Introduction Part One: A Brief History of Latin American Studies in Australia

Abstract

In December 2016, the Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS), a research and teaching center of Melbourne’s La Trobe University (LTU), celebrated its fortieth anniversary with a three-day conference, hosting keynote speakers from Brazil, Cuba, Peru and UK with over 70 presentations from diverse disciplines and hundreds of attendees. This event marked the 1976 inauguration of ILAS and celebrated its distinguished achievement as the oldest continually operating academic institute dedicated to Latin American research and teaching in Australia, and indeed throughout Australasia. For nearly 45 years now, ILAS has played a significant role in the formation of many Australian Latin American scholars, and has provided these researchers with a home base from which to work. The history of ILAS is, therefore, also closely linked to the history of Latin American Studies in Australia. During the late 1960s, Australia was experiencing an era of great expansion within the university sector. This period, often referred to as the golden age for universities, occurred between the twilight of the Menzies era and the demise of Gough Whitlam. It was at this time that La Trobe University was established as Victoria’s third university in 1967. From the very beginning, the study of Latin America and the teaching of Spanish were important elements of La Trobe University’s overall plan for research and pedagogy. Historian Tony Disney joined LTU in November 1969 and as he recalls, “it was a widely held assumption that La Trobe ought to become a center—in fact the center—for Latin American Studies.” This was not as a result of any outside pressure from Latin American lobbying, “but rather, sprang from the vision and persistence of a handful of enlightened amateurs.” It was thanks largely to the impetus and foresight of two such supposed amateurs, Jean Martin and Alan Martin, along with Wally Thompson, that La Trobe became a center for Latin American Studies (LAS). Jean Martin was the foundation Professor of Sociology at La Trobe University (1965–1974), while Alan Martin was appointed as the foundation Professor for History in 1966. While neither Jean or Alan were themselves Latin Americanists, both had a keen interest in Latin America, and both were well aware that no other Australian academic institution had ever taken a serious interest in the field of LAS. Jean and Alan Martin felt strongly that the new La Trobe University should fulfill that role. As a result of this belief and their positions, they actively promoted the appointment of Latin Americanists within their respective departments. Thus, scholars were appointed in the fields of History, Sociology, Spanish and Portuguese Languages