Syllabus 321

Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Seminar on the Americas LACS 321: Spring, 2008

Instructor:
Dr. Nancy Mandlove

Olin 115 F, Ext. 4505

mandlovenb@wofford.edu

Home

Texts: Selected Articles
John Charles Chasteen, Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America
Ariel Dorfman, Death and the Maiden
Cristina García, Dreaming in Cuban
Manlio Argueta, One Day of Life

Latin American Network Information Center (University of Texas) http://lanic.utexas.edu/subject/countries.html

Latin American Studies (wide variety of links to articles on all countries) http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/home.html

Detailed maps http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/americas.html

Library of Congress country studies (Good resources for detailed history of individual countries. Check dates-some are outdated for current situations.)
Available for Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, DR, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru Uruguay, Venezuela

http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html

Primary course topics: Chile, Women in Latin America, Human Rights, Revolution, the United States and Latin America, Migration and Urbanization, Mexico and the U.S., Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S.

Date

Class

Preparation

Lab Assignments

M 2/4

Introduction to Course and Topics
Countries and Geography
Overview

Labs 1, 2, 3
Films: "Missing," "House of the Spirits," "Death and the Maiden"

Due: 2/13; 2/20; 2/27

W 2/6

Introduction to Course and Topics
Issues and Concerns

Find and print maps on internet. Prepare to discuss maps and geography. Concentrate on Chile, Mexico, U.S.-Mexico border, Central America, Cuba

F 2/8

Historical background for semester's topics

BBF, "Neocolonialism," 181-214

Unit 1: Women and Chile

M 2/11	Changing Role of Women/Chile Americas 5: "In Women's Hands"	Americas Study Guide, 7: 75-80 (handout)
W 2/13	Changing Role of Women/Chile Americas 5: "In Women's Hands" Lab 1 due	Americas Study Guide, 7: 75-80 (handout)	Labs 1, 2, 3 Films: "Missing," "House of the Spirits," "Death and the Maiden" Due: 2/13; 2/20; 2/27
F 2/15	Chile Today: Pinochet, Economy, Place in the World, Michelle Bachelet	"Is Chile a Neoliberal Success?," Dollars and Sense "Chile: A Lopsided Miracle,: Business Week "Pinochet's Uncomfortable Legacy," Business Week
M 2/18	Women and Chile Women's rights issues in Latin America Machismo and Marianismo	Research internet: women's rights issues (suggested sites) UTlanic women Statistics (in Spanish) Women's Rights Violence against Women Women's Rights Eroding in L.A.
W 2/20	Truth and Reconciliation: Chile (Argentina, Brazil, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador) Lab 2 due	Ariel Dorfman, Death and the Maiden	Labs 1, 2, 3 Films: "Missing," "House of the Spirits," "Death and the Maiden" Due: 2/13; 2/20; 2/27
	For further reading regarding the Pinochet era in Chile, the following websites contain good information on a variety of topics and nclude links to documents declassified in 1999 and later. PBS News-McNeill/Leherer BBC News
F 2/22	Discussion and organization: Final Projects: The Present and Future of U.S. - Latin American Relations (Written group report for Lab 6, 3/19)

Unit 2: Revolution and Cuba

M 2/25	Pre-Revolutionary Cuba and the Cuban Revolution.	Read: Christina García, Dreaming in Cuban BBC Timeline for Cuba U.S. Embassy Policy Paper, 1958 U.S. Embassy Paper on Political Conditions in Cuba, Feb., 1959
W 2/27	Revolution Lab 3 due	BBF, "Revolution," 245-273 Read: Christina García, Dreaming in Cuban	Labs 4, 5: Videos: Fidel Castro, Oscar Romero. Due 3/5, 3/12
F 2/29	Cuba Discuss Embassy papers Discuss Dreaming in Cuban	U.S. Embassy Policy Paper, 1958 U.S. Embassy Paper on Political Conditions in Cuba, Feb., 1959 Read: Christina García, Dreaming in Cuban
M 3/3	Cuba Today	Read: Christina García, Dreaming in Cuban (finish)
W 3/5	Review for Test Lab 4 due		Labs 4, 5: Videos: Fidel Castro, Oscar Romero. Due 3/5, 3/12
F 3/7	TEST 1	Prepare for test
M 3/10	The U.S. and Latin America: Overview--Past and Present	Peter Hakim, "Democracy and U.S. Credibility," New York Times 2 Handouts--U.S. Intervention " New Wave of Anti-Americanism," NACLA, 38.6, 2005
W 3/12	U.S. Intervention in Latin America: general discussion Lab 5 Due	"U.S. Policy on Cuba: Beyond the Last Gasp," NACLA, 39.4, 2006	Lab 6: Group Reports (written)--country, issues, relationship with U.S. Due 3/19

