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- Center for Asian Studies (CEA)
Center for Asian Studies (CEA)
El Center for Asian Studies (CEA) of the School of Politics, Government and International Relations of the Universidad Austral It was created in 2015 with the purpose of studying the legal, political, economic and military dynamics of East Asia and the Pacific, a region that has become the new epicenter of the global economy and also of international power relations in the 21st century.
The process of global economic change from the Atlantic to the Pacific began with Japan's second industrialization and was subsequently accelerated by the economic development of South Korea, Taiwan, and several Southeast Asian economies. In its latest phase, China has achieved second place in terms of GDP at current prices, and when considering purchasing power parity, it has already surpassed the United States. But the new axis of the global economy is also being shaped by the emergence of the Indian Ocean region, led by India. The defining characteristic of this entire process is that it challenges Western dominance, which has prevailed for more than four centuries. This region of the world is the birthplace of the major corporations that today set global trends in the technology and automotive markets: Toyota, Samsung, LG, Sanyo, Huawei, Hyundai, Kia Motors, Sony, Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, Cheri, Xiaomi, Tata Motors, Hero Motors, Bajaj, Mahindra, among many others. It seems no coincidence that this part of the world is also currently the largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment, and at the same time the leading source of it globally. Nor is it a coincidence that the three most important shipyards in the world are located in South Korea, Japan, and China. The geopolitical and geoeconomic configuration of the region can be summarized in two major projects with global impact. One of these projects is embodied in the Belt and Road Initiative and focuses on the logic of China's rise. The other is being structured within a Pacific-centric framework and seeks to maintain the alliance structure centered on Washington in order to contain China's rise, while strengthening strategic alliances with Tokyo, Delhi, Seoul, and Taipei.
In this context, the relationship between Latin America and that part of the world is in an unprecedented situation. Trade and investment exchanges between the two regions reach records Historical ties have increased academic, political, and business connections, and have even fueled various migration processes. In fact, just considering the last decade and a half, China has become the first or second largest trading partner of most Latin American and Caribbean countries.
El CEA It seeks to establish a space for critical discussion that incorporates Pacific and Indian Ocean studies from a critical perspective, prioritizing Law, Political Science, International Relations, and Economics. Our objective is to position ourselves as a link between the private and public sectors to think about and discuss mechanisms that enhance Argentina's international integration into a globalized economy, but with a focus on the Pacific-Indian Ocean region. To achieve this objective, the CEA It carries out its activities at three levels: research, consulting, and training.
Objectives
Authorities and members
Director
Dr. Luciano Damián Bolinaga
Associate Researcher
Mag. Sofía del Carril
Co-director of Research Projects
Mag. Alejandra Conconi
YOUNG RESEARCHERS
- Verónica Ortiz, PhD / Assistant Researcher (2020-…)
- Lic. Tomas Kavulakian / Assistant Researcher (2021-…)
- Lic. Ignacio Otranto Basconés / Assistant Researcher (2022-…)
STUDENT RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
- Azul van Marrewijk (2021-…)
- April Trankels (2021-…)
- Nicolás Promanzio (2022-…)
CEA Activities
The Center for Asian Studies of the School of Government, Politics and International Relations of the Universidad Austral has been designated in conjunction with the Association Argentina of Korean Studies to carry out the XIV National Congress of Korean Studies “Past, present and future of a strategic friendship”The event features the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Argentine Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Korea and National Council for the Peaceful Unification of Korea.
- Days: 25 and 26 of June of 2025
- Hours: Thursday: 09:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m. (GMT-3) | Friday: 09:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m. (GMT-3)
- Modality: In person at Cerrito 1250, CABA
Learn about the congress program by doing click here.
More information and registration click here.
Since 2021, with the support of the Korea Foundation, a team of researchers from the CEA has been conducting a Research Program focused on reconstructing Latin American governments' perceptions of their ties with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). To date, there is no systematic research on this issue, beyond isolated case studies. Therefore, one of the objectives of this research is to develop a typology that will help understand the types of ties that have existed and continue to exist between Latin America and the DPRK, in order to create a practical tool for foreign policy decision-making.
The division of the Korean nation remains the last vestige of the Cold War and persists without a solution or peace treaty to this day. However, this systemic constraint, which limited relations for much of the 20th century, is now being reshaped by a new power configuration that has emerged as a consequence of China's rise as a major power. Therefore, it is necessary to rethink the frameworks for regional engagement with the Korean Peninsula. The research program is being developed in phases. The first phase, conducted between February 2021 and March 2022, examined the cases of Brazil and Argentina. The second phase, which began in April 2022, focuses on the cases of Cuba and Mexico. Finally, a third phase is planned for 2023, which will include the cases of Peru, Chile, and Venezuela.
The project is directed by Luciano Bolinaga and co-directed by Alejandra Conconi. Abril Trankels, Verónica Ortiz, and Azul Van Marrewijk also participate. The research results can be found in our publications section.
