About - Russia and Ibero-America in a Turbulent World: History and Perspectives

October 4-6, 2023 St. Petersburg State University is holding the VI International Forum "Russia and Ibero-America in a Turbulent World: History and Perspectives". The forum is the most representative event in Russia dedicated to the socio-political and economic processes of Latin America and Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries, their history and culture. Holding it in St. Petersburg with the participation of well-known politicians, scientists, journalists from Ibero-American countries and Russia attracts media attention, confirming the status of St. Petersburg University as one of the leading centers of Ibero-American studies in Russia.

Goals of the forum in 2023:

Understanding the new realities of Ibero-American political and socio-economic processes.
Analysis of new challenges and opportunities in Russian-Latin American relations in the current political and economic conditions
Discussion of Russian and Latin American approaches to the formation of a multipolar world, interregional cooperation, and solving problems of international security.
Study of the interaction of Latin American countries with non-regional and non-hemispheric actors of international relations at the present stage.
Assessment of the current state of humanitarian, educational, scientific and technical cooperation between Russia and Latin America, as well as the prospects for Russian-Latin American cooperation in other regions of the world.

The forum is the expert and international discussion platform for determining the directions for the development of Latin America, Spain and Portugal in a polycentric world, the current situation of the Russian-Latin American cooperation and the prospects for it. The organizers seek to create opportunities for critical reflection and dialogue within the mainstreams of social and human disciplines in order to improve understanding of the social, political, economic and cultural realities of Latin America, Spain and Portugal in today's multipolar world.

VI International Forum "Russia and Ibero-America in a Globalizing World" continues the tradition of conferences and forums on studies in Latin America, Spain and Portugal, held by St. Petersburg University in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and will be mainly devoted to the mechanisms and challenges of the formation of a new world order, the place and role of Russia and Latin America in the modern system of international relations, cooperation between Russia and Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries on key issues of the global agenda .

An important main theme of the forum is the issue of modern regional political and economic development, the rivalry of extra-hemispheric and extra-regional actors in Latin America (USA, Asian countries, Russia and the European Union). Particular attention will be paid to the place of Latin American countries in new forms of interregional cooperation (Global South cooperation, etc.), Russian-Latin American dialogue in various regions of the world, in new formats of cooperation, dialogue between Russia, Latin America, Spain and Portugal in international organizations.

In the field of research of political processes, theforum will be devoted to the analysis of the evolution of political systems in Latin America, the phenomenon of new left and right forces, and discussion of the results of the current electoral cycle. In 2023, it will be 90 years since the Cuban revolution of 1933, 70 years since the assault on the Moncada barracks in Cuba, 50 years since the coup of A. Pinochet in Chile, and 50 years since the establishment of the dictatorship in Uruguay. October 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the tragic events in Plaza Tlatelolco in Mexico, which marked the counteroffensive of the state against the student movement for democracy. These events are directly related to current realities. In modern Latin America, there is political polarization, the growth of the influence of right forces, as well as the success of radical left forces in eroding the significance of centrist parties. These circumstances will become an occasion to discuss the current challenges for Latin American democracy, the challenges of party-political systems.

Latin America remains one of the most dynamically developing regions in the world. Political and socio-economic phenomena on the continent largely influence global processes and the development of a polycentric multipolar world. The Latin American vector is becoming a key one in the foreign policy of many world powers and new centers of power. Latin America itself is becoming a link between Europe, Asia and Africa. Europe, in turn, is trying to re-establish a dialogue with the Latin American states. These circumstances make the discussion about new directions and challenges of the Latin American vector of international relations in the 21st century relevant.

The year of the forum coincides with another important date - the 200th anniversary of the creation of the United States of Central America, which will be the occasion for an academic discussion of the current state of the Central American subregion, its political and economic dynamics. At the same time, 200 years ago, in 1823, the Monroe Doctrine was proclaimed, which determined the nature of international relations in the Western Hemisphere, the role and place of Latin America in US foreign policy for many years. Echoes of the war for independence and the ambiguity of ties with Washington are felt in the region to this day. This facts indicate the importance of a critical understanding of the history of the region.

Particular attention will be paid to the history of the Latin American states that have the closest relations with Russia - Cuba, Venezuela. 2023 is the year of the 155th anniversary of the start of the war of independence in Cuba, the 65th anniversary of the 1958 revolution in Venezuela. 80 years ago, the coup in Argentina marked the beginning of the dynamic development of Peronism, which still has a huge impact on the situation in this South American country. Events in Cuba, Venezuela, and Argentina, in turn, often influenced political and social processes throughout the Latin American region. At present, these countries are undergoing noticeable changes, which is an occasion to discuss the place and role of Cuba, Venezuela and Argentina in Latin America, as well as the prospects for Russia's relations with these states in the new conditions.

Actual challenges of international relations will become an occasion for a discussion about the place and role of BRICS, an association of particular importance in Russia's foreign policy. BRICS is not only a place of dialogue between Russia and the largest country in Latin America - Brazil, but also a meeting place for Brazil with the leading countries of the Global South - India, China, and South Africa. These circumstances indicate the importance of discussing the BRICS as an actor in world politics in the context of the foreign policy of Russia and the countries of Latin America, which (like Argentina in particular) claim membership in the association.

Traditionally, the forum will host events for young researchers of Latin America. The organizers plan to hold a section of students, a school for a young researchers of Ibero-America, as well as public lectures and master classes.

The forum will include panels on the history, culture, economy, and policy of the countries of Iberoamerica, round tables, presentations of scientific publications, public lectures by leading scientists, politicians, diplomats. We hope that during the forum there will be a critical discussion not only of the past, present and future of the Ibero-American world, but also of the state and prospects of the Ibero-American studies in the world. Thus, the dialogue between scientists and practitioners will contribute to the enrichment of knowledge about the region and formulate new approaches to research.