Unit 3: The United States and Latin America

F 3/14	Cuban Missile Crisis and the Cold War Dr. Mark Byrnes	"Empire, Hegemony and Globalization in the Americas," NACLA, 39.2, 2005
M 3/17	U.S. Intervention in Latin America: Student Presentations	"Is Venezuela the New Cuba," NACLA, 39.1, 2005 "Venezuela: Defying Globalization's Logic," NACLA 39.2, 2005
W 3/19	U.S. Intervention in Latin America: Student Presentations Lab 6 Due	Manlio Argueta, One Day of Life	Lab 7: "Americas" Due 3/26
F 3/21	Central America: Revolution and Intervention	Manlio Argueta, One Day of Life
M 3/24	Central America: Revolution and Intervention	Manlio Argueta, One Day of Life
W 3/26	Issues and Final Projects Issues: new leftist presidents and the U.S. Lab 7 Due	NACLA, Vol.40, No. 1, Jan.Feb. 2007 (copies): "Democracy, Diplomacy and Intervention in the Americas" "Electoral Intervention in the Americas" "Democracy or Polyarchy?" "How the U.S. 'lost' Latin America" "U.S. Unconcerned by left-wing leaders" "Latin America's New Left Axis"
W 3/26	NOTE: for Lab 8 Foreign Film Series: "El Inmigrante" Olin Theater, 3:30 and 7:30		Lab 8: Report on "El Inmigante" Due 4/9
F 3/28	Test 2
	SPRING VACATION
M 4/7	The Mexican Revolution	Summary-Mexican Revolution Brief history-Mexican Revolution
W 4/9	Legacy of the Mexican Revolution Lab 8 Due		Lab 9: Attend at least one session of the "Citizenship and Leadership Symposium" to be held April 12 and 14-17. Submit written report. Due 4/21

Unit 4: Migration and Urbanization - U.S. and Mexico

F 4/11

Migration and Urbanization
Americas 3

Americas Study Guide 5: Continent on the Move: Migration and Urbanization

NACLA, xxviii, 4, Jan/Feb, 1995
"Urban Latin America: Life in the Megacity," 11-12
"The Latin American Metropolis and the Growth of Inequality," 13-18

M 4/14

Migration and Urbanization
Americas 3

NACLA, xxviii, 4, Jan/Feb, 1995
"The Struggles of a Self-Built Community,: 19-25

Unit 5: The U.S. - Mexico Border

W 4/16	A sense of history and place: the U.S.-Mexico border	Interactive timeline-History of the Border Time magazine on-line, "TwoCountries, One City" Time magazine on-line, "Amexica: A Whole New World"
F 4/18	NAFTA and Globalization	NACLA, xxx, 4,Jan/Feb, 1997 "Globalization and Resistance: the Remaking of Mexico, 14-27 NAFTA, xxxv, 4, Jan/Feb, 2002 "Mexico's Haves and Have-Nots: NAFTA Sharpens the Divide, 32-35 NACLA, xxxiii, 3, Nov/Dec, 1999 "Borderless Economy, Barricaded Border," 14-21
M 4/21	Migration: Not all journeys the same Lab 9 Due	"Migration and Coffee in Mexico and Central America," Luis Hernández, Dec. 13, 2004	Lab 10: Immigration Survey Due 4/28
W 4/23	Migration: Not all journeys the same	"Inside the Life of the Migrants Next Door," Time Magazine on-line
F 4/25	Immigration Policies: Perspectives and Debates	Pick 3 articles from these two sites: http://americas.irc-online.org/am/2959 http://cis.org (see section on "Common Topics in Immigration"
M 4/28	Hispanics in the U.S. Discussion of Survey results Lab 10 Due (Immigration survey)
W 4/30	Issues: Group presentation United States
F 5/2	TEST 3

Group Project Work

M 5/5	In-class group project work
W 5/7	In-class group project work
F 5/9	In-class group project work

Exam Week: Tuesday, May 13, 9:00 A.M.
Project Presentations
Issues: United States and Latin America: Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela

What role should the U.S. play in hemispheric affairs?

Grading

3 tests	45%
Intervention project	10%
Final project	20%
Lab reports	15%
Class participation	10%