Public foreign aid and academic mobility –The Fulbright Programme (1955-1973)

NAVARRO, JUAN JOSÉ

The Struggle for Academic Autonomy in Latin America

Ashgate

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2011;

The process of institutionalization and consolidation of Latin American Social Sciences was held also from both private foundations and agencies for international cooperation. The contribution made by the U.S. government had a special significance, as part of all programs (Marshall Plan, Alliance for Progress, Point Four Programme) that promoted the scientific and cultural development in the context of the Cold War. In particular, the Fulbright Commission -belonging to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affair of the U.S. State Department- was installed in Latin America since the mid-fifties. Due to the limited existence of graduate programs in the region, the Fulbright Program -through its system of scholarship and academic mobility- was central in the formation and legitimating of Latin-Americans academics. In this paper we intend to rebuild the state policies of U.S. public funding for science in Latin America through Chilean Fulbright Program enabling the mobility of more than 700 Chilean scholars in the period 1955 - 1973 for postgraduate studies in United States.