General Notes

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INTS 130: Introduction to Latin American Studies - Syllabus

I strongly encourage you, the student, to use ANGEL...

Course Description:
This course explores the geography, history, culture, society, government and economies of Latin America. It examines enduring themes and issues central to the understanding of Latin America today, such as regime change and economic development. The course covers key actors and organizations affecting Latin America, such as political parties, the Church, the military, land reform movements, and the United States. It also looks at regional associations, including the Organization of American States, NAFTA, and other emerging efforts at regional cooperation.

Text:
Hillman, Richard. Ed. Understanding Contemporary Latin America - third edition. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2005.
Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. New York: Warner Books, Inc., 1972.

Readings taken from:
Aguero, Felipe and Stark Jeffrey. Fault Lines of Democracy in Post-Transition Latin America. Miami: North-South Center Press, 1998.
Bergquist, Charles. Labor in Latin America: Comparative Essays on Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, and Columbia. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1986.
Bolanos, Alvaro Felix and Verdesio, Gusavo. Eds. Colonialism Past and Present: Reading and Writing about Colonial Latin America Today. New York: State University of New York Press, 2002.
Ellis, Joseph. Latin America: Its People and Institutions. New York: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1971.
Farthing, Dorothy Kipling, and Phillips, Claude Anderson. Understanding the Latin Americans. New York: Lyons and Carnahan, 1946.
Freire, Paulo. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Trans. Myra Bergman Ramos. New York: Continuum, 2002.
Goodwin, Paul. Global Studies: Latin America. Connecticut: McGraw-Hill, 1998.
Guevara, Ernesto "Che." The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey. Trans. Alexandra Keeble. New York: Ocean Press, 2003.
Jaquette, Jane S. The Women's Movement in Latin America: Feminism and the Transition to Democracy. Boston: Unwin Hyman, 1989.
Kirby, Peader. Introduction to Latin America: Twenty-First Century Challenges. London: Sage Publications, 2003.
Mainwaring, Scott, and Scully, Timothy, R. Building Democratic Institutions: Party Systems in Latin America. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1995.
Monegal, Emir Rodriguez. Ed. The Borzoi Anthology of Latin American Literature from the Time of Columbus to the Twentieth Century - Volume 1. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.
Monegal, Emir Rodriguez. Ed. The Borzoi Anthology of Latin American Literature: The Twentieth Century - From Borges and Paz to Guimaraes Rosa and Donos - Volume 2 . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1990.
Rouquie, Alain. The Military and the State in Latin America. Trans. Paul E. Sigmund. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1987.
Saunders, Nicholas J. Ancient Americas: The Great Civilizations. Phoenix: Sutton Publishing Limited, 2004.
Skidmore, Thomas and Smith, Peter. Eds. Modern Latin America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Van Cott, Donna Lee, Ed. Indigenous Peoples and Democracy in Latin America. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994.

Films: During the course of the semester we will view all or part of a number of films related to particular issues.

Evaluations: Papers and Presentation

* Each paper should be ONE page (double spaced) in length. There are a total of 11 possible reaction paper topics of which you must select only 10.
** Five to Six pages (excluding cover sheet and list of references). Research paper should be country specific and based on one or more of the themes covered in this course. All papers should be submitted in MLA format. All assignments should be handed to me personally and on time. Please do not leave assignments in my (or the department's) mail box. Copy of the assignment should also be placed in the Angel Drop Box for grading.
*** Presentation to be based on Mini-Research Paper.

Please note:
(1) Attendance is mandatory.
(2) The videos shown in class should be watched carefully as they should be incorporated into the papers. Same goes for speakers/invited guests.
(3) There will be no midterm or final exam so each paper is of equal importance.

