Kerry Ratigan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Amherst College. She will be in Chile for a short stay as a visiting researcher at the Millenium Nucleus ICLAC until May 1, 2024, as part of her research on foreign investors, natural resource extraction, and corporate social responsibility. We spoke with her to learn more about her research and interests, and this is what she shared:
1. Name and occupation…
Kerry Ratigan, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.
2. What is the purpose of your visit to Chile?
I am traveling to Chile to deepen my understanding of the relationships between Latin America and China, particularly regarding the environmental and social implications of foreign investments in the region. Since the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Escazú Agreement is taking place at the CEPAL in Santiago, I hope to have the opportunity to speak with experts on these topics. During my stay, I plan to interview several academics, political leaders, and civil society organizations about the opportunities and challenges in protecting the environment related to natural resource extraction, among other issues.
3. If you had to summarize your research in one question…
¿What factors motivate foreign investors interested in extracting natural resources to take corporate social responsibility measures?
4. What do you expect from your visit to Chile?
Every time I come to Chile, I learn and enjoy the richness of the intellectual community, the dynamism of civil society, and the friendly people. During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to be an exchange student in Valparaíso, and since then, I have loved returning and continuing to learn from this country. During this stay, I intend to conduct interviews with people promoting environmental protection in Latin America, as many people have come to Santiago to participate in activities related to COP3. I also hope to learn from the extensive research of the Millennium Nucleus ICLAC project and find opportunities for future collaborations.
5. If you had to summarize the impact of China on Latin America, you would say…
Chinese companies and entities offer new alternatives for Latin America in terms of trade, financing, and infrastructure. The challenge for the region’s countries remains to navigate an asymmetric relationship to achieve their goals regarding economic development and energy transition while upholding democratic norms such as transparency and full civil society participation.
6. What book are you reading now?
I am fortunate to be reading a fascinating book written by a friend: Notas para Reconstruir una Historia: Relaciones entre México y la República Popular China, by Jorge Octavio Fernández (Universidad Veracruzana, 2022). Through interviews and archival sources in Mandarin, Spanish, and English collected in three countries, Fernández recreates the hidden history of the people and popular organizations that drove the Mexican government to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) during the Mao era, despite opposition from the U.S. According to my reading, the book demonstrates the previously underestimated role of civil society in international relations. It also sheds light on the complexity of the relationships between Mexico, China, and the U.S., and implies that the latter should develop a collaborative relationship with its Latin American counterparts as partners rather than one of coercion and pressure. This insightful book is open-access, so you can download it here.
And finally, between what dates will you be in Chile?
From April 22 to May 1, 2024. Given the complexity of this research project, I also hope to return to Chile in the future.