Course Description
The geography of Latin America, including physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of different regions. Prospects for expansion of settlement, development of resources, and growth of industries.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additional readings, assignments, and questions on tests.
Athena Title
Geography of Latin America
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Successful completion of this course will provide the following learning outcomes: A greater cognizance of the importance of Latin America as a region in the everyday functioning of our society, and its crucial role in informing international policy and foreign affairs in the hemisphere An ability to recognize the reciprocal interactions between Latin Americans, and also between Latinos in the U.S. and American citizens, and their commonalities and differences as they affect development scenarios and past/future global environmental change A basic understanding of physical and biological processes that influence the "latiness" of countries at local and regional scales An appreciation of the diversity of culture and nature and its linkages with physical systems of the continent An awareness of the dynamic nature of geopolitical systems, with emphasis on historical and current democratic regimes and patterns of collaborative efforts towards hemispheric integration and sustainable development This course meets the following General Education Abilities by accomplishing the specific learning objectives listed below: Communicate effectively through writing. This is met by a series of writing assignments associated with supplemental reading and data analysis. Communicate effectively through speech. This is met by oral presentations, discussion leading, and classroom participation. Critical Thinking is central to the learning objectives of this class, and is developed through homework assignments, lecture, classroom discussion, and inquiry- based learning efforts. Moral Reasoning (Ethics) is an important element of this course, as it explores the growing importance of Latin America in world politics, economic development, and hemispheric well-being. Moral reasoning is developed through lectures, writing assignments, classroom discussion, and inquiry-based learning activities.
Topical Outline
Overview of Latin America Definitions Core and Periphery considerations Regional Scopes America or Américas? A culture region with subcultures and subregions Alphabet soup of Latin Americanisms Geoecology of the environment in a continental scale. Physical characteristics and environmental determinism Guest lecture: UGA librarian for Latin America. Databases Clashing views debate: Issues 1 and 2 (Integration and Pinking) Peopling Latin America to 1820: changing demographics Clashing views debate: Issues 3 and 4 (Cuba’s aid and Plan Colombia) Economic geographies of Latin America: aim development Latin American revolutions and rural/urban change Clashing views debate: Issues 5 and 6 (Commonwealth and Government intervention) Alliance for Progress Oil crisis Depression Trade Rapid population growth Migration Age pyramids Clashing views debate: Issues 7 and 8 (Gangs and Abortion) Immigrants and demographic transitions Urban geographies: contemporary cities and urban patterns Migration, population change and race relations Clashing views debate: Issues 9 and 10 (Race and Border patrols) Latin American Journey and the politics of power Urban centers of antiquity Megalopolis and the transformation of Latin America in the world economy Clashing views debate: Issues 11 and 12 (Protestantism and D.D.T.) Agriculture, mining, manufacturing, services Mexico FTAA, NAFTA and Georgia debate Guest lecture: Dr. Sergio Quezada. LACSI Clashing views debate: Issues 13 and 14 (Dry canal and GMOs) Central America. CAFTA Prisoners of Geography. The Greater and the Lesser Antilles Guest lecture: Dr. Leara Rhodes, Journalism Clashing views debate: Issues 15 and 16 (Agrarian reform and Privatization) Middle America, West Indies and The Caribbean Latin American Journey: Tyrants will raise from my tomb Clashing views debate: Issues 17 and 18 (FTAA and International Aid) Andean America Andean Pact Mountain geography and the sense of place Latin American Journey: Heaven, hell and El Dorado Brazil as a melting pot Political and social frontier geographies Latin American Journey: Inca cola Debunking the myths of Amazonia Jungle geography and ecological imperatives Latin American Journey: Frustrated colossus Andean-Amazonian continuum The Cloud Forests Andean treeline dynamics The Southern cone as an alternative Latin American Journey: A continent crucified Argentina-Chile axis Mercosur Island geography: Galapagos, Easter, Malvinas Latin American Journey: Bravo, bread and circuses Regional economies. Core and peripheries Latin American identity debate