Sept. 11 & 13: Week 1 - Latin America as a Cultural Space
Introduction (Hillman 1-11)
Latin America: A Geographic Preface (Hillman 13-40)
Latin America: Myth and Reality in Goodwin, Paul. Global Studies: Latin America. (3-7)

Sept. 18 & 20: Week 2 - Indigenous Peoples, First Contact, and Colonization
The Historical Context (Hillman 41-65)
Alien Encounters: America and Europe in Saunders, Nicholas J. Ancient Americas: The Great Civilizations. (3-15)
Colonialism Now and Then in Bolanos, Alvaro Felix and Verdesio, Gusavo. Eds. Colonialism Past and Present: Reading and Writing about Colonial Latin America Today. (1-17)
Question: To what extent the actual functioning of Latin American democracies depends on their historical trajectory?

Videos:

Guns, Germs, and Steel

Sept. 25 & 27: Week 3 - Politics in Latin American
Latin American Politics (Hillman 67-116)
Faulty Democracies? A Reflection on the Capitalist "Fault Lines" in Latin America in Aguero, Felipe and Stark Jeffrey. Fault Lines of Democracy in Post-Transition Latin America. (41-65)
Introduction: Party Systems in Latin America in Mainwaring, Scott, and Scully, Timothy, R. Building Democratic Institutions: Party Systems in Latin America. (1-34)
Question: What are the main distinctive features of the political tradition in Latin America?

Videos:

Chávez, Venezuela and the New Latin America : an interview with Hugo Chávez / by Aleida Guevara
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Lies

Oct. 2 & 4: Week 4 - The Economics of Latin America
The Economics of Latin America (Hillman 145-175)
Modern Latin American Historiography and the Labor Movement in Bergquist, Charles. Labor in Latin America: Comparative Essays on Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, and Columbia. (1-19)
Question: Are the economic and political reforms carried out in Latin America in the last decade mutually reinforcing?

Videos:

Liberty for Latin America: How to Undo Five Hundred Years of State Oppression

Oct. 9 & 11: Week 5 - Examining the Role of the Military in Latin America
The Military (Hillman 117-144)
The Establishment of the Military and the Birth of the State in Rouquie, Alain. The Military and the State in Latin America. (39-71)
Question: Why military dictatorships were frequent in Latin America? What were their consequences?

Videos:

La Hora De Los Hornos

Oct. 16 & 18: Week 6 - Considering the impact of Religion in Latin America
Religion in Latin America (Hillman 343-374)
The Development of National, Economic, Religious, and Social Institutions in Ellis, Joseph. Latin America: Its People and Institutions. (149-186)
Question: What is the historical development and impact of religion in general and the Catholic Church in particular on the functioning of the Latin American democracies?

Videos:

Americas / a production of WGBH Boston and Central Television Enterprises for Channel 4, UK ; executive producer,Judith Vecchione

Oct. 23 & 25: Week 7 - Urbanization, Population, and Environmental issues in Latin America
The Environment, Population, and Urbanization (Hillman 209-235)
The Transformation of Modern Latin America in Skidmore, Thomas and Smith, Peter. Eds. Modern Latin America. (42-67)
Question: How does urbanization and population growth impact the environment in Latin America?

Videos:

The Shaman's Apprentice

Oct. 30 & Nov. 1: Week 8 - Exploring issues of Ethnicity, Class, and Nationalism in Latin America
Patterns of "Race," Ethnicity, Class, and Nationalism (Hillman 237-271)
Pedagogy of the Oppressed. (43-69)
Indigenous Peoples and Democracy: Issues for Policymakers in Van Cott, Donna Lee, Ed. Indigenous Peoples and Democracy in Latin America. (1-27)
Question: What, if something, is distinctive in the politics of recognition in Latin America? What are the directions of the struggles to enhance citizenship?

