reforms, including rigorous enforcement and clarification of Rule 704(b), to prevent stereotypes from …

“A Couple Days In The Life Of What It’S Like In Washington Heights:” The Representation Of Latine Immigrants In Lin-Manuel Miranda’S In The Heights, Natalie M. Bowen

UROP Posters

The United States of America is a nation built by and made up of immigrants, being home to one-fifth of all migrants across the world. Anti-immigrant prejudice and xenophobia have long defined the American people and national policy, but the target demographic is constantly changing to reflect current narratives and fears. In recent years, Latine immigrants have been a prominent topic of concern in American politics. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2021 movie musical In The Heights aims to celebrate the existence of immigrants in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in New York City. Using peer-reviewed scholarly sources and movie reviews, this comprehensive literature …

Un Lugar A Donde No Puedo Volver: Perteneciendo En La Distancia, Alberto J. Alonso

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

“A Place I Cannot Return To: Distance and Belonging” investigates how home is not limited to a fixed place, but instead a reconstruction sustained through memory and longing, which focuses on personal experiences of being away from Puerto Rico. I contribute to this broader dialogue by offering a deeply personal perspective shaped by the complexities of cultural belonging. Through photography, collage, and painting, my art practice reconstructs fragmented visual narratives of lived experience to explore homesickness, nostalgia, and displacement, examining how personal and shared histories become anchors to what continually slips away. Although I can physically return to Puerto Rico, …

Arbitrating Business And Human Rights Disputes In Latin America, Gloria Correa

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Clacls Reportage, Vol. 2, Tatiana Bertolucci Peixoto, Marcela Joya, Oscar Aponte, Ana María Granados Romero

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

This second volume of the CLACLS Reportage Series is a testament to our ongoing commitment to public-facing scholarship that bridges academic research and the lived experiences of Latinx communities in New York and beyond. This edition brings together three distinct yet interconnected stories that speak to belonging, migration, and cultural transformation across generations.

Tatiana Bertolucci Peixoto follows the legacy of Marielle Franco, the Black, queer, favela-born activist whose political assassination in Rio de Janeiro reverberated around the world galvanizing a global network of resistance—from Brazil’s favelas to New York’s diasporic communities—turning her name into a living emblem of feminist, anti-racist, …

Women’S Bonds And Chance Encounters: An Analogical Reading Of The Book Of Ruth And Joshua Marston’S Film Maria Full Of Grace, Luigi De Angelis Soriano

Journal of Religion & Film

This article offers an analogical reading of the biblical book of Ruth and Joshua Marston’s 2004 film Maria Full of Grace, examining how both narratives portray migrant women who form strategic social bonds to navigate precariousness within limiting power structures. While Ruth and María inhabit vastly different cultural and historical contexts, their stories meet in their emphasis on female solidarity and human agency. Focusing on key verses from Ruth and pivotal scenes from Maria Full of Grace, this study highlights how emotional and ethical relationships among women—whether covenantal or born of desperation—become sources of strength in the absence …

The Catholic Church And Their Response To The Rise Of Human Rights Abuses By The Military Regimes In Argentina And Brazil: A Comparative Analysis On The Argentine And Brazilian Church From The 1960’S To The 1980’S, Mya Miller

Global Studies Senior Capstone

This study is primarily focused on the Catholic Church's role in Argentina and Brazil throughout the 1960's to 1980's. It explores the historical and political context of Latin America amidst Cold War influence which resulted in the rise of military dictatorships who resorted to violence due to their strong political views. The Catholic Church, at the time, was experiencing deep internal tension which, in some cases, lead to an unfortunate lack of action despite their vast influence and their ability to aid their communities in need.

