Politics, Society and Culture in Latin America – Introduction

Stanisław Kosmynka – Ph.D., Professor at the University of Lodz, Faculty of International and Political Studies, Department of Latin American and Comparative Studies. Author of two monographs: Od Boga do terroru. Rola religii w ideologii dżihadyzmu na przykładzie organizacji Al-Kaida [From God to Terror: Role of Religion in Jihad Ideology-Formation on the Example of Al.-Quaida, 2012], Święta wojna w Al-Ándalus. Przeobrażenia aktywności dżihadystycznych komorek terrorystycznych w Hiszpanii w latach 1995–2012 [Holy War in Al-Ándalus: Transforming Jihad Terrorist Cells in Spain, 1995–2012; 2015] and numerous articles. His main research areas focus on the manifestations of the jihadist terrorism in Spain as well as on political leadership in Latin America. He analyses the relations between the politics and religion, challenges for the security in the Mediterranean region and in South America. In 2009–2014 he was a visiting professor in Spain in the Universities of Granada, Santiago de Compostela, La Laguna and Vic.

Michał Stelmach – Ph.D., politologist sspecialising in Latin American Studies, affiliated with the Department of Latin American and Comparative Studies at the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the University of Lodz. In 2011 he defended his doctoral thesis The Position and Role of the Armed Forces in Guatemala and Peru during the War and Peace. A Comparative Study on Political Anthropology. Co-editor of two monographs: Foreign Policy of Poland. 25 Years of Experience and Studying the Foreign Policy of the State: United States, East Asia, Middle East & Latin America. He has published on the transformation of armed forces, civil-military relations in the period of democracy, as well as crime and security in Latin America. His scientific interests focus on the armed forces and the police in periods of dictatorships, socio-ethnic conflicts and Latin American transformations, as well as crime and public security policies in Latin American countries.