Latin America and Political Exile:

Political exile, a major political practice in all Latin American countries throughout most of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, is still an under-researched topic. While ubiquitous and fascinating, until recently it has been conceived as somewhat marginal for the development of these societies and has been studied in the framework of traditional concepts and concerns in history and the social sciences. Following recent developments in history, sociology, anthropology, and political science that highlight the centrality of diasporas and transnational studies, of transience and relocation, it can become a topic of central concern, closely related to basic theoretical problems and controversies in these disciplines. Its systematic study also promises to lead to new readings of history and society in Latin America.

We would like to suggest that political exile is both the result of political processes and a constitutive factor of some political systems. Political exile is dynamic, hinging on political action and evolving in a parallel fashion to processes of political institutionalization and de-institutionalization and to the reformulation of political ground rules. Moreover, an analysis of political exile requires bridging the study of politics with the analysis of personal and collective identities, of immigration and trans-state phenomena, of multiculturalism, international networks, and diplomatic relations.

On the theoretical level it should be stated that there is not one exile but many, and yet that there are trends and patterns in exile, which could be analyzed from various disciplinary vantage points. Topically authors could address any of the following issues:
Exiles, refugees and diasporas
Loss and change of identity
Exile, social class and status
The dynamics of communities of exiles
Aliens, alienation and adaptation
Women in exile
Political activism abroad
Reception policies and processes of integration
Support networks and personal motivations
The second generation; re-democratization and return.

This issue is being coordinated by James N. Green and Luis Roniger. For further information on the issue contact:
James N. Green, California State University, Long Beach, jgreen@csulb.edu
Luis Roniger, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, msronig@pluto.mscc.huji.ac.il

Manuscripts should be no longer than 25 pages of double-spaced text in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. If possible, submit two copies along with a cover sheet and basic biographical information. With these items, we also require that the manuscript be sent on a CD-R, by e-mail, or on a floppy disk if the other formats are not available. The LAP style guide is available on request or online.

Please send any manuscript submissions to:
Managing Editor, Latin American Perspectives¸ P.O. Box 5703, Riverside, California 92517-5703