Megaprojects in Central America

Katarzyna Dembicz is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Iberian and Ibero-American Studies at the University of Warsaw. Her research focuses on social and economic change, regional development, and demographics in Latin America, particularly in Cuba and Central America. She is a member of the EU’s “Foro Europa–Cuba” network. She is the former Secretary General of REDIAL and is currently Editor-in-Chief of Ameryka Łacińska, a Polish quarterly scientific journal about Latin America. She also serves on the CEISAL (Council for Social Science Research on Latin America in Europe).Ewelina Biczyńska is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies at the University of Warsaw, Poland. Her academic interests focus on spatial justice, social and urban change, and social issues—particularly in the context of Latin America. She has participated in several research projects on development and transformation in Latin American cities and regions, as well as studies on homelessness.

“Bringing solid analysis on the development challenges of countries in Central America, this book reaches a much broader scope, the knowledge and practices of the Global South. Top-down large infrastructure projects, when not connected to local effective needs, miss the main point: empowerment of communities in the countries involved. A powerful book, with direct on the ground research.”Professor Ladislau Dowbor, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Brazil (dowbor.org)

• Introduction 1: Why Talk About Development? A Philosophical Approach from a Latin American Perspective 2: The Research Project and Its Methodological Basis 3: Development From a Local Perspective 4: Development: The Invisible Frontiers of (Mis)Understanding 5: The Discussion Surrounding Development and Megaprojects in the National Press of Central America 6: Turning Ideas into Impact: Workshop Proposal & Key Takeaways