J-Term Practica, 2016

Are They Ready?

March 1, 2016

“Ni la ley ni la cultura esta preparada para la migración Latinoamericana.” –Unknown, Human Rights Conference, 2016

I have characterized my time in Chile as the first of what I hope are many opportunities to do fieldwork relevant to the career I have chosen. Recently, my exploration of international migration, human security, and human rights has led to coursework, in-depth discussions, independent research, and experiences such as the ones had in Santiago, Temuco, and Valparaiso.

One day that stands out was January 13th—the Human Rights Conference at Pontifica Universidad Catholica de Chile in Santiago. The panel discusses ranged from ‘Post-transitional Challenges to Human Rights in Chile’ to ‘Due Process in the Face of Transitional Justice’ to ‘The Penal Code and the Inter-American System’ and ‘Migration and Human Rights.’ Salient themes included truth, justice, memory, reconciliation, reparation, political autonomy, discrimination, displaced peoples and invisible populations amongst other areas of concern.

It took no time for me to draw connections to La Población La Victoria, which we had visited just two days prior. We were exposed to this community in the southern part of Santiago (Pedro Aguirre Cerda) founded on the ideals of resistance, collective action, youth empowerment, education, entrepreneurship and innovation in the midst of hardship, assassinations, executions, disappearances, and pain. We took in the street art as we discussed the stories of individuals who had died on the grounds we walked. Interesting to note is the demographic shift from the military dictatorship through present –from those politically affiliated with the left to populations from Colombia and even Haiti seeking asylum and solidarity.

While attending the Human Rights Conference, I couldn’t help but wonder how the state of Chile was defining non-citizens, their rights and the challenges those populations face. With a particular interest in the intersection of social psychology and human development, I am faced with some core questions:
+How does the individual (non-citizen) become categorized as a threat to security?
+How has the role of resistance to political actors evolved?
+What are the stories of those who seek refuge and solidarity in La Victoria?
+How can we articulate the relationship between Chile’s vulnerable populations with authority figures as it relates to international political sociology?

As I continue my analysis of field notes and observational notes, I recognize that these core questions will surely evolve, as there are many complexities to be explored. Like my opening quote states, “Neither the law nor Chilean culture is prepared for Latin American migration.” The question now is, ‘Am I?’

Back to Chile Page