Videos: Indigenous Always: The Legend of La Malinche and the Conquest of Mexico; Conquistadors - written and presented by Michael Wood; Mexico. Vol. 1, God, gold and glory / Jupiter Entertainment, Mexico. Vol. 2, From independance to the Alamo / Jupiter Entertainment, Mexico. Vol. 3, Battle for North America / Jupiter Entertainment, Mexico. Vol. 4, Revolution and rebirth / Jupiter Entertainment

Nov. 6 & 8: Week 9 - In Class Presentation
*** Since this "Introduction to Latin America" class, the presentation will be based on your Mini-research paper. One will present (using PowerPoint) on a topic mutually agreed upon with the professor. A group could do a presentation along a "themed" line. Grounded on the readings, lectures, and discussions, one could very well expand on a country profile taking into account the issues taken up (and papers written about) in class and apply them to the presentation. How are these countries serving the needs (political and social) of its citizens - is that even the question? One could also take a specific individual or interest. The possibilities are limitless.

Evaluation:
Grade will be based on the quality of research done. Taken into account will be such things as sources, theme, and formulation. In other words, how you put it all together.

Action:
1. You will need to pair up as soon as possible.
2. I will need a topic from the pair or student as soon as possible.
3. Based on the topic, it might be wise to consider at least 2 outside sources (no internet, please). Searching the databases in the library is allowed and encouraged. Using search engines like Google, Yahoo, etc. falls under the "no internet, please" umbrella.

Preparing Your Presentation:
1. In class presentation is a maximum of 15 minutes followed by 5 to 10 minutes Q & A.
2. Provide one page outline to me in the form of an email attachment one week prior to presentation to be put up on the class page on Angel. Students are required to consult with me concerning: (a) the in-class presentation, and (b) the research paper.
3. Students are expected to confirm the topic of their in-class presentation by the end of week 7.
4. Students are also expected to confirm the topic of the research paper no later than end of week 10. Research paper is due during exam week.

Nov. 13 & 15: Week 10 - Considering the Role of Women in Latin America
Women, Work, and Politics (Hillman 273-311)
Introduction to Jaquette, Jane S. The Women's Movement in Latin America: Feminism and the Transition to Democracy. (1-17)
Question: What are the main obstacles to women political participation in Latin America? What have women achieved in order to overcome them?

Videos:

Botin de guerra: la historia de una busqueda infatigable
Señorita Extraviada, Missing Young Woman
Dual Injustice: Femicide and Torture in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua

Nov. 20 & 22: Week 11 - Delving into Latin American Literature
Latin American Literature (Hillman 375-400)
Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. New York: Warner Books, Inc., 1972.
Suggested Reading:
Monegal, Emir Rodriguez. Ed. The Borzoi Anthology of Latin American Literature from the Time of Columbus to the Twentieth Century - Volume 1. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.
Monegal, Emir Rodriguez. Ed. The Borzoi Anthology of Latin American Literature: The Twentieth Century - From Borges and Paz to Guimaraes Rosa and Donos - Volume 2. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1990.
Question: What impact has art and literature had internally on the countries and peoples of Latin America? To what extent has it had an impact on international relations vis-à-vis the rest of the world?

Videos:

The Frescoes of Diego Rivera
The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo

Thanksgiving Holiday: Thurs. (Nov. 23) and Fri. (Nove. 24)

Nov. 27 & 29: Week 12 - Latin America and the U.S.
International Relations (Hillman 177-208)
International Relations in Farthing, Dorothy Kipling, and Phillips, Claude Anderson. Understanding the Latin Americans. (305-316)
Latin America, the United States, and the World in Skidmore, Thomas and Smith, Peter. Eds. Modern Latin America. (355-398)
Question: What is the present situation like in terms of international relations like for Latin America? To what extent does the present situation impact and what are the prospects like in terms of international relations like for Latin America?

Videos:

A Man, A Plan, A Canal Panama Travel Videos
Cold War: Episode 18: Backyard 1954-1990
School of the Assassins
Crossing the Line
U.S. Foreign Policy - Secret Wars of the CIA

Dec. 4 & 6: Week 13 - Latin America in the 21st Century
Trends and Prospects (Hillman 401-411)
Latin America in the Twenty-First Century in Kirby, Peader. Introduction to Latin America: Twenty-First Century Challenges. (185-207)
Question: What constraints does globalization impose to Latin American democracies? What opportunities does it generate?

Videos:

Why We Fight
Ricardo Lagos: Challenges for Latin America

Dec. 11 - 15: Week 14 - Exam Week: Research Paper Due

Web Resources:

The Geography and Politics of Latin America

Antigua and Babuda
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Saint John's
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: November 1, 1986
Population: 69, 108
Current Leader: Prime Minister Winston Baldwin Spencer
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Argentina
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Buenos Aires
Date of Independence from SPAIN: July 9, 1816
Population: 39, 921, 833
Current Leader: President Nestor Kirchner
Type of Government: Republic

Bahamas, The
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Nassau
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: July 10, 1973
Population: 303, 770
Current Leader: Prime Minister Perry Christie
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Barbados
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Bridgetown
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: November 30, 1966
Population: 279, 912
Current Leader: Prime Minister Owen Seymour Arthur
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Belize
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Belmopan
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: September 21, 1981
Population: 287, 730
Current Leader: Prime Minister Said Wibert Musa
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Bolivia
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: La Paz
Date of Independence from SPAIN: August 6, 1825
Population: 8, 989, 046
Current Leader: President Juan Evo Morales
Type of Government: Republic

Brazil
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Brasilia
Date of Independence from PORTUGAL: September 7, 1822
Population: 188, 078, 227
Current Leader: President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva
Type of Government: Federal Republic

Chile
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Santiago
Date of Independence from SPAIN: September 18, 1810
Population: 16, 134, 219
Current Leader: President Michelle Bachelet Jeria
Type of Government: Republic

Colombia
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Bogota
Date of Independence from SPAIN: July 20, 1810
Population: 43, 593, 035
Current Leader: President Alvaro Uribe Velez
Type of Government: Republic

Costa Rica
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: San Jose
Date of Independence from SPAIN: September 15, 1821
Population: 4, 075, 261
Current Leader: President Oscar Arias Sanchez
Type of Government: Republic

Cuba
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Havana
Date of Independence from SPAIN: December 10, 1898
Date of Independence from UNITED STATES: May 20, 1902
Population: 11, 382, 820
Current Leader: President Fidel Castro Ruz
Type of Government: Communist State

Dominica
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Roseau
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: November 3, 1978
Population: 68, 910
Current Leader: President Nicholas J. O. Liverpool
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Dominican Republic
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Santo Domingo
Date of Independence from HAITI: February 27, 1844
Population: 9, 183, 984
Current Leader: President Leonal Fernandez Reyna
Type of Government: Republic

Ecuador
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Quito
Date of Independence from SPAIN: May 24, 1822
Population: 13, 547, 510
Current Leader: President Alfredo Palacio
Type of Government: Republic

El Salvador
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: San Salvador
Date of Independence from SPAIN: September 15, 1821
Population: 6, 822, 378
Current Leader: President Elias Antonio Saca Gonzalez
Type of Government: Republic

Grenada
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Saint George's
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: February 7, 1974
Population: 89, 703
Current Leader: Prime Minister Keith Mitchell
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Guatemala
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Ciudad de Guatemala
Date of Independence from SPAIN: September 15, 1821
Population: 12, 293, 545
Current Leader: President Oscar Jose Rafael Berger Perdomo
Type of Government: Republic

Guyana
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Georgetown
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: May 26, 1966
Population: 767, 245
Current Leader: President Bharrat Jagdeo
Type of Government: Republic

Haiti
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Port-au-Prince
Date of Independence from FRANCE: January 1, 1804
Population: 8, 308, 504
Current Leader: President Rene Preval
Type of Government: Republic

