GFDD and FUNGLODE Hosts Panel to Promote the Utilization of Latin American Political Thinkers in Political Science Studies

During a roundtable discussion on "The intellectual debates in Latin America during the 19th and the 20th centuries," Patricio Brito, Executive Director of Policy at the Dominican Students Association in the United States, advocated the inclusion of Latin American political thinkers in the study of political sciences and other sciences.

The roundtable discussion was hosted this Wednesday, May 22, at Fundación Global Democracia y
Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), in partnership with its US based sister organization, GFDD. The honorary President of both foundations and former President of the Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernández, attended the event.

Mr. Brito, a final year student of Political Science at Yale University, in the
United States, considered very important that "we are aware of the ideas and intellectual debates that are taking place in our America, not only with a view to fostering a philosophical and political understanding in the context of our history, but also to contribute new ideas to the traditional collection of political thought."

Having studied previously at the London School of Economics Summer School, Brito maintained that the Latin American thought and
discoveries must be recognized by the rest of the world.

He also pointed out that his consideration does not mean a rejection of the studies by traditional authors, such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, but rather the fact of recognizing the Latin American thought.

He added that it is a mistake to consider Latin America as a region that only has a single political thought, because it has a diversity of political thought.
"In every country, in every region, there are many ideologies and ways of seeing the world,” he said during his analysis about the political thinkers of the region.

He thinks that, since its inception, Latin America has been very isolated, given that its economic output was for the benefit of Europe at the time of the colonization. He indicated that the integration of the Latin American countries must first take place from the economic standpoint,
following the example of the European Union.

During his presentation he made a historical review, addressing the discussions of the most influential players in the wars and conflicts that took place in the Latin American region, since the beginning of the 19th century and until the mid-20th century.

He underscored Simón Bolívar with the Cartagena Manifesto, where he wrote: "Our division, and not the Spanish weapons, made us slaves." He
also spoke about Esteban Echeverría, Domingo Sarmiento, Latin American characters of the 19th century.

He acknowledged the contributions and views of other Latin American actors of the 20th century, such as Xavier Icaza, José Vasconcelos y José Carlos Mariátegui.

In her welcoming remarks, Yamile Eusebio, both FUNGLODE’s Director of Training Activities, and GFDD’s Director of the NY Office, said that this event seeks to promote a
permanent exchange between young Dominicans studying at foreign and domestic universities, with the objective of enriching the debate among college students.

Leonel Fernández stressed the importance of the education abroad
After Patricio Brito concluded his presentation, there was a roundtable discussion led by former President Fernández, which addressed issues concerning the education abroad and the challenges that
Dominican students face to be admitted at a foreign university.

Fernández reported that a project is being developed for Dominican students to have access to elite universities in the United States. "We are working a timetable, so that we can invite our students to go to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and to create the possibility of exchanges with Dominican students," he explained.

He pointed out that although it may not be possible for a
student to be admitted at one of the prestigious U.S. universities, when a young person has the opportunity to travel abroad, and share citations with internationally renowned professors, your vision of the world changes and if you do your best, eventually, you can be admitted.

The former President said that people develop intellectually insofar as there is a suitable environment, primarily academic and scientific. "The idea is to establish a link, a permanent
relationship of exchange, so that Dominican students may continue to develop," he argued.

He stated that "FUNGLODE and GFDD’s plan is to start a series of exchange contacts with the purpose of having young talented people visit us, who can then go abroad and transfer the experience that we have in the Dominican Republic, and thus to start transforming the educational system in the country."

The attendees shared their
experiences of studying at foreign universities through the scholarships that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT) offers.

Presentation:
19th Century