Tensions in the Middle East are escalating significantly. An Israeli-American strike on Iran at the end of February killed several political and military representatives of the regime, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran responded by shelling targets in Israel and other countries in the region, Hezbollah has also become involved in the conflict, and the fighting […]

Four years have passed since the beginning of the full-scale Russian–Ukrainian war at the end of February. What was expected to be a military operation achieving its objectives within a relatively short period has turned into the largest military conflict in Europe since the end of World War II, with enormous consequences for global as […]

What are the greatest challenges facing democracy in Central America? And what does its gradual erosion look like in countries such as Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador? The gradual autocratization of Central American countries – its causes and consequences – was the focus of a research symposium at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, featuring […]

Contemporary democracies collapse less often through coups; more frequently, they gradually erode from within.🌎 How is today’s autocratization unfolding in Central America, and why does it take different forms across the region?🌎 What do leaders such as Nayib Bukele and Daniel Ortega reveal about the strengthening of executive power – and where does resistance emerge? […]

What were – and still are – the real motivations of U.S. political leaders in relation to Venezuela? What is the role of Venezuelan oil, and how does China factor into the equation? And what would Simón Bolívar do if he found himself in Maduro’s position? 🌍 These and many other questions were addressed during […]

We are monitoring the current developments related to the situation in Venezuela following the intervention of the U.S. military, which transported Venezuela’s authoritarian president Nicolás Maduro to the United States. Doc. Karel Kouba and Dr. Radek Buben, who focus on contemporary political developments in Latin America, answered questions from many Czech media outlets in the […]

What role have secret services played in the formation of the Soviet dictatorship and today’s Russian authoritarian regime? And why has “Chekism” become one of the most enduring pillars of this system? You are invited to a public guest lecture by Associate Professor Tomáš Sniegoň (Lund University), a leading expert on the history of post-communist […]

What is Donald Trump’s relationship with South American politics – and vice versa? ? Join a unique public lecture by Dr. Radek Buben, an expert on modern history and political regimes in South America, as part of Týden humanitních věd (The Week of the Humanities) at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University. ? November 18, […]

Are you interested in Latin America and the transformations of contemporary democracy? ? We cordially invite you to an exceptional public lecture by Assoc. Prof. Robert Funk, a leading expert on Chilean politics, on the topic ? Chile at Crossroads: Actors and Contexts of the 2025 Election. When? October 22, 5:30 p.m.Where? Šporkův palác, Hybernská 3, […]

Take the next step in your career! ? We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Comparative Area Studies to become part of the future ? Center for Multidisciplinary Area Studies (CenMAS) within the ERA Chair in Multidisciplinary Area Studies Project at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University. This position offers the opportunity to work on […]