Society. Spaces. Screens
Abstract
This paper explores the intricate relationship between media, strategic litigation (legal mobilization), and the experiences of Puerto Rican academic researchers positioned on the periphery of dominant academic and political groups. Strategic litigation, often amplified by media and academic research, is a crucial mechanism for marginalized communities aiming to shape public policy and social norms. However, representation within media and academia can either strengthen or constrain these legal efforts, particularly when controlled by dominant groups and narratives. Most Puerto Rican researchers operate outside of mainstream academic networks, facing distinct barriers to influencing and participating in these discourses. Despite these challenges, their perspectives provide valuable insights that question established paradigms, offering alternative understandings of media, academic activism, and scholarship. Through personal reflection, this paper discusses how dominant media and academic institutions involved in strategic litigation can both facilitate and limit advocacy for marginalized communities. It concludes by outlining practical, accessible pathways for socio-political participation of peripheral people and academic researchers on issues that are central to their very own existence and identity, in both media and academia.
Keywords: peripheral, academic researchers, media, strategic litigations, Puerto Rico
Amarilys Abreu Santana is a New Yorker, U.S. scholar and practitioner based in Switzerland, known for her authoritative and well-rounded perspective in socio-legal research. She holds an LL.M. in Comparative Law, Economics, and Finance, as well as a Magna Cum Laude diploma in Industrial Engineering. With over twenty-five years of experience specializing in finance and sovereign bonds across the major financial centers of New York, London, and Zurich, Amarilys combines her financial expertise with nearly fifteen years of socio-legal research.