Peru and Bolivia: Women, Potatoes and Politics
UW Ingraham Hall 1155 Observatory Drive, Madison, Wisconsin
Presented by Pedro dos Santos, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Luther College
About the presentation: The election of Dilma Rousseff in 2010 marked a historical moment in Brazil's political history. As the first woman president of the country, Rousseff's gender has played, and still plays, a complicated role in explaining her rise to power, her role as a leader, and her policy decisions. The current economic and political crisis in Brazil only adds to the complexity of Rousseff's tenure as president.
In this talk Dr. dos Santos will discuss how gender has played a role on the election of Dilma Rousseff, what her presidency means to women in the country, and how President Rousseff negotiates her own gender identity with the general public and political elites in the country. The talk will also provide a background on the current economic and political crises that has plagued Brazil for the last two years.
About the presenter: Pedro G. dos Santos holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kansas and is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Luther College. His research focus is Brazilian politics, with a special interest on women's representation in the country. He has two main research projects right now, one exploring Dilma Rousseff's impact on women's representation in Brazil, another dealing with the impact of Brazilian electoral institutions on the election of women to legislative positions. He has co-written two book chapters on Dilma Rousseff's presidential campaign, and has published articles on Latin American Politics and Society and Politics & Gender.
Co-sponsored by the Brazil Initiative and the International Division.