I'm Douglas Castro Quezada, once stateless after fleeing repression in my native Nicaragua, I am now Colombian by naturalization. I majored in Economics and Sociology, and have collaborated as a researcher and consultant with various civil society organizations exploring issues such as security, violence, elections, youth participation and social movements in Central America. In 2018 I got involved in the Pro-Democracy movement in Nicaragua, and have been active in defending human rights and democracy ever since through diverse groups.
At Oxford, I will be focusing on the precarious interplay between democratization and autocratization in post-conflict Central America, from a comparative perspective. My hope is to position Central America as a key scenario to study democratic backsliding, while drawing insights to support the revival of democracy in my homeland, region and far beyond.