What is SLAS?
SLAS was founded in 1964 and is one of the leading Latin American studies organizations in Europe. We hold an annual conference in March/April, an Annual Lecture and publish the Bulletin of Latin American Research (BLAR). We have around 400 members. While most are academics and PhD students, members also include diplomats, journalists, and research analysts from business and non-governmental organisations.
Excellent Research
SLAS members deepen knowledge and understanding about Latin America, primarily
through engaging in field research and theoretical enquiry. Our members’
work contributes to high RAE rankings and some have a significant influence
on the subject, breaking new intellectual ground and earning an international
reputation.
Multidisciplinarity
Latin Americanists have a natural inclination to produce multidisciplinary
work, now top of the agenda for funding agencies. Our journals and conferences
feature work from across the social sciences and arts disciplines. This
promotes the cross-fertilization of ideas, approaches and methodologies
leading to innovative and perceptive research.
Community
Some Latin Americanists work in dedicated Institutes but many
work as individuals within disciplinary departments. SLAS links us all
within a very special community distinguished by its friendliness and
its habit of looking past academic hierarchies to engage with the thoughts
of fellow scholars, be they research students or professors.