Publications
The transnational earth: Evolution meets the World Heritage in model development scenarios for a globally inclusive knowledge economy
A globally inclusive knowledge economy can be unlocked by harnessing the evolutionary and ecological connectivity of natural reserves, particularly through World Heritage nominations. This study demonstrates that valuing knowledge from basic research—linking natural properties across national boundaries—serves as a powerful tool for conservation and economic development. By analyzing regions such as the South Pacific Island Region, Eastern Tropical Pacific, and Isthmus of Panama, the research proposes model approaches to empower World Heritage initiatives, fostering transnational collaborations that stimulate scientific exploration and biodiversity conservation. The proposed business model leverages the confluence of knowledge and wonder, offering an investment platform for shared global benefits in the knowledge economy.
Seizing the Means of Circulation: Choke Points and Logistical Resistance in Coco Solo, Panama
Logistical resistance by strategically positioned groups can significantly disrupt global commodity supply chains, but its effectiveness is contingent on multiple factors. A study of Coco Solo, Panama, demonstrates that despite being located at a critical node in the transit economy, repeated blockades by residents between 2001 and 2014 yielded limited success. This challenges traditional workerist or insurrectionist models of supply chain disruption, highlighting the importance of context, diverse mobilization tactics, and the need for nuanced theorization beyond conventional frameworks.
Implementing the Asiento and Smuggling
García-Montón's study reveals how the Genoese entrepreneur Domenico Grillo’s factors exploited unprecedented privileges to expand the Spanish American asiento trade, challenging established Sevillian and Lima consulados while engaging in smuggling activities beyond the charter's limits. The research demonstrates that this expansion required collaboration with local merchants, middlemen, and political authorities, who quickly benefited from the trade. This dynamic of competition and cooperation set the stage for future trading relationships within the Spanish Indies and broader global trade circuits. By focusing on the Isthmus of Panama and Pacific South America, the study provides a detailed, intra-imperial perspective on the complexities of monopolistic trade during the 17th century.
Picturing the River’s Racial Ecologies in Colonial Panamá
A Spanish print from 1748, depicting enslaved Afro-descendant boatmen navigating the Chagres River, reveals the racial ecologies and cosmopolitan culture of these individuals during colonial Panamá. This study shifts focus from the print's Spanish origins to highlight the ecological knowledge and distinct cultural practices of enslaved and free Afro-descendants, challenging traditional art historical narratives that marginalize Central America. By integrating insights from recent scholarship on race, ecology, and colonial Latin American art, this research restores visibility to a region often overlooked in broader studies.
Colonial Architecture in Panama City. Analysis of the Heritage Value of Its Monastic Buildings
A detailed analysis of Panama City's monastic buildings reveals their critical role in shaping the city's 17th-century colonial urban layout, despite significant deterioration. The study identifies key events and patterns that have led to value loss, offering insights for preservation and adaptive reuse strategies. By examining historical records and architectural evolution, researchers propose tools to protect these heritage sites, which continue to influence the city's structure today.
The Isthmus in “Decline,” 1739–1848
The late colonial period (1739–1848) marked the decline of the transisthmian treasure route, signaling the end of Spanish control over the Isthmus of Panamá and transitioning into a postcolonial era. This study reveals how economic, political, and logistical shifts during this time disrupted the region's maritime landscape, contributing to the collapse of its colonial significance. By analyzing historical records and archival sources, researchers traced the decline of the route's strategic importance, highlighting key factors such as changing global trade dynamics, political instability, and environmental challenges.
The World United, Panama Divided
Panama's transit zone, despite being the 'crossroads of the world,' faces significant inefficiencies due to the interplay between global and regional transportation networks. The study reveals that while the Panama Canal dominates interoceanic water transport, national road infrastructure, such as the Transístmica (transisthmian highway), has been constrained by geopolitical factors, particularly U.S. restrictions during the 20th century. This highway, opened during World War II, remains the only interoceanic land route across Panama, highlighting how networked infrastructures are shaped by historical and political forces. The research juxtaposes global flow with regional friction, illustrating how these dynamics impact daily life in Panama's transit zone.
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