Feminist Academic Freedom in Latin America in the New Geopolitical Context

Ecuador has been included in the new cartographic delineation of the United States as part of the so-called “New North America.” This indicates a new geopolitical reality determined by the Shield of the Americas political alliance. What does this have to do with academic freedom? Academic censorship and the stifling of certain fields of study – especially gender studies – in Latin American countries controlled by right-wing authoritarian regimes have led some universities to subordinate themselves to these regimes’ agendas. This presentation will address the new retrograde academic establishment and the power it wields over feminist scholars of the South.

Cristina Burneo Salazar is an independent researcher, writer and translator. Her research focuses on feminist cultural studies; translation and migration; relations between writing and justice; and epistemic justice. Her creative work spans essay and nonfiction. Recent books include Dime si son latinxs (Casa de las Américas International Prize 2025, Cuba, Essay category); Podría decirse ya que su alma era de pólvora (Chile, Palinodia, 2024); and Otra forma de besar (Mexico, Iberoamericana, 2023). She is a co-founder of the collective Corredores Migratorios (2018), which advocates for migrant justice. Forthcoming works include Antipostales. Pequeñas crónicas en tránsito (Canal Press, Houston, 2027) and Canto mineral, a project of non-fiction short stories.

This event is part of the Gender Lecture Series 2026–2027, Gendered Precarities, organised by the Gender Team of the World Trade Institute – Know the GAP!, led by Prof. Elisa Fornalé, in collaboration with the Faculty of Law of the University of Bern. Participation is open to the public and free of charge. For further information: Dr Simone Ferrari, simone.ferrari@unibe.ch.