About Us
The Observatory on Latin America (OLA) proposes to create new opportunities for multiple narratives and public debate on hemispheric processes of reform and change. The broad theme for the OLA is “Social Democracy in a Globalized World: Anticipating Futures in Latin America.
The OLA at The New School was formally launched at The New School in September 2006 by the current Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, during the event “Expectations and Experiences for the Latin America Region”, in which she chaired the panel as Senator and President of the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Senate of Argentina.
The establishment of the OLA comes at a time of political change and renewed interest in Latin America in the United States. New leaders in Latin America are seeking new policies and approaches to strengthen democracy, to define new economic and social policies, and to achieve social justice in the region. These efforts are rarely reported to North American audiences but are frequently lost in the single narratives of established newspapers and television channels.
The OLA also continues with the prior work and impact created by the successful University program: the Argentina Observatory. From this program, new expanded research, university courses and public events were established at The New School and has been transformed into what is today known as The Observatory on Latin America (OLA).
This program would like to acknowledge the generous support of the Julien J. Studley Foundation
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