Description:

Mexico is currently ranked 149th in Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index, the lowest in Latin America. By this algorithm journalists from Afghanistan, Russia, and Zimbabwe all enjoy greater liberties to publish and be damned. This talk combines historical research with current analyses to explore why press freedom does not inevitably correlate with democratization.

Paul Gillingham is a historian of modern Mexico and Latin America. His first book, Cuauhtémoc's Bones: Forging National Identity in Mexico (University of New Mexico, 2011) examines nationalism through the story of the forged tomb of the last Aztec emperor. He is currently working on three projects: a history of political violence in post-revolutionary Mexico, a national history of Mexico and a co-edited volume on journalism and censorship.

This is part of the Buffett Institute Faculty & Fellows Colloquium. On Fridays during the school year, the Buffett Institute hosts Northwestern faculty and/or visiting fellows to present their current research. This forum brings together an interdisciplinary audience to build awareness of global research on campus. The series helps promote dialogue on scholarship and develop a deeper sense of community among Buffett Institute affiliates. Each meeting lasts one hour; lunch is provided. Please arrive early to get lunch and find a seat.