SPRING 2001

This information effective for Spring 2001.
Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes..

Latin American and Latino Studies

[LALS-080C]

80C. Power and Resistance in the Americas: Cross-Border Social Movements

Spring 2001
T/Th 12:00 - 1:45
Instructor: Susanne Jonas

Office: Merrill 110, x 9-3232 or 9-2855 (message)
Office Hours: Wed. 1-4, Th. 10-11, or by appt.

Course Description:

This course focuses on the politics of power and resistance in relation to major issues facing the Americas in the 21st century. Since we are studying "the Americas" in a transnational world, the issues are cross-border in scope, linking Latin Americans to Latino populations in the U.S. The course highlights cross-border popular and social movements (resistance) that are emerging and seeking alternatives to neoliberal "globalization" and "free trade" (power). Although many of these popular movements are locally-based, increasingly they are adopting internationalist, cross-border, binational and transnational perspectives in order be more effective in the 21st century - to revive the activist approach: "Don't Mourn, Organize."

The course will cover the following issues:

While we will study specific cases from all areas of the Americas, many of the specific cases will highlight binational Central American experiences. In addition, some sections of the course will give special emphasis to California's connections with Latin America. Gen Ed codes T-3 and E.

NOTE: Although this is a lower-division course, open to all students campus-wide, it will be available for upper division credit in LALS. (Details to be worked out with the instructor.)

Course Readings:

Required readings are (a) Jeremy Brecher et al., Globalization from Below (available at Bay Tree and Slug Books) and (b) a Course Reader (to be sold in class). An optional but highly recommended background book will be Juan Gonzalez's Harvest of Empire. Additional resources will include a variety of books (on Reserve), videos/ films, tapes, and guest speakers.

Requirements and basis for evaluation of students: a midterm exam and a final exam (both take-home). Additionally, students are expected to attend all class sessions, keep up with course readings, and participate actively in class discussions and in weekly section meetings.

Notes:  1) Class attendance is mandatory; all absences should be excused. 2) If for some reason you need to take an "Incomplete," you must negotiate it ahead of time with the Instructor, including the deadline for turning in the work and forms.

 

Course Topics and Outline

Course Introduction

I.  "Development for Whom?" Revisited in the 1990s

  1. Global Poverty, Neoliberalism in the Americas: Economic crisis and responses: implications of the Latin American debt crisis and neoliberal policies; debt/austerity protests throughout Latin America; restructuring and downsizing in the US; the search for alternative economic and social solutions
  2. Free Trade and Responses: the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and other initiatives for increasing hemispheric trade; implications for workers both in Latin America and the United States; proposals for an alternative NAFTA; initiatives by cross-border coalitions (e.g., Mexican, Canadian, and U.S. labor and environmental organizations) 

Readings: Reader, Section I

II.  Immigration Issues, Binational Migrant Communities, and Immigrant Labor in the Americas

  1. Immigration Issues and Binational Latinos: Immigration as a response to changing economic and political conditions (economic crisis, war) in Latin America ; the situation of Latino immigrant and refugee communities in the U.S.; the intensifying debates in the U.S. over immigration policy and pressures to "close" the borders; bi-national Latino households, communities, networks, and social relations
  2. Immigrant Labor and Cross-Border Labor Organizing: new initiatives for immigrant labor organizing and transnational labor organizing in the Americas

Readings: Reader, Sec. II

III.  ECO-92 and Beyond: The Politics of Environmental Justice

Environmental implications of competing development strategies and approaches to sustainable development and environmental regulation; North-South and capital-labor/community confrontations on these issues, the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992) and the NGO/grassroots models developed at the Global Forum alternative conference in Rio

Readings: Reader, Sec. III

IV. Women and Indigenous Peoples: New Voices, New Movements

  1. Women and Gender Issues: changing gender composition of the workforces in Latin America and among Latinos in the U.S.; new women's movements; the relevance of feminism; the growing protagonism of women in community-based and cross-border struggles; Beijing Conference of 1995 and into the 21st century
  2. Indigenous Peoples: 1992 and beyond: reinterpreting "the Conquest," the new prominence of indigenous struggles; ethnicity and identity; indigenous perspectives on broader issues of development, environment, and democracy; indigenous organizing across borders in the Americas

Readings: Reader, Sec. IV

V. Democracy, Human Rights, Citizenship, Cross-Border and International Organizing

Models of democracy and political conflict; demands for democratization of state and society; the emergence of new forms of democracy (participatory/grassroots) and a democratic political culture; examples from Brazil, Mexico, El Salvador, and U.S. Latino community struggles for political representation;

Competing visions of the "New World Order" and prospects for peace and sovereignty: the perennial issue of Cuba; the role of the United Nations and other international forces

Cross-border coalitions, new visions, and the São Paolo Forum

Readings: Reader, Sec. V

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