Latin America faces major challenges: the continent is particularly affected by climate change and environmental risks, is currently experiencing a deep democratic crisis, and is shaped by profound economic dynamics. The CELA connects research and research projects on these issues, draws lessons for Germany and Europe, and seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the region and to political solutions.
The CALAS research network, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), is structured as an international consortium with seven locations in Latin America and Germany. It is based on continuous and robust scientific cooperation between universities in both regions.
Knowledge is a central component of modern societies and plays a decisive role in addressing social, political, and economic challenges. Yet its unequal distribution reinforces power structures, hierarchies, and the marginalization of certain voices. The rapid development of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, introduces additional uncertainties and risks. A critical reflection on education is required in order to confront challenges such as rising dropout rates, declining qualification levels, and the widening gap between institutional education and regional contexts. Financial constraints at both national and international levels risk further fragmenting educational systems, particularly in Latin America. Research in this area focuses on the effects of new forms of knowledge and technology, the transformation of educational systems, and the institutionalization of alternative knowledge production, with the aim of contributing to a more just and participatory society.
Current global transformations pose a profound challenge to the foundations of our societies, reshaping ecosystems, economic systems, social structures, political orders, and our understanding of reality itself. The transition from fossil capitalism to decarbonization and digitalization opens uncertain horizons, while neither multilateral organizations nor nation-states are providing adequate responses or governance tools for managing the complex interests of global, national, and local actors. Science and education therefore bear a historical responsibility to develop new future perspectives and to actively contribute to shaping the conditions of life. The transformation process is contradictory and requires critical reflection on existing transformation policies as well as a self-reflexive engagement that incorporates epistemological approaches from the Global South and embraces diverse political, cultural, and social responses. Despite its entanglement in contemporary crises, knowledge production—through regulation and social participation—can foster transformative processes and contribute to the development of more just and sustainable models of collective life.
In the Latin American context of social uprisings, economic crises, and far-reaching processes of change, it remains uncertain whether liberal democracy can withstand current challenges—particularly the rise of far-right movements and increasing social polarization. The weakness of liberal democracy is exacerbated by the failure of progressive projects to build more just and inclusive societies, enabling right-wing parties to promote anti-democratic agendas through new media and digital cultures. “Digital bubbles” intensify these dynamics by hindering dialogue and deepening polarization. These developments have contributed to growing violence, organized crime, racism, intolerance, and militarization across Latin America, while political, economic, religious, and cultural divides continue to radicalize. Research within the area of “Transformations of Worldviews” seeks to analyze collective future visions in this fragmented and polarized environment by examining the drivers of political radicalization, its effects on democracy, and the evolving relationships between state and society, in order to identify possible future alternatives.
How does global demand for natural resources affect societies in the Global South? The research project extractivism.de examines the political economy of resource extraction in Latin America and the Maghreb—two regions deeply embedded in global value chains whose resource policies are increasingly coming into focus in geopolitical confrontations.
At its core, the project addresses questions of power, distribution, and transformation: What are the societal consequences of extractivism—the systematic exploitation of natural resources—for democracy, development, and the environment? What new dependencies are emerging in the course of the green energy transition? And how do social movements, civil society actors, and states respond to these ecological and political challenges?
extractivism.de is an interdisciplinary research network jointly run by the University of Kassel and the Philipps University of Marburg. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), it brings together senior scholars, early-career researchers, and international partners from academia, politics, and civil society.
The project organizes conferences, workshops, Flying Academies, and fellowship programs, fosters dialogue with policymakers, and regularly publishes scholarly analyses and practice-oriented insights.
Its goal is to open up new perspectives on resource politics, development, and global justice—beyond the classical logics of growth-oriented development paths.
Find more information and current contributions at extractivism.de
