Pierre Losson is the Associate Director of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute. Before joining City College in January 2023, Pierre was Director of Institutional Engagement at Americas Society in New York City. Prior to this, he has held several positions in French cultural centers in Mexico City (Mexico) and Lima (Peru), where he has lived for ten years in total. 

Pierre graduated in international relations from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques of Strasbourg (France), holds an MA in arts administration from University of Lyon (France), an MA in Latin American and Caribbean studies from Florida International University, and a PhD in political science from The Graduate Center, CUNY. His dissertation examined the claims for the return of cultural heritage objects to Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.

In fall 2020, Pierre was a fellow at the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America of Columbia University. He has taught at Hunter College – CUNY, Lehman College – CUNY, and Yeshiva University. He has presented papers and organized sessions at conferences such the Latin American Studies Association, American Political Science Association, Association of Critical Heritage Studies, International Conference on Cultural Policy Research, and Social Theory, Politics, and the Arts, among many others.

Pierre's research focuses on the return and restitution of cultural heritage objects as well as cultural policy in Latin America. His book The Return of Cultural Heritage to Latin America: Nationalism, Policy, and Politics in Colombia, Mexico, and Peru was published by Routledge in 2022. Its Spanish translation El retorno del patrimonio cultural a América Latina. Nacionalismo, normas y política en Colombia, México y Perú was published by Fondo de Cultura Económica in 2024. Pierre has published articles in academic journals such as The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society and the International Journal of Heritage Studies, among others, and articles and op-eds in publications such as Le Monde and Hyperallergic.

Books

El retorno del patrimonio cultural a América Latina. Nacionalismo, normas y política en Colombia, México y Perú. Mexico City: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2024.

The Return of Cultural Heritage to Latin America: Nationalism, Policy, and Politics in Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2022.
 

Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals

“Opening Pandora’s Box: Will the Return of Cultural Heritage Objects to Their Country of Origin Empty Western Museums?” The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society. 2021.

"Comentario sobre el artículo 'Superando las dicotomías (…)' de Giancarlo Marcone Flores para la revista Chungara." Chungara Revista de Antropología Chilena. 51 (3), 475-77. 2019.

“The Inscription of Qhapaq Ñan on UNESCO’s World Heritage List: A Comparative Perspective from the Daily Press in Six Latin American countries.” International Journal of Heritage Studies. 23 (6), 521-37. 2017.

“Does the International Trafficking of Cultural Heritage Really Fuel Military Conflicts?” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 40 (6), 484-95. 2017.

“The Creation of a Ministry of Culture: Towards the Definition and Implementation of a Comprehensive Cultural Policy in Peru.” International Journal of Cultural Policy, 19 (1), 20-39. 2013.

“Artes Escénicas en el Perú: Mejorar el Conocimiento del Medio para Asesorar la Elaboración de Políticas Públicas.” Argumentos, 7 (3). 2013.

“Representaciones de la Homosexualidad en el Cine Peruano Contemporáneo.” El Ojo que Piensa, 5. January-June 2012.
 

Book review

Review of Scott Cynthia, "Cultural Diplomacy and the Heritage of Empire: Negotiating Post-Colonial Returns." International Journal of Cultural Property, 28 (2), 325-28. 2021.
 

Other Publications

"At Last, Colombia Demands the Return of Its San Agustín Statues." Hyperallergic, February 13, 2023.

"Reparation or Perpetuation? Physical and Symbolic Violence in Restitutions of Cultural Heritage." Social Science Research Council (Items), June 7, 2022

“La France s’honorerait en proposant de rendre au Nigeria les bronzes du Bénin qu’elle possède.” Le Monde, May 6, 2021.

“Taking the long view on Latin American Democracy.” Americas Quarterly, July 1, 2016.

“Pushing for more: Marco Antonio Ramírez, leader of Afro-Peruvian youth movement Ashanti.” Americas Quarterly, Summer 2015.

2019. PhD, Political Science. The Graduate Center - CUNY (New York, NY). Major in Comparative Politics, minor in Public Policy. Dissertation: “Claiming the Remains of the Past: The Return of Cultural Heritage Objects to Colombia, Mexico, and Peru”

2011. MA, Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Florida International University (Miami, FL). Thesis: "Performing Arts in Peru: Getting to Know the Stakeholders to Assess Public Policy Making"

2000. Master's degree, Law and Administration of International Cultural Relations and Exchanges. University of Lyon (France). Thesis: "The Restitutions and Returns of Cultural Goods to their Country of Origin"

1999. BA, International Relations. Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Strasbourg (France).