Several members of the CAGS are significantly involved in the Maria Sibylla Merian International Centre for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences - Center for Advanced Latin American Studies (CALAS). As an international and interdisciplinary lighthouse project, CALAS is a driving force in the humanistic and sociological research in Latin America. Also this project will promote cutting-edge research and longstanding relationships between Latin American and German researchers.

Funding: Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF)

Participants: 

• Prof. Dr. Christine Hatzky, Latin American History, History Department,
• Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Gabbert, Cultural Anthropology and World Society, Institute of Sociology,
• Prof. Dr. Lidia Becker, Romanic Linguistics, Institute of Romance Languages,
• Prof. Dr. Anja Bandau, Romanic Literature Cultural Studies, Institute of Romance Languages,
• Dr. Thomas Czerner, Latin American History, History Department,
• Ronja Holstein, M.A. doctoral student, Institute of Romance Languages,
• Jessica Prenzyna, M.A. Latin American History, History Department

CALAS, based in Guadalajara, Mexico, is the most extensive research project concerning Latin America ever subsidised by federal funds. After a successful evaluation and approval of another 12 million Euros, the project entered its main phase in 2019. It will be funded to at least 2025.
Prof. Dr. Christine Hatzky, speaker of the Centre for Atlantic and Global Studies (CAGS) at the Leibniz University of Hannover, is one of the German project leaders. The joint project as a whole is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Olaf Kaltmeier (University of Bielefeld) and Prof. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Burchardt, (University of Kassel).

The research focus of CALAS is the topic “Mapping Crisis: Perspectives from Latin America”, which is subdivided in the following project groups:

1.) Visions of Peace. Transitions between Violence and Peace in Latin America (2019-2021, Projektleitung Prof. Dr. Christine Hatzky as well as Prof. Dr. Díaz Arias, Universidad de Costa Rica)
2.) Confronting Social Inequality
3.) Coping with Environmental Crises
4.) Regional Identities in Multiple Crises

Further information about the important work of CALAS can be found on the official website.