Latin American Studies 261 - LATIN AMERICA SINCE 1821

Same as HST 261.This course provides an overview of Latin American history, from the nineteenth to twenty-first century. We will focus on key themes such as liberalism, nationalism, imperialism, social movements, state violence, and neoliberalism, and highlight the experiences of ordinary people, from enslaved persons to indigenous peasants and workers. Unit 1 focuses on the independence wars and abolition, nation-building, and the boom of export economies. Unit 2 examines the mass mobilizations that challenged authoritarianism, from the Mexican Revolution to the revolutionary movements in the Cold War era. Unit 3 traces challenges to neoliberalism in the form of center-left governments and grassroots movements. Basis for the LALS major.