Digital Divide In Latin America: A Multivariate And Neutrosophic Delphi Analysis For Inclusion And Public Policy, Cristian Cornejo Gaete, Viviana Tartakowsky Pezoa, Claudio Ruff Escobar, Jaime Zañartu Reyes

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study examines access to digital connectivity in Latin America, highlighting both progress and persistent structural inequalities. In the context of the pandemic, the internet has consolidated its position as an essential tool for daily life, highlighting deep gaps between countries, urban and rural areas, and different socioeconomic groups. Using the graphical multivariate HJ-Biplot method, complemented by a Neutrosophic Delphi approach to model indeterminacies in digital inclusion policies, the research question is addressed: How are Latin American and Caribbean countries grouped according to their level of access to digital connectivity, considering socioeconomic, age, ¿and geographic differences? The hypothesis guiding this …

Estimating Drivers Of Certified Seed Adoption Among Colombian Rice Producers And Assessing Yield Impacts At The Plot Level, Jenika Hazelbaker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the population rises, there is a growing need to increase agricultural productivity to keep up with food demands. However, agricultural land expansion to increase production is not a sustainable solution long-term. The Global South particularly faces greater needs for rice as a staple food, yet countries in Latin America like Colombia have faced declining rice yields. Technologies that boost agricultural productivity using existing land, such as certified seeds, are considered a tool to address this problem in the face of land scarcity and climate change. Certified seeds have high genetic purity and are free from disease. Despite the quality …

Barriers And Facilitators To Accessing Healthcare For People With Parkinson's Disease In Latin America: A Qualitative Study, Christine Jeyachandran, Catherine Spooner, Ana Margarita Rodriguez Salgado, Matthew Prina, Joel Rhee, Jorge Jesus Llibre-Guerra, Dani Kim, Juan J Llibre-Rodriguez, Mark F Harris

2020-Current year OA Pubs

AIMS: The aim of the study was to identify the barriers and facilitators to healthcare access for people with Parkinson's disease (PWP) in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries (LAC) in Central and South America, to understand their drivers and consider the implications for health systems in LAC.

METHODS: Four online semi-structured focus groups were conducted with 25 PWP who provide education and/or support to PWP. The study was designed and implemented by a person with lived experience of PD. Data were mapped to an existing model of access to healthcare that incorporates provider and consumer abilities.

FINDINGS: There were multiple provider …

Affective Polarization In Latin America, Juan A. Moraes, Sergio Béjar

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Studies on the determinants and consequences of affective polarization have proliferated in the past decade, focusing mostly on the US and Western European countries. Empirical and anecdotal evidence presented in this chapter, however, suggests that such a phenomenon is also prevalent in many Latin American countries, which may have important consequences for the stability and survival of democracy in a region where partisan institutions tend to be weak. In this chapter, we present a critical review of the scant literature on affective polarization in Latin America. We then carefully analyze levels of partisan affective polarization (PAP) and leader affective polarization …

Analyzing Immigrant Pay Gaps & The Policies That Influence Them, Rebeca Perez, Prachi Jain

Honors Thesis

Despite making up 14% of the US population, little research has been done on pay gaps for immigrants, the majority of whom are Latin American immigrants. I analyze the effect of immigration on immigrants’ wages, specifically looking at the effects of region of birth, citizenship, and state immigration policies. I find that even when compared to natives with similar education, Latin American immigrants earn significantly less. Furthermore, while noncitizens earn less than natives and naturalized citizens earn more overall, Latin Americans face a larger penalty for noncitizenship and lower returns to citizenship. Finally, while living in Sanctuary and Anti-Sanctuary States …

From Amazon To Malaya: Polyphonic Narratives Of Writers And Subaltern Voices In Colombian And Malaysian Rubber-Forest Literature, Menglu Chen

ELIN Graduate Theses

No abstract provided.

