Juan Pablo Ardila Falla

Juan Pablo Ardila received his PhD in the Department of History at the University of Pennsylvania. His dissertation examines the ways in which emotions, such as fear, confusion, guilt, and hope, gave meaning to people’s sense of reality, their memories, and their imagined futures in the territories of the former Viceroyalty of New Granada. He focuses on the period between 1808, when the Spanish monarchical crisis broke out, and 1830, when the first Republic of Colombia dissolved. His research explores the role of emotions shaping political debates and both facilitating and hindering reforms. By doing so, he looks at the inner workings of emotions. He delves into questions concerning how emotions come about, how emotional experiences vary across society, and how individuals and social groups use emotional expressions strategically. He holds a BA in Economics and BA in History from the Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia), an MA in History from la Universidad de los Andes, and an MA in History from the University of Pennsylvania.