The Carr Center, in collaboration with the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) at Harvard, will be pursuing a one day conference to explore in greater depth the nature and implications of the crisis in Honduras. The idea is to explore the different angles of the events in the country, looking at the Central American historical context in which democratization took place, examining the impending constitutional crisis that resulted from a clash of internal powers, analyzing what international forces (Latin American countries, the US, OAS, mediators) were at play and what was their response to the crisis. Finally, the implications of the current crisis in terms of the confrontation of forces alluded earlier on how democracy is exercised throughout the continent.
Because it is so recent, the Honduras case involves preliminary exploration in order to clarify main themes that subsequently may involve substantial additional research and analysis. The Conference is intended as a first step in breaking ground about issues and trends that are wider in scope and cover the entire region. Resulting from the presentations and discussion we expect a number of conclusions that will serve to orient future research and dialogue with policy-making agencies both in the US and in the Inter American system.
| «Honduras Conference» Monday, November 23, 2009 4:00 – 7:30pm Malkin Penthouse (Littauer Center, Floor 4) Harvard Kennedy School of Government |
THE HONDURAN CRISIS: COULD IT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED? WHAT CAN BE LEARNED?
Opening Remarks: Dr. Leonardo Vivas, Director of the Latin American Initiative at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
The Context:
*Moderator: Dr. Steve Levitsky, Professor of Government, Harvard University
* Dr. Sergio Ramirez (David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Visiting Fellow) former Vice-President of Nicaragua during the Sandinista regime «Central American context of the crisis»
* Professor Michelle Taylor-Robinson (Texas A&M University) Central America specialist «The peculiarities of the Honduran situation»
* Dr. Rodolfo Pastor (David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Visiting Fellow) former Minister of Culture under the Zelaya government «An insider’s perspective»
Discussion (Introduced and lead by Dr. Levitsky)
COFFEE BREAK (15min)
The Effects:
*Moderator: Dr. Edward Schumacher-Matos, Director, Harvard Immigration and Integration Studies Project, Lecturer, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Population and Development Center
* Dr. Michael Shifter vice president for policy and director of the Andean program at the Inter-American Dialogue «The Inter-American Perspective»
* Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow, President of the Institute of the Americas «US Governmental Actions»
* Congressman Eliot. T. Engel, New York’s 17th District Chairman of the House of Representatives Western Hemisphere Sub-Committee «How the Congress has dealt with
