Critical Social Inquiry 0224 - Contemporary/Latin American

This course offers students the chance to explore the diversity of grassroots politics, social movements, and alternative democratic practices within contemporary Latin America. The course will first introduce students to various theoretical frameworks to understand social movements. It will then focus on a rigorous comparative analysis of contemporary Latin American social movements oriented towards different political issues. These range from ethnic identity and environmental problems to human rights claims and gender-sex politics. We will examine a broad array of social movements across the region and pay particular attention to how their seemingly different pursuits for social justice are inter-related.

Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research Students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.