Understanding Latin American Challenges in the 21st Century

Social, political, and cultural transformation, a fast-changing global economy, geopolitical tensions and global uncertainties have created a markedly different context from the previous era of European Union (EU) policies towards Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The doctoral network LAC-EU will establish a novel, comprehensive and interdisciplinary framework to understand LAC and its relationship with the EU, fostering respectful, non-Eurocentric research and engagement. It will enable a better understanding of current challenges in Latin American governance and support sustainable, equitable and successful relations between the EU and LAC. LAC-EU offers doctoral candidates an outstanding, integrated four-year PhD programme and provides world class, interdisciplinary research and training in social and political sciences, law and the humanities, as well as research exchanges and policy-relevant secondments at associated partners in the EU and LAC. Research themes within LAC-EU include the rise of populism, democracy, gender rights, trade, migration, health, global cities, sustainability and green finance and cultural learning. The LAC-EU doctoral programme comprises an interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral network composed of four leading European universities, an outstanding LAC higher education institution and key, highly relevant civil society and policy partners from a range of European and LAC countries. It offers an exceptional combination of academic and research-related training and transferable skills to deliver scientific excellence, occupational mobility and preparation for lifelong, policy-relevant learning for a new generation of researchers. Furthermore, it provides the EU with the vital inputs needed to design coherent, sustainable, equitable and comprehensive policies towards LAC and to promote an effective and respectful interregional engagement that enhances the potential for mutually beneficial partnerships in global and multilateral fora.