Latin America is changing. New movements and ideas are gaining ground; patterns of trade are altered; poverty decreases. While the continent seeks a place in today’s globalized world, political and economic developments offer opportunities for previously marginalized groups to demand acceptance and rights. Progress notwithstanding, several of the countries on the continent continue to be marked by the inequality and instability that has plagued their pasts.

The interaction between past, present and current tendencies is at the centre of Latin American Studies. It is a multidisciplinary subject, whose methods and theories are primarily derived from the social sciences. Apart from the general study of the continent, students are given the opportunity to concentrate on specific themes and sub-regions. At advanced levels, the question of how the study of social sciences and the humanities can be enriched by examples and insights from Latin America is addressed.
The Institute of Latin American Studies is responsible for the courses. Research at the institute spans a multitude of subjects, such as economic integration, the interaction between gender-ethnicity-class, human rights, and social movements.