Forum “End of leftist populism in Latin America? Challenges for new leaders”

The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) of the University of Economics, Prague, along with the Department of Political Science, Forum 2000 and the Casla Institute cordially invite you to the International Forum: “End of leftist populism in Latin America? Challenges for new leaders.”

The International Forum will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 14:30 in the auditorium NB B in the new building of the University of Economics in Prague.

Come and participate in this interesting international discussion, where we have the honor to welcome Latin American experts from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Mr. Oscar Arias Sanchez, our special guest and a moderator of this forum, is a Nobel Prize laureate and the former president of Costa Rica.

Oscar Arias Sánchez was president of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and was re-elected for another term in 2006. He is a laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his services supporting peace in Central America. He founded the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress, which is dedicated to the promotion of democracy, equality, disarmament and demilitarization.

This international forum provides a unique opportunity to learn about recent developments in Latin America directly from leading experts in the field.

Important personalities of Latin America participating in the discussion forum:

Alejandro Medinacelli is an activist, leader, and departmental vice-president of the La Paz Front of National Unity (UN) in La Paz, Bolivia. He actively participated in the “NO” public campaign in the 2009 referendum over the approval of a new constitution.

Axel Kaiser is a best-selling author, publicist and public intellectual. He is an experienced lawyer focusing on corporate law. He is currently the executive director of the Fundación para el Progreso (Foundation for Progress), one of the most influential free-market think-tanks in Latin America.

Mauricio Alarcón is a democracy activist and human rights defender and founder and executive director of Fundación Ciudadanía y Desarrollo (Citizenship & Development Foundation), an organization that promotes democracy and transparency in the country. Moreover he operates as a director at Fundamedios, an organization that works to promote and defend the freedom of expression and press in Ecuador.

Jesus Armas is the president of Ciudadanía sin Límites (Citizenship Without Limits), the executive member of the Fundación Juan Germán Roscio (The Juan German Roscio Foundation), an active member of Primero Justicia (First Justice) and a fierce opponent of government abuse in Venezuela. Furthermore, he has worked in various think-tanks and political organizations. One of his main interests is the technology used in public politics for democratic purposes.

Mario Valenti is the  president of the opposition Citizen Action Party, president of the Foundation for Democratic Studies in Panama, a member of Democratic Solidarity and a businessman. He worked with the opposition in many presidential campaigns in Nicaragua. Mr. Valenti was president of the National Youth Union and youth coordinator in the presidential campaign of the Liberal Independent Party.

Free entry without registration. The debate will be held in Spanish with simultaneous translation into Czech.

The debate will be followed from 6 p.m. in Vencovského aula by Latin American night at the University of Economics, Prague. The purpose of the event organized by the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) of the University of Economics, Prague, along with the Argentinian, Chilean, Cuban, Mexican, Peruvian and Venezuelan embassies in Prague, is to present Latin American culture and traditions, the economic potential of individual countries and traditional cuisine to students and the general public.