Professor Carmagnani received his Ph.D. from the University of Paris in 1969. He is professor of history at the University of Turin and the Colegio de Mexico. He specializes in the history of Latin America, particularly Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. His recent publications include "El otro occidente: América Latina de la invasión europea a la globalización," México, Fondo de Cultura Económica, El Colegio de México, Fideicomiso Historia de las Américas, (2003) and "Los mecanismos de la vida económica en una sociedad colonial: Chile, 1680-1830," Santiago de Chile, Biblioteca Nacional (2001).