The Korea Foundation seeks to promote Korean studies worldwide through various academic and cultural programs, as well as postgraduate scholarships. In 2020, the Center for Asian Studies at the School of Government, Politics, and International Relations was selected to host a "Korean Corner," the second of its kind in Argentina. The Korean Corner is a space that promotes Korean culture through a significant collection of specialized literature donated to the university, along with valuable audiovisual materials. These resources not only provide an overview of the economic, political, and social history of the Republic of Korea but also offer access to its artistic expressions, such as paintings, sculptures, films, and music.
The Korean Corner operates in the Universidad Austral Since June 2021, the Korean Corner has been located on the Pilar Campus. It features two rooms, named the Insadong Room and the San Telmo Room, directly referencing two iconic neighborhoods in our countries and symbolizing a bridge between our cultures. Each room has been technologically equipped to handle video conferencing and provide a wealth of new tools for our researchers, professors, students, and graduates. Those who have the opportunity to visit the Korean Corner can feel closer to Korea, watch one of its famous films, or enjoy K-Pop, while also learning recipes for its culinary delights and discovering the fascinating history of this country.
This Executive Training Program is designed to help you understand intercultural logic, legal and regulatory specificities, and the dynamics between the political system and the economy in the People's Republic of China. It is an essential tool for entrepreneurs, independent professionals, and workers in the agribusiness and technology sectors, as well as for officials and representatives of public and private organizations who wish to enter the business world in China or who are already dealing daily with the challenges of intercultural negotiations with Chinese counterparts.
In the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, global economic and political change is accelerating and becoming even more complex. Understanding how China perceives and relates to the world, the intercultural factor in business dynamics, and the role of the state in the Chinese economy is crucial. In line with its new international positioning, the People's Republic of China and its companies have gained a privileged place, not only on the foreign policy agendas of Latin American governments but also on the agendas of local businesses, based on the principle of trade complementarity.
The program's objectives are:
- · Study and analyze business cases in China and of Chinese companies in our country.
- • To understand the importance and particularities of cultural relations at the Chinese labor level, both within the country and in Chinese companies operating in Argentina.
- · To provide the essential tools and instruments for developing businesses and opening commercial offices in China.
- • Understand the issues and the process of trademark regulation in China through the study of practical cases.
- · To train staff who can manage and lead negotiation processes with their Chinese counterparts in both the private and public sectors.
The team of teachers and experts who develop and implement Doing Business in China:
- Luciano Damián Bolinaga (Director)
- Juan Uriburu Quintana
- Alejandra Conconi
- Melisa Litvin
- Maria Schargrodsky
- Sergio Spadone
BOOKS
- Bolinaga, Luciano and Conconi, Alejandra (2022), Building Bridges Between Latin America and the Korean Peninsula: North Korea's Relations with Argentina and Brazil, Teseo Publishing House: Buenos Aires. IN PRESS.
BOOK CHAPTERS
- Bolinaga, Luciano (2022) “Systemic factors that condition the links between Latin America and the Korean Peninsula. How to build bridges of interregional cooperation in the 21st century, in Jinok Choi, Soonbae Kim and Janice Tapia Silva (Comp.) Recent Dynamics of the Korean Peninsula: an approach from Latin America, Central University of Chile, IX Latin American Meeting of Korean Studies, RIL Editores. IN PRESS.
- Bolinaga, Luciano (2022) “Bridges between Latin America and the Korean Peninsula: the cases of Brazil and Argentina with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, in Baboleo, B., Chaure, D. and Benítez, M. (Compilers) (2022) “Korea facing a new change of era. Approaches from the Global South”, XII National Congress of Korean Studies, National University of La Plata, Latin American Publishing Group. IN PRESS.
- Ortiz, Veronica (2022) "The triangular logic of inter-Korean relations: an analysis of economic power (2011-2018), in Baboleo, B., Chaure, D. and Benítez, M. (Compilers) (2022) “Korea facing a new change of era. Approaches from the Global South”, XII National Congress of Korean Studies, National University of La Plata, Latin American Publishing Group. IN PRESS.
- Van Marrewijk, Blue (2022) “Humanitarian aid from the Republic of Korea to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, from 1990 to the present”, in Baboleo, B., Chaure, D. and Benítez, M. (Compilers) (2022) “Korea facing a new change of era. Approaches from the Global South”, XII National Congress of Korean Studies, National University of La Plata, Grupo Editor Latinoamericano. IN PRESS.
- Trankel, April (2022), "Implications of the Sino-Korean link for the traditional alliance between Seoul and Washington”, in Baboleo, B., Chaure, D. and Benítez, M. (Compilers) (2022) “Korea facing a new change of era. Approaches from the Global South”, XII National Congress of Korean Studies, National University of La Plata, Grupo Editor Latinoamericano. IN PRESS.
CEA News
17.04.2026
17.04.2026
17.04.2026
