News and Highlights
CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES AWARDS BARRETT PRIZE FOR BEST DISSERTATION
May 9, 2011The Center for Latin American Studies has awarded the 2011 Barrett Prize to Dr. Khatchik DerGhoukassian for his dissertation, Illicit Associations in the Global Political Economy: Courtesan Politics, Arms Trafficking and International Security. The dissertation was supervised by Professor Bruce Bagley and the committee was comprised of Professors Felipe Agüero, William Smith, and Juan Gabriel Tokatlián.
The Barrett Prize is an annual award presented to the UM doctoral student who has produced the best Ph.D. dissertation on a Latin American/Caribbean topic in the previous calendar year. The selection committee was composed of Professors Ariel Armony, Tracy Devine-Guzmán, and Steve Stein.
In his work, Dr. DerGhoukassian focuses on the Carlos Saúl Menem presidency (1989-1999) in Argentina and examines the role of states in illicit transactions in the post-Cold War period. In particular, he probes the response of the United States, as the lone super power, to Argentina’s involvement, under Menem, in illegal arms transfers. Dr. DerGhoukassian analyzes the domestic sources and international context for the emergence of "Courtesan states" while also describing their consequences for international security. The dissertation is already eliciting much positive comment from leading specialists in international relations and international security in both the United States and Latin America.
Dr. DerGhoukassian is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the Universidad de San Andrés, one of Argentina’s and Latin America’s most prestigious private universities.
Recognizing and promoting academic excellence is a fundamental component of the Center for Latin American Studies' mission. The Center congratulates Dr. DerGhoukassian, his advisors, and the Department of International Studies for this well-deserved award.