Diego Portales University Humanities Book Award

About the award

The Diego Portales University Humanities Book Award seeks to reaffirm the central role of humanities research in understanding the intellectual histories, cultures, languages, and knowledge systems of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The award recognizes works that demonstrate originality, intellectual rigor, and lasting academic value, in alignment with both LASA’s mission and Universidad Diego Portales’ commitment to critical research and the advancement of knowledge. Through this initiative, Universidad Diego Portales (UDP) in Chile seeks to cultivate and sustain the highest standards of disciplinary and professional excellence, reaffirming its dedication to pluralism, the promotion of critical thinking, and the protection of the intellectual autonomy of its academic community.

Call for nominations

The Diego Portales University Humanities Book Award is presented at each LASA International Congress to recognize an outstanding book published in the humanities. Books eligible for the 2027 award must have been published between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Eligible fields include cultural studies, literature, philosophy, and history understood as a humanities-based discipline, along with art history, linguistics, religious studies, journalism, and interdisciplinary or expanded humanities research.

Single-authored books, co-authored books, and edited volumes are all eligible. Re-editions of works published previously are also eligible. A title may be nominated only once, regardless of how many editions it has had. Works may be originally written in Spanish, English, or Portuguese. Translations into one of these languages may also be eligible. 

Books will be judged on originality of research, quality of analysis and writing, and the significance of their contribution to the study of Latin America and the Caribbean. Books may be nominated by LASA members, publishers, or their own authors. Authors do not need to be affiliated with LASA to be considered for or receive the award.

Nominations for the Diego Portales University Humanities Book Award must be submitted electronically. Please fill out the award submission form by September 21, 2026.

By January 2027, the committee will select a winning book. The award will be announced at the LASA2027 Welcome Ceremony, and the awardee will be publicly honored. In addition, the awardee will present their book in a panel during the Congress. 

Members of the 2027 Committee

Maria Rosa Olivera-Williams (Chair)
University of Notre Dame

Florencia Garramuño
Universidad de San Andrés
 
Victor Hugo Reyna
Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO)