Modern Latin America.

Catalog description

Since independence from Spain and Portugal in the early nineteenth century, Latin America seems to have been plagued with struggles to achieve political stability, social equality, and economic advancement. This course focuses on the history of the independent nations of Latin America from the 1800s to the present. We will examine issues of state-building, race, gender, labor movements, human rights, drug violence, and international relations. We will use a variety of sources — films, lectures, music, readings, and discussions — in our explorations of how social movements shaped and were shaped by economic and political forces. Finally, we will study how colonial legacies, neocolonial ties and globalization have affected Latin America and its people. ( GE1C , GEND , GESO )