The history of drug wars in Colombia is set to be unpacked at Middle Tennessee State University next month, with Northwestern University historian and journalist Lina Britto leading the charge. Taking place on March 5, the MTSU Department of History will host the guest lecture "The Drug Wars in Colombia: An American History," a rescheduled engagement that's part of the institution's Strickland Distinguished Scholars Series. Britto, who is an associate professor of history at her home institution, will deliver her address at 7 p.m. in the Business and Aerospace Building's State Farm Room, according to MTSU News.
Beyond the historical insights, attendees can also look forward to a book signing post-lecture. Britto is the author behind "Marijuana Boom: The Rise and Fall of Colombia's First Drug Paradise," a work that bagged an honorable mention in the Colombian Fundación Alejandro Ángel Escobar National Book Awards in 2021. For guests requiring some nourishment, light refreshments will be served, and those in pursuit of academic credit can catch a QR code at the event.
The event is also accessible digitally through a live stream on True Blue TV for those unable to attend in person. In a statement obtained by MTSU News, Emily Baran, chair of the MTSU History Department, expressed excitement over Britto's upcoming presentation: "We are so delighted to host Dr. Lina Britto this spring semester." She credited the "generosity of the Strickland family" for enabling the department to introduce exceptional scholars to the local community.
Britto's upcoming lecture aims to illustrate Colombia's indispensable role in the surge of U.S. influence across the Americas during the 20th century, focusing specifically on the impact of drug wars. She contends that putting drug wars at the forefront of U.S.-Colombian relations has been a decisive factor in reasserting U.S. dominance in Latin America and the Caribbean at key moments. MTSU history professor Lynn Nelson pointed out the high relevance of this topic, saying, "(The lecture) will be of great interest to students, faculty and members of the community who are interested in the enormous impact of the drug trade between Latin America and the U.S. on private and state violence, government policy, and the fate of democratic government in the region," as reported by MTSU News.
For those planning to attend, the Business and Aerospace Building is situated at 1642 MTSU Blvd. Directions and parking details can be found via MTSU's parking page. As the community gears up to delve into the complex history between two nations bonded by the dynamics of illicit trade and power, Britto's talk promises to be an enlightening contribution to a long-standing, global conversation.
