Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO

Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO
Name	Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO)
Formation	1967
Headquarters	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Region served	Latin America and Caribbean
Membership	over 700 research centers and postgraduate programs

Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO is a regional non-governmental association of academic and research institutions from Latin America and the Caribbean that coordinates scholarly activity across multiple countries. Founded in 1967 in Buenos Aires, it emerged amid debates involving United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and regional forums such as the Organization of American States and the Pan American Health Organization. CLACSO has engaged with networks connected to CELAC, Mercosur, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States while interacting with institutions like the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of São Paulo, and the University of Buenos Aires.

History

CLACSO traces origins to post-Cuban Revolution intellectual currents and meetings influenced by figures associated with Guatemala 1954, Allende government, and debates following the 1968 movements; founding delegates included representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. During the 1970s military dictatorships in South America, CLACSO navigated exile networks tied to universities such as the Central University of Venezuela and research centers linked to Carlos Alberto Flores and others, while collaborating with international agencies like UNESCO and scholars from the London School of Economics, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, and the University of Oxford. In the 1980s debt crisis and the 1990s Washington Consensus period, CLACSO expanded partnerships with institutions such as FLACSO, CIESAS, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, adapting to policy shifts after accords like the Monterrey Consensus.

Mission and Objectives

CLACSO's stated mission aligns with principles articulated in statements influenced by actors like Paulo Freire, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and Octavio Paz, aiming to strengthen ties among centers such as the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences and the National Scientific and Technical Research Council. Objectives include fostering doctoral programs linked to the Inter-American Development Bank initiatives, promoting comparative studies involving the Andean Community, and supporting critical inquiry resonant with scholarship from the Centre for Development Studies and the Instituto de Estudos Sociais e Políticos. The organization emphasizes equity and inclusion principles reflected in accords like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and dialogues with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Organizational Structure

CLACSO is governed by a General Assembly composed of representatives from member centers including the National Autonomous University of Honduras, Universidad de la República (Uruguay), and the Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani. An Executive Secretariat based in Buenos Aires coordinates with regional offices and thematic units linked to networks such as the Red Clacso and collaborates with funding partners like the Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and the European Union. Advisory bodies include academic committees with scholars associated with Harvard University, Yale University, University of Cambridge, and regional actors from the Andes and the Caribbean Community.

Activities and Programs

CLACSO runs postgraduate courses, virtual seminars, and capacity-building workshops in cooperation with entities such as the United Nations Development Programme, World Bank, and cultural institutions like the Museo de la Nación (Peru). Its programs host conferences that convene participants from the Buenos Aires International Book Fair, the São Paulo Forum, and the Havana International Book Fair, while facilitating exchanges among centers such as the Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos and the Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales (UNAM). CLACSO initiatives include thematic projects on migration involving the International Organization for Migration, gender projects referencing the Beijing Platform for Action, and environmental studies linked to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization.

Publications and Research Networks

CLACSO supports a publishing platform that aggregates working papers, journals, and monographs from member institutions including the Revista de Indias, Cuadernos de Desarrollo, and collections associated with the Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani and the Centro de Estudios y Documentación Internacionales de Barcelona. Research networks span topics drawing on scholarship by authors such as Aníbal Quijano, Arturo Escobar, Néstor García Canclini, and Walter Mignolo, connecting centers across the Southern Cone, Central America, and the Caribbean. The council’s digital repository mirrors open access trends pioneered by projects affiliated with Redalyc and SciELO and collaborates with university presses like Oxford University Press and Editorial Siglo XXI.

Collaborations and Influence

CLACSO has partnered with multilateral agencies including the United Nations, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and UNICEF, and with universities such as Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Johns Hopkins University to influence debates on public policy shaped by events like the 2001 Argentine economic crisis and the implementation of programs influenced by the Millennium Development Goals. Its networks have informed policymaking in national ministries and supranational forums like UNASUR and have engaged with social movements connected to leaders such as Hugo Chávez, Lula da Silva, and Michelle Bachelet.

Criticism and Controversies

CLACSO has faced critiques from scholars aligned with institutions like the Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, and certain university departments over perceived ideological orientations reflecting debates echoing disputes around Dependency theory, Neoliberalism, and positions associated with intellectuals such as Andre Gunder Frank and Rudolf Hilferding. Allegations have included claims about funding transparency raised in exchanges involving the Inter-American Development Bank and partisan critiques voiced in media outlets tied to the Grupo Clarín and think tanks like the CIPPEC. Responses have entailed internal reforms and dialogues with legal scholars from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and administrative reviews referencing best practices promoted by the International Network for Government Science Advice.

Category:Non-governmental organizations Category:Latin American studies