Center for InterAmerican Studies

The MA program for InterAmerican Studies (IAS) at Bielefeld University invites students, researchers, and members of the public to an interdisciplinary colloquium featuring presentations by MA students working on thesis projects that span development studies, history, literature, gender, and international politics. The event on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 (18-20hrs at E0-226 in X-Building, Bielefeld University) provides a platform for discussing current research projects and fostering dialogue across disciplines and regional contexts.

Esther Immel will present her study, "Exploring Possibilities for Decolonial Practice within Existing Development Frameworks: A Qualitative Study in Bolivia". Drawing on qualitative research conducted in Bolivia, her work examines the opportunities and limitations of pursuing decolonial approaches within established development structures. Esther Immel holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Communication and Translation and works as a student research assistant in the EU-funded project Peace and Mobilities at Bielefeld University. She also works as a freelance interpreter for the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), supporting asylum procedures.

Francisco Sánchez will present in Spanish "Cuerpo y entorno en la travesía al Reyno de Chile: una aproximación microhistórica desde la teoría humoral." His research explores historical understandings of the body and environment through a microhistorical perspective informed by humoral theory. Francisco Sánchez holds a degree in Film Studies from the University of Valparaíso, specializing in screenwriting and experimental documentary.

Rafael García Roncalla will discuss in Spanish "Hombres desdibujados: masculinidades subordinadas y criminalidad juvenil en Ciudad de payasos (2011) y Transformar números en barcos piratas (2016)". His presentation examines representations of subordinated masculinities and juvenile criminality in contemporary Peruvian graphic narratives. A graduate student at Bielefeld University, García Roncalla holds a degree in Hispanic Literature from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. His research focuses on Latin American popular culture, particularly the representation of masculinity in graphic novels and comics.

Sezer Yasar will present "Path Dependence in U.S. Military Strategy: Historical Roots of Contemporary Escalation Dynamics in the Middle East". His research investigates how historical structures and long-term institutional developments shape contemporary military decision-making. Focusing on U.S. interventions involving Iran, he examines the interplay of democratic self-understandings, global military presence, and economic interests in producing path dependencies that continue to influence current escalation dynamics. Through this work, he seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of how historical legacies shape contemporary forms of global power and conflict.

The colloquium highlights the diversity of MA thesis research being conducted by emerging scholars and offers an opportunity to engage with innovative perspectives on some of the most pressing social, political, and cultural questions of our time.