Perspectivas de Latinoamerica

HISTORY 165:                                                                                                                                           LATIN AMERICAN SOCIAL REVOLUTIONS                                                                                    MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY 11:00-11:50am                                                                     OLSON HALL 205                                                                                                                                               SPRING 2017    

Instructor: Matthew Casey                                                                                                                                                   Room 252 Social Sciences & Humanities Building                                                                                                          Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 12-1pm                                                                                                                                                                    Email: mpcasey@ucdavis.edu

                                                                                                                                                                 Description: This course interprets the cycles of revolution and counterrevolution in twentieth-century Latin America. In particular, we will focus on the role of the masses in making modern nations. We will trace the causes, course, and consequences of violent social upheavals in Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, and beyond. The emphasis will be on understanding comparisons and connections across these examples rather than comprehensive coverage. The violence and terror unfolded within the framework of clashing forces: insurgency and counterinsurgency; democracy and dictatorship; capitalism and socialism; imperialism and anti-imperialism. Meanwhile, indigenous communities, women, and other historically marginalized populations erupted onto the political scene, threatening deeply rooted economic, social, and religious institutions. We follow these processes of creative destruction as citizens of Latin American nations benefited from and suffered through the revolutionary twentieth century.

Texts required for purchase or rental:

• Easterling, Stuart. The Mexican Revolution: A Short History 1910-1920. Chicago, IL: Haymarket Press, 2012.
• Sweig, Julia E. Inside the Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro and the Urban Underground. Cambridge, MA:  Harvard University Press, 2002.
• Belli, Gioconda. The Country under My Skin: A Memoir of Love and War. New York, NY: Anchor Books, 2003.

*All other readings are available on the Canvas course site

Grading:                                                                                                                                                                                     Essay 1 (5-6 pages): 20% each                                                                                                                                   Essay 2 (6-7 pages): 25%                                                                                                                                              Mid-Term Exam: 20%                                                                                                                                                           Final Exam: 20%                                                                                                                                                                  Participation: 15%      

Canvas will be the major mode of interaction between the professor and the students. I will post announcements, assignments, paper topics, powerpoint presentations, visual materials, websites etc. on Canvas. In addition, students are responsible for checking their email daily in case of any urgent communication.

Writing is an essential component of this course. Students who need assistance with writing extended papers should consult with the Student Academic Success Center-Writing Services in Dutton Hall http://success.ucdavis.edu/academic/writing.html. Students are responsible for the use of proper scholarly apparatus (Chicago style footnotes) and must avoid all other forms of plagiarism as well as the use of non-assigned readings.

Violations against the academic code of conduct will be immediately reported to SJA and disciplinary action against the student will be pursued. Violations include: receiving or providing unauthorized assistance on examinations; using or having unauthorized materials out during an examination; plagiarism; altering an exam and submitting it for re-grading; and using false excuses to obtain extensions of time. For a more complete list of violations see: http://sja.ucdavis.edu                                                                                                                                                     

SCHEDULE OF LECTURES, READINGS, AND ASSIGNMENTS

Texts listed “Reading” should be read by the end of the corresponding week. Those listed next to bullet points should be read by the start of the corresponding lecture.

Week One

Reading: Eduardo Galeano, “120 Million Children in the Eye of the Hurricane,” in Open Veins of Latin America (1971).

Lecture 1 – Mon, April 3: Course Overview – A Century of Revolution

Lecture 2 – Wed, April 5: Latin America’s Época Bella

• Manoel Sousa Pinto, “City of Mist” (1905)

Lecture 3 – Fri, April 7: The Spanish-American War

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