Dependency Theory: Contemporary Relevance and Challenges in the Current Global Crisis

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR (HYBRID)

Dependency Theory: Contemporary Relevance and Challenges in the Current Global Crisis

11–13 May 2026

From 9am (4pm) to 4pm (11pm) – Mexico City time (Portugal/UK Time)

(A bi-continental meeting: Europe–Latin America and the Caribbean)

Institutional Organisers:

• National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) – México
• Faculty of Economics of University of Coimbra (FEUC); Centre for Social Studies (CES); University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE); Lisbon School of Economics and Management (ISEG) – Portugal
• Association for Heterodox Economics (AHE) – United Kingdom
• Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO)
• University of Buenos Aires (UBA) – Argentina
• Latin American Studies (LAS) of the Leiden University – Netherlands
• European Association of Development Research and Training Institute (EADI)
• Young Scholar Initiative of the Institute for New Economic Thinking (YSI-INET)

Introduction

In a context shaped by the reconfiguration of the world order, the intensification of geopolitical disputes, the structural financialisation of the economy, the ecological crisis, and the deepening of social inequalities, Dependency Theory has once again become an indispensable perspective for understanding the dynamics of contemporary capitalism. Far from constituting a closed chapter in Latin American thought, the dependency approach offers decisive analytical tools for interpreting the current global crisis and its implications for Latin America and the Caribbean.

This international seminar, bi-continental in scope and held in a hybrid format, brings together leading scholars with the aim of debating the contemporary relevance, renewal, and future trajectory of Dependency Theory in the twenty-first century.

Within this framework, the programme will also include the presentation of Decolonizing Economics: An Introduction (Devika Dutt, Carolina Alves, Surbhi Kesar, and Ingrid Harvold Kvangraven). The book examines the Eurocentric foundations that have shaped the economics discipline and constrained its capacity to engage with phenomena such as structural racism, uneven development, the climate crisis, and labour relations. It proposes “decolonising” economics by challenging the norms of neutrality and objectivity from which the discipline often claims to speak, and by opening space for approaches that take structural power, exploitation, and colonial legacies seriously. This session will include discussion by leading thinkers from the Latin American tradition of Dependency Theory and is conceived as a direct dialogue with the seminar’s thematic strands—particularly in rethinking the political economy of global capitalism from non-Eurocentric frameworks.

Thematic strands

Strand 1. The historical development and contemporary relevance of Dependency Theory

This strand addresses the historical development and contemporary relevance of Dependency Theory, examining its main analytical categories, internal debates, and explanatory power in the face of recent transformations in global capitalism.

Strand 2. (Neo-)imperialisms, geopolitical tensions, and international economic relations from a dependency perspective

This strand analyses (neo-)imperialisms, geopolitical tensions, and international economic relations from a dependency perspective, interrogating global power configurations, inter-power rivalry, and the place of the periphery within the emerging world architecture.

Strand 3. New theoretical and methodological horizons: Dependency Theory as a framework for the contemporary world structure

This strand explores new theoretical and methodological horizons to consolidate Dependency Theory as an analytical framework for today’s world structure, engaging with debates on financialisation, extractivism, global value chains, the ecological crisis, and transformations of work.

More than a commemorative exercise, this seminar advances a strategic discussion: to think dependency today is to think about the conditions of possibility for sovereignty, development, and emancipation in a contested world.

Latin American Speakers:

• Adrián Sotelo, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
• Ana Grondona, University of Buenos Aires (UBA)
• Claudio Katz, University of Buenos Aires (UBA)
• Diego Giller, National University of General Sarmiento (UNGS)
• Emir Sader, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
• Facundo Lastra, IIES – National University of the South*
• José G. Gandarilla, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
• Marcelo Dias Carcanholo, Fluminense Federal University (UFF)
• Mariano Treacy, National University of General Sarmiento (UNGS)
• Mónica Bruckmann, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
• Nildo Ouriques, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)
• Raúl Delgado Wise, Autonomous University of Zacatecas (UAZ)
• René Ramírez, Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) and National University of the Arts (UNA)
• Roberto Escorcia Romo, Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM)
• Sebastián Sztulwark, National University of General Sarmiento (UNGS)

European Speakers

• Andrew Fischer, Institute of Social Studies (ISS)
• Angus McNelly, King’s College London (KCL)
• Carla Coburger, Duisburg-Essen (U DEU)
• Devika Dutt, King’s College London (KCL)
• Fabio Maldonado, King’s College London (KCL)
• Ingrid Harvold Kvangraven, King’s College
• Jonas Van Vossole, Centre for Social Studies (CES)
• Luis Mah, University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE)
• María Gabriela Palacio, Leiden University (LU)
• Natália Bracarense, Toulouse Capitole University (UTC)
• Patrick Mockre, Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna)
• Rogelio Madrueño, University of Bonn

Organising Committee: Ernesto Nieto-Carrillo (FEUC-AHE), René Ramírez (CLACSO-UNA), Adrián Escamilla Trejo (UNAM), María Gabriela Palacio (LU), Ana Cordeiro Santos (CES), Roberto Ruiz Blum (FEUC), Gabriela Riera (ISCTE).