Routledge Publishing gathered over 40 academics based in Colombia, the United States, England, and Canada to study the histories developed in our country over the past two centuries. The result of this work is encapsulated in the book titled "Histories of Perplexity: Colombia, 1970s-2010s", in which Professor William Mina Aragón is the author of the opening article of this important publication.

Professor William Mina Aragón, who is part of the Political Science Program at the University of Cauca and serves as the coordinator of the Research Group on Actors, Processes, and Political Institutions (GIAPRIP), was responsible for the opening chapter titled “A Conversation with an Afrodiasporic Humanist: Manuel Zapata Olivella in His Own Words” in the book "Histories of Perplexity: Colombia, 1970s-2010s" published by Routledge, the leading academic publishing house in Humanities and Social Sciences worldwide.

This collaboration was requested by Routledge Publishing considering the work developed by Professor Aragón and the Research Group on Actors, Processes, and Political Institutions (GIAPRIP). The aim was to highlight the narrative of the renowned Colombian writer, physician, and anthropologist Manuel Zapata Olivella. As a result, the mentioned chapter is one of the most significant contributions to ensuring that the work of this Afro-Colombian author gains worldwide recognition.

Bringing together over 40 scholars based in Colombia, the United States, England, and Canada who work across various disciplines, the book "Histories of Perplexity: Colombia, 1970s-2010s" examines Colombia's history over the past two centuries as illustrations of the broader histories of democracy in the Americas. In this document, the authors were invited to discuss how a country, which has consistently been presented as an anomaly in Latin America, provides critical examples for reexamining major historical issues: republicanism and liberalism; export economies and agrarian modernization; populism and the state-building cultural politics; revolutionary and counterinsurgent Cold War violence; neoliberal reforms and urban development; popular mobilization and counter-hegemonic public spheres; political ecologies and environmental struggles; and the work of memory and the challenge of reconciliation.

At the University of Cauca, we are pleased with the international recognition achieved by our professors, reflecting the commitment and academic excellence we promote. Such is the case with Professor William Mina Aragón, whose outstanding contribution to the field of Humanities and Social Sciences has transcended borders.

His work on the opening article of the aforementioned book not only honors his career and dedication to research but also elevates the prestige of our institution. This academic achievement is a testament to how the University of Cauca continues to foster the creation of knowledge that resonates and has a global impact, consolidating our position as a hub of critical thinking and deep analysis in the international academy.

Professor William Mina Aragón holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Valle, a PhD in Sociology from the Complutense University of Madrid, and is the author of nine books that reveal his advanced discipleship of Manuel Zapata Olivella. These include:

• History, Politics, and Society (1977)
• Poetry and Political Philosophy (1999)
• Afro Thought: Beyond East and West (2003)
• Manuel Zapata Olivella: Humanist Thinker (2006)
• Art, Literature, and Politics (2008)
• Afrocaucano Human Rights (2009)

Finally, regarding the Research Group on Actors, Processes, and Political Institutions (GIAPRIP), affiliated with the Faculty of Law, Political Science, and Social Sciences, it is important to share that this space fosters, integrates, and applies political science knowledge through research and teaching.

For more information:

Faculty of Law, Political Science, and Social Sciences
Email: derecho@unicauca.edu.co