Course Description
Exploration of the social history and contemporary questions of race, class, gender, and nation in Latin America. Case studies drawn from throughout the region. Topics may include socioeconomic development, poverty and inequality, social movements, institutions, and change. Latin America in transnational context.
Athena Title
LATIN AMERICAN SO
Prerequisite
SOCI 1101 or SOCI 1101H or SOCI 2600 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will acquire conceptual tools for the sociological analysis of Latin America in comparative-historical and transnational perspective. Students will understand and critically apply a race-gender-class-nation epistemological lens to the analysis of historical and contemporary sociological phenomena in Latin America. Students will understand and apply theories of socioeconomic development and critique their applicability for the contemporary context. Students will analyze similarities and differences in the role of social institutions and movements in fomenting or restraining social change across the region. Students will examine case studies of social movement activism across various contexts, including local, national, and transnational. Students will be expected to demonstrate that they have acquired these skills through active class participation, essay examinations, and the completion of an independent research paper.
Topical Outline
Topical Outline: I. Basic Concepts/Background A. The Why and How of Historical-Comparative Sociology B. Latin America in Transnational Context II. Social History of Race, Class, Gender, Nation in Latin America: A General Outline III. Development A. Indicators, Agrarian Reform, Urbanization, Inequality and Poverty B. Theories (modernization, dependency, world systems) C. Alternatives to development/the post-development debate IV. Social Movements and Social Change A. Social Institutions and Social Change: The roles of church, state, education, military, industry B. Social Change from Below: The Role of Social Movements C. The WTO, and Globalization from Below