7th Cracovian Conference of Latin Americanists: Vulnerability and Resilience in Latin America

We cordially invite the academic community to the 7th Cracovian Conference of Latin Americanists, which will take place on March 12–13, 2026. The Cracovian Conference is one of the most important recurring academic events in Central Europe, dedicated to sociopolitical and cultural issues. The seventh edition will focus on the theme of vulnerability and resilience in Latin America, in the context of growing social divisions, political polarization, and a profound transformation of the international order.

In the context of growing global systemic transformations, the contemporary world is increasingly perceived as uncertain, chaotic, and unstable. Latin America is not immune to these dynamics: deep-rooted, unresolved social challenges—such as structural inequality, gender-based violence, racism, homophobia, and attacks on Indigenous peoples, migrants, residents of marginalized areas, journalists, and environmental defenders—intersect with new forms of exploitation by organized crime, powerful national lobbies, and transnational actors.

At the same time, we are witnessing a troubling rise of far-right and ultraconservative political forces across the region, accompanied by growing political polarization and the fragmentation of the social fabric. These trends exacerbate insecurity, expose the vulnerability of various groups of citizens, and undermine the conditions necessary for democratic coexistence. The intensifying competition between the United States and China, the tightening of anti-immigration policies, and the escalation of international conflicts further raise questions about the direction of changes in the global order and the role that Latin American countries wish — and will be able — to play within it. 

Nonetheless, against the backdrop of these vulnerabilities, resilient responses are also emerging: social resistance, transformative cultural practices, legal initiatives, community-based movements, and innovative forms of agency that open up possibilities for more just, sustainable, and inclusive futures. Also on the international stage, countries in the region try to avoid taking sides in conflicts between major powers, broadening their scope for action and increasing their chances of improving the international conditions that support their development. 

We invite researchers from the fields of sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, migration studies, political science, international relations, law, and literature to submit proposals that critically examine the multiple dimensions of vulnerability and resilience in Latin America, using both theoretical and empirical approaches. 

Selected papers presented at the conference will be considered for publication in academic journals. 

Proposals (in Spanish, Portuguese, or English) should be submitted to: conferencia.cracoviana@uj.edu.pl 

Proposal submission deadline: October 15, 2025.

Notification of acceptance: November 5, 2025. 

Early registration fee (until December 20, 2025): 100 Euro (450 PLN)/ 50 Euro (225 PLN) for doctoral students.

Regular fee (until January 31, 2026): 150 Euro (675 PLN) / 80 Euro (360 PLN) for doctoral students.

Graduate students are exempt from payment.

The event will be held in person.