Contemporary Latin America

Catalog description

Offered: Every other Spring. This course offers an overview of contemporary life in Latin America. Course readings and lectures focus on the economic, political, and cultural foundations of present-day life in the region, covering topics such as the extraction and protection of its vast natural resources; economic inequality and Latin America’s place in the global economy; liberalism and populism in Latin American politics; and Indigenous, feminist, and LGBTQ+ political movements; and the impact of global economic, political, and public health crises on Latin America. Assignments train students to carry out basic research in the social sciences. Students develop their conceptual vocabularies, formulate research questions, and propose solutions to key issues in contemporary Latin American life.