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Populist Politics Takes Center Stage at the 33rd Waggoner Research Colloquium
A Look Back at KU’s Annual Celebration of Latin American & Caribbeanist Scholarship
As the 2024–25 academic year draws to a close, one standout event continues to resonate across the University of Kansas community: the 33rd annual Waggoner Research Colloquium. Held on Friday, November 8, 2024, in the Malott Room of the Kansas Memorial Union, the colloquium brought together KU’s Latin Americanist and Caribbeanist faculty and graduate students for an evening of scholarly exchange, spirited discussion, and celebration of research excellence.
Timed just days after the 2024 U.S. elections, the colloquium’s theme: “Political Populism” could not have been timelier. The event drew a larger-than-usual crowd, including a special appearance by Mexico’s Head Consul in Kansas City, Soileh Padilla Mayer. In response to anticipated interest, organizers shifted the start time from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., a move that proved wise as attendees filled the room for an evening of compelling presentations and conversation.
Featured Speakers & Presentations
The colloquium showcased three dynamic scholars whose work illuminated different facets of populist politics across the Americas:
• Sofía Vera (Political Science) explored the intersection of populism and anti-corruption efforts in her talk, “Cleaning up Politics: Anticorruption Campaigns and Populism in Latin America.”
• Araceli Masterson-Algar (American Studies / Spanish & Portuguese) offered a performative and critical reading of Mexico’s National Regeneration Movement (Morena) from grassroots perspectives in her presentation, “Mañaneras, Dinos en los Pinos and Aztlán: Readings of Mexico’s National Regeneration Movement (Morena) from Below.”
• Margarita Orozco, a recent hire jointly funded with Journalism and Mass Communications, examined the emotional and identity-driven dimensions of right-wing populism in the U.S. with her talk, “Conservative Media, Identity, and Emotions: Fueling Populist Support in White America.”
Scholarship Meets Community
Following the presentations, attendees engaged in a lively Q&A session that extended into the traditional wine and beer reception (which is an annual hallmark of the colloquium) that fosters informal dialogue and interdisciplinary connection.
As the CLACS team reflects on the academic year, the 33rd Waggoner Research Colloquium stands out not only for its intellectual rigor but also for its relevance and resonance. In a time of political flux, the event offered a space for thoughtful analysis and community engagement which are hallmarks of the university’s commitment to global scholarship.