UNESCO/Juan Bosch Prize for the Promotion of Social Science Research in Latin America and the Caribbean

a fervent advocate of democratic values and a culture of peace in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through his work in literature, sociology and history, he made a remarkable contribution to the study of social and political processes in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean region for essayists, journalists and historians, among them some of the most outstanding figures of Latin America and the Caribbean. Professor Bosch is thus a symbol of national dignity, a source of great pride to our peoples and an example to be followed for present and future generations.

Juan Bosch lived in a period of complex historical circumstances that characterized Latin American and Caribbean countries during the 20th century: the two World Wars and the decolonisation process in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean led to deep social and economic transformations that would change international relations. Throughout these historical moments, we find Juan Bosch exerting great intellectual and moral influence in favour of the most noble causes. His brief period as President of the Dominican Republic, interrupted by a coup d’état, was a time where social transformations in the Dominican Republic hugely impacted the big majority of its society, hitherto marginalized by decades of violent dictatorship.

During his entire life, whether in the Dominican Republic or in the countries where he had to go to exile, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba or Spain, he continuously worked both in the political and cultural areas. As a politician, he founded and took part in various initiatives and organizations conceived as instruments for social action. As an intellectual, he produced remarkable literary and academic work, e.g. novels, short stories, essays and articles. Juan Bosch’s life and work are examples of intellectual commitment to the most just causes of his time.