SUMMER FORMAT

This seminar, which will be offered in Spanish, introduces participants to the complexities of Latin American history from an interdisciplinary perspective, that is, economic, as well as social, political, and cultural. Daily classes are organized thematically, covering such topics as populist and revolutionary movements and the dictatorships of 70s in the XXth Century. The analysis of these subjects will be complemented with the study of a particular country in depth: Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. The seminar consists of lectures and analysis of primary and secondary sources, and may include films and lectures on special subjects.

Structure, total hours and modality

Students will be able to explore such fundamental problems as economic dependence, development and democracy, as well as the major historical processes that have influenced different regions and countries in Latin America.

The course will have a total of 32 hours, distributed weekly as it follows:

A two-hour workshop each week will be devoted to the study of Latin American history from the European conquest up to the present. One lecture/seminar will introduce students to the analysis of primary sources, extracted paragraphs from key official as well as non official documents. Workshops, lectures and seminars, can be taught in English or in Spanish, depending the language level of the students. In addition, an elementary, intermediate or advanced Spanish language module will be taught to students interested in enhancing their Spanish skills for a total of 32 hours.

• I. Introduction: Colonies and the Organization of Nation States
  Spanish and Portuguese empires in the Americas. Latin America at the end of the 18th Century. Independence, republicanism and liberalism. The conservative path: the Brazilian empire
• II. The New Century: Changes and Modernization
  Latin America in the world market. Modernization: urbanization, immigration, and foreign investment. The arrival of the working classes and the middle classes.
• III. The Mexican Revolution
  Mexico in the 19th Century. Porfirio Díaz: the Porfiriato, 1910-1920. The Mexican Revolution: rise and consolidation of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI).
• IV. Argentina: the Populist Experience of Juan Domingo Perón
  Argentina in the late 19th Century and the 20th Century. Crisis of the “agro-export model”. Fragmentation of political power. The 1930 military coup and its influence on local politics.. A comparison with other Latin American populist experiences: Vargas in Brazil and Cárdenas in Mexico.
• V. Cuba and the Caribbean: The Cuban Revolution
  A look at the region during the 19th and 20th centuries: monopolies and dependence. The Communist Revolution and its influence in the region. US policies towards Cuba.
• VI. Latin America in the Sixties and Seventies
  Left and Right: Civil wars in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua: the Sandinistas; guerrilla movents in Argentina, Perú and Bolivia. Chile: Allende, the peaceful path to Socialism.The role of the military and the Church. Dictatorships in South America and the Cold War. Case studies: Argentina and Chile.
• VII. The Return of Democracy: the “internal debts”
  Eighties and Nineties in Latin America. National debts: the role of the IMF and the World Bank. Neoliberalism. The spread of poverty and marginality. Social problems and political instability. Latin America today: the new challenges. Globalization, MERCOSUR, economic growth. Case study: Bolivia. Evo Morales, coca farmers and natural gas.

A typical week:

One month = 4 weeks approx.:

• Spanish: 32 hours total = 2 credits
• Literature and History: 32 hours total= 2 credits

Wednesday lecture/seminar will focus on the analysis of primary sources, enriched by the information provided in lectures and workshops. Each workshop will focus on a specific historical period., An optional seminar can be organized outside the regular class hours for students interested and able to read and discuss materials in Spanish.

• Students’ active participation in discussions and workshops are important requirements for receiving full credit.
• The major assignment will be a 8-10-page paper based on the material presented in class and readings. During the last week students will present their papers orally to the rest of the class.
• Every other week, students will have an in-class writing exercise around themes and concepts introduced in seminar, lectures and workshops.
• If students have problems with any aspect of the program’s contents or activities, it is their responsibility to contact the faculty immediately in order to face difficulties squarely instead of letting them worsen.

Eakin, Marshall (2007). The History of Latin America: Collision of Cultures. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Nouzielles, Gabriela & Graciela Montaldo (2002). The Argentina Reader. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
Williamson, Edwin (1992). The Penguin History of Latin America. London: Penguin Books