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Luisa Blanco Explores the Rise of Leftist Politics in Latin America

During the last decade, there has been a significant rise in popularity of the political left in Latin America. Luisa Blanco, an assistant professor of economics at the School of Public Policy (SPP), will explore the reasons behind increasing liberalism during a special lecture at 12:10 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, held in Classroom 171 at the Drescher Graduate Campus.

Blanco's presentation, "Left Turn: The Rise of the Left in Latin America," will identify and analyze what sparks such populist changes in Latin American nations - a topic that has interested her for a long time.

"I am planning to discuss the characteristics of the leftist movements in Latin America, making a distinction between those countries which have experienced a sharp turn to the left and those which have experienced just a slight turn," she says.

Putting the topic in an internationally current context, she adds, "Latin American politics are certainly evolving these days and there is a lot that needs to be seen in terms of how politics will change with the global financial crisis."

As a scholar of economic development in Latin America, Blanco's work often focuses on issues related to policy-making in Latin American countries. She co-authored an analysis of the determinants of political instability in Latin America, "Long Live Democracy: The Determinants of Political Instability in Latin America," which was published in the Journal of Developmental Studies.

In November, Blanco presented her paper "Income Inequality and Political Instability" at the Pacific Coast Council on Latin American Studies' (PCCLAS) 2008 Conference at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In January she showcased her research on Latin American economics and politics in a paper titled, "The Impact of Resource Abundance and Resource Inequality on Capital Accumulation in Latin America." She presented the paper at the American Economic Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. She will also present the same paper in June 2009 at the Latin American Studies Association international conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"I have always been fascinated by Latin American politics," she says of her subject. About Thursday's lecture, she adds, "Especially with the populist movements that the region experienced before the 1980s and the implications of those movements for economic growth and development. It is very interesting to see how history seems to be repeating itself in the region."

For more information, visit the School of Public Policy Web Site or contact the school at (310) 506-7490.