Honduras
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Tegucigalpa
Date of Independence from SPAIN: September 15, 1821
Population: 7, 326, 496
Current Leader: President Manuel Zelaya Rosales
Type of Government: Republic

Jamaica
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Kingston
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: August 6, 1962
Population: 2, 758, 124
Current Leader: Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Mexico
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Mexcio City (Federal District)
Date of Independence from SPAIN: September 16, 1810
Population: 107, 449, 525
Current Leader: President Vicente Fox
Type of Government: Federal Republic

Nicaragua
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Managua
Date of Independence from SPAIN: September 15, 1821
Population: 5, 570, 129
Current Leader: President Enrique Bolanos Geyer
Type of Government: Republic

Panama
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Ciudad de Panama
Date of Independence from SPAIN: November 28, 1821
Date of Independence from COLOMBIA: November 3, 1903
Population: 3, 191, 319
Current Leader: President Martin Torrijos Espino
Type of Government: Republic

Paraguay
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Asuncion
Date of independence from SPAIN: May 14, 1811
Population: 6, 506, 464
Current Leader: President Nicanor Duarte Frutos
Type of Government: Republic

Peru
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Lima
Date of Independence from SPAIN: July 28, 1821
Population: 28, 302, 603
Current Leader: President Alan Garcia Perez
Type of Government: Republic

Saint Kitts and Nevis
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Basseterre
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: September 19, 1983
Population: 39, 129
Current Leader: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Saint Lucia
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Castries
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: February 22, 1979
Population: 168, 458
Current Leader: Prime Minister Kenneth Davis Anthony
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Kingstown
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: October 27, 1979
Population: 117, 848
Current Leader: Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Suriname
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Paramaribo
Date of Independence from NETHERLANDS: November 25, 1975
Population: 439, 117
Current Leader: President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan
Type of Government: Republic

Trinidad and Tobago
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Port-of-Spain
Date of Independence from GREAT BRITAIN: August 31, 1962
Population: 1, 065, 842
Current Leader: Prime Minister Patrick Manning
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Uruguay
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Montevideo
Date of Independence from BRAZIL: August 25, 1825
Population: 3, 431, 932
Current Leader: President Tabare Vazquez Rosas
Type of Government: Republic

Venezuela
CIA Factsheet
Wikipedia
Capital City: Caracas
Date of Independence from SPAIN: July 5, 1811
Population: 25, 730, 435
Current Leader: President Hugo Chavez Frias
Type of Government: Federal Republic

Academic and Policy Analysis

http://lib.nmsu.edu/subject/bord/laguia
http://www1.lanic.utexas.edu/
http://www.flacso.org
http://www.slas.org.uk
http://lasa.international.pitt.edu
http://americas.irc-online.org/
http://www.americasnet.net
http://www.iadialog.org

Organizations

http://www.eclac.cl
http://www.iadb.org
http://www.undp.org
http://hdr.undp.org
http://www.ilo.ch/public/english/index.htm
http://www.oas.org
http://www.mercosur.org.uy
http://www.nafta-sec-alena.org
http://pdba.georgetown.edu/
http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/index.php
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org

News and Information Sources

http://www.onlinenewspapers.com
http://www.latinnews.com
http://www.nacla.org
http://www.foreignpolicy.com
http://us.oneworld.net/

General Sites

http://www.cnn.com
http://www.c-span.org/
http://inic.utexas.edu
http://www.i-trade.com/
http://www.reliefweb.int
http://sosig.esrc.bris.ac.uk
http://www.unsystem.org
http://www.undp.org
http://www.usaid.gov/
http://www.cia.gov/
http://www.state.gov/index.html
http://www.worldbank.org/
http://www.who.int/en/
http://www.wto.org

Mexico

http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/

South America

http://www.wp.com/virtualvoyager/

Carribean

http://www.hist.unt.edu/

page last updated 26 October 2007
Copyright © 2006 Miguel B. Llora, MA. All Rights Reserved.
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