The Wavering Future Of Democracy In Latin America, Brianna N. Bleeck

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The erosion of democratic governance in Latin America has emerged as a critical area of concern for political scientists, policymakers, and international organizations. Historically, the region has experienced fluctuating political landscapes marked by periods of democratic consolidation followed by authoritarian regression. Throughout the 20th century, countries such as Chile, Argentina, and Brazil witnessed military dictatorships resulting from socio-economic crises and political instability. Despite widespread democratic transitions throughout the 1980s and 1990s, contemporary Latin America faces new challenges that threaten its democratic integrity. The resurgence of authoritarian tendencies within the region coincides with escalating homicide and assault rates in many countries, …

Wide Screen With Critical Essay "Translating A Poetry Of Cinema"., James L. Richie Iv

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation combines the creative task of translating Víctor Cabrera’s poetry collection WIDE SCREEN (2009) from Spanish into English with a critical study that analyzes the volume to highlight the uniqueness of his writing, the importance of translating such a work for an Anglophone audience, and the challenges that occur in translating this complex collection. Moreover, Cabrera’s writing engages with a variety of cultural works in ways that challenge preconceived notions of language, culture, and medium. The poetry in WIDE SCREEN draws inspiration from the films of American filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, while frequently putting these films into dialogue with works …

Reframing The Message Of Jesus : For The Newer Generations Of Urban Latin American Youth, Rich Brown

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Sports For Gender Equality, Michelle Salmeron, Julia Mott, Eliza Cash

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Recent studies show that participating in sports leads to lower levels of anxiety, depression, and hyperactivity in children while also fostering higher self-esteem (Tahira, 2023). In Mexico, 67% of girls are inactive (Provoking Sport, 2023). However, there has been little direct research conducted in Mexico to illustrate and exemplify the benefits of sports for girls and women. Additionally, there are few role models for them to look up to who share their cultural background, as most examples come from other countries. This creates a cycle that hinders cultural and societal growth, as well as creates a barrier to sports participation. …

From Exit To Apathy: Migration, Remittances, And The Erosion Of Political Participation, Sanjida Mehrin

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis offers new perspectives on migration and political behavior in Latin America by analyzing how remittances affect political engagement and how economic perceptions influence migration intentions. While classic models focus on structural economic conditions, this study emphasizes the independent significance of subjective economic judgments as well as the different political implications of remittances across national contexts. The first chapter challenges traditional models that mainly link migration with objective economic indicators by examining how migration intentions are influenced by retrospective economic views. Using individual-level data from the 2018 LAPOP survey across 19 Latin American countries, the analysis employs country fixed …

The Rise And Fall Of U.S. Support For Operation Condor, Siegrid Tuttle

Munn Scholars Awards

Operation Condor (Condor) was a transnational terror network set up by six military dictatorships in South America with the support of the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in order to kill and silence dissidents in the nineteen seventies. Research on Condor tends to focus on the individual dictatorships involved; the relationship between those dictatorships and the United States has been comparatively understudied. Unlike in other Cold War battlegrounds, the human rights violations committed by the Condor dictatorships caused Congress to take action, investigate the CIA, and tie human rights requirements to U.S. foreign assistance to the region.

Toward A More Effective Dod Contribution To Strategic Competition In The Western Hemisphere, R. Evan Ellis

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

©2025 R. Evan Ellis

Innovative new thinking on the security dimension of the challenges posed by the PRC’s engagement in Latin America and the DoD’s role in the whole-of-government US response is needed. This monograph highlights risks from PRC influence networks, digital architectures, and dual-use commercial facilities in the region, particularly at ports and in the space sector; shows how PRC economic engagement and other support sustains illiberal regimes, indirectly contributing to the risks these regimes pose by hosting criminal and terrorist groups and other US adversaries, such as Russia and Iran; and illustrates how commercial, people-to-people, and security engagements …

What Causes Democratic Backsliding In Latin America? A Comparative Case Study Of Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, And Costa Rica, Samantha Foshee

Honors Program Theses

This study examines the causes of democratic backsliding in Latin America, comparing Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. Events like the January 8th, 2023 riot in Brazil and the use of intimidation tactics by President Bukele in El Salvador demonstrate the erosion that these two countries have faced. On the other hand, Chile and Costa Rica have maintained stable democracies. This study aims to understand what caused these countries’ different paths by examining the levels of political polarization, party deterioration, citizen dissatisfaction, and the presence of populist leaders. Overall, it was found that polarization and party deterioration increase the …