University of Michigan Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies

In this Q&A, Gustavo Souza Marques, assistant professor of music at U-M and affiliated faculty with LACS, explores how Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio reshaped global pop on his own terms.
Read the full Q&A in English, Portuguese, and Spanish here

No English needed: How Bad Bunny reshaped the US pop mainstream Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known to the world as Bad Bunny, did not just climb the charts; he bypassed the entire industry machine. Moving from bagging groceries in Puerto Rico to becoming a global icon, he proved you do not need to sing in English to own the stage—a feat anchored by his his...

Congratulations to the 2026 research grant recipients!
LACS celebrates the 2026 recipients of its Tinker Field Research Grants, Boyce Family Caribbean Studies Grant, and the Alfredo and Luz Maria Gutierrez Dissertation Award, highlighting student research spanning multiple U-M schools and destinations across the region.

In photo: top left–Alfredo and Luz Maria Gutierrez Dissertation Award winner Garima Panwar; top right–Boyce Family Caribbean Studies Grant recipients Jerianne Clarke and Nikita Rohila; bottom photo–Tinker Field Research grant recipients from left to right: Dominick Stoops, Yeishmary Soto Muñiz, Mrinaalika Sivakumar, Elizabeth Shen, Fernando Pliego Perez, Caroline New, Julia McCuaig, Julieta Goldenberg, Alvaro Cabrera, Maria Beusterien, and Stefania Becerra Lavado. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4sZePDq

Support what you 💛 about LACS!
Today is Giving Blueday! Join us and support the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies (LACS) at U-M! Your gift empowers student opportunities, fosters research, supports artists, and broadens community engagement for those passionate about Latin America & the Caribbean. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Learn more here: https://myumi.ch/kPb23

University of Michigan International Institute , University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

Support what you 💛 about LACS
Join us on March 18th and support the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies (LACS) at U-M! Your gift empowers student opportunities, fosters research, supports artists, and broadens community engagement for those passionate about Latin America & the Caribbean. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Learn more here: https://myumi.ch/kPb23

University of Michigan International Institute , University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

¡Nuestra gente! Save the date: Join LACS on October 24th at 4pm at Weiser Hall rm 555 for the next event in our "Lessons of Authoritarianism & Democratic Resilience in Latin America" series. This next event is titled "Cuba's Digital Revolution: Between Quiescence and Revolt" and will feature University of Michigan School of Information professor, Dr. Michaelanne Thomas and Harold Cárdenas Lema, co-founder and former director of La Joven Cuba one of the foremost digital spaces for national debate for Cubans by Cubans.

University of Michigan International Institute
University of Michigan Center for Emerging Democracies
University of Michigan Donia Human Rights Center

¡Nuestra gente! We had an amazing two days with Dr. Lucía Cavallero from Argentina in her discussion of the relationship between debt research, feminism, and authoritarianism. Over 70 students, faculty, and UM community members participated in the dialogues. ¡Hasta la próxima!

Thank you University of Michigan Center for Emerging Democracies University of Michigan Donia Human Rights Center University of Michigan International Institute for your support!

HAPPENING TODAY: This week begins our event series "Lessons of Authoritarianism and Democratic Resilience in Latin America". JOIN US TODAY at 4pm in Weiser Hall 555 and Friday at 12pm in Weiser Hall 555 for a discussion with Argentine activist and scholar, Dr. Lucía Cavallero. Faculty AND students are welcome to participate in a special workshop with Cavallero on Friday from 12-1:30pm. To access the workshop reading and to register for lunch sign up today: https://myumi.ch/4m4bD

¡Hasta pronto!

¡Nuestra gente! This week begins our event series "Lessons of Authoritarianism and Democratic Resilience in Latin America". Join us this Thursday (4pm, Weiser Hall 555) and Friday (12pm, Weiser Hall 555) for a discussion with Argentine activist and scholar, Dr. Lucía Cavallero. Faculty AND students are welcome to participate in a special workshop with Cavallero on Friday from 12-1:30pm. To access the workshop reading and to register for lunch sign up today: https://myumi.ch/4m4bD

¡Hasta pronto!

¡Nuestra gente! We have an amazing lineup of speakers and activities planned for this academic year! Save the dates for our new event series, “Lessons of Authoritarianism & Democratic Resilience in Latin America”.

Here’s the description:
"Throughout the Global North and South, many people have witnessed a concerning rise of anti-democratic forces gaining traction within mainstream politics and the media. Latin America’s history of resisting authoritarianism and advancing democracy offers vital lessons for today, as most countries in the region have transitioned from brutal repression to vibrant democratic life—some ranking higher than nations in the Global North (Freedom House, 2025). Join the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, the Donia Human Rights Center, and the Center for Emerging Democracies for a 2025–2026 event series featuring experiences from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and Ecuador."

University of Michigan Donia Human Rights Center
University of Michigan Center for Emerging Democracies
University of Michigan International Institute