(Coordinated by Prof. Juan Carlos González-Espitia, UNC-CH Department of Romance Languages, email jcge@email.unc.edu; Prof. Gilbert Merkx, Duke Department of Sociology, email gilbert.merkx@duke.edu; María del Carmen Cana, UNC-CH Department of Romance Languages, email canajime@email.unc.edu; Bryan Pitts, Duke Department of History, email bryan.pitts@duke.edu).

Since its inception this working group has actively brought graduate students and faculty together to discuss their work relating to nation building in Latin America. During 2007-08 the group will open up the discussion of nation to include considerations of marginalization, such as sexuality and gender studies. The group will also attempt to make better use of technology and resources at hand, such as teleconferences as a method of communicating with people from groups at the margins of the traditional definition of the nation (e.g., social activists for the rights of prostitutes, homosexuals, indigenous groups, and women's groups, who are often excluded because of geographic isolation, financial concerns, and constraints related to visas). They will also host a number of guest speakers throughout the year.