History 3223 -- Violence and Social Conflict in Latin America
Fall Semester 2008
University of Arkansas
Dr. Kathryn Sloan
508 Old Main, 575-5887
Office hours: 12:30-1:30 T and Th or by appt.
Classroom: SCEN 407
T and Th: 11:00-12:20 pm
ksloan@uark.edu
This course will use violence and social conflict, conceptualized in different ways, as
windows to topically analyze Latin American history from pre-hispanic times to the present.
Central themes in this course are the relationship between violence and social order, justifications
for violence, and the impact of violence upon society. Readings for the course include
journalistic accounts, reports, and scholarly articles and books. Feature-length films,
documentaries, and film clips will also be utilized to enhance our study and discussion.
Required Texts:
Tina Rosenberg, Children of Cain (Penguin, 1991)
Jacobo Timerman, Prisoner without a Name, Cell without a Number (Wisconsin, 1981)
John Dinges, The Condor Years: How Pinochet and His Allies Brought Terrorism to Three
Continents (The New Press, 2004)
George A. Collier, Basta! Land and the Zapatista Rebellion in Chiapas (Food First Books, 2005)
Steven Dudley, Walking Ghosts: Murder and Guerrilla Politics in Colombia (Routledge, 2006)
Requirements:
Map Quiz
Film Essays (2)
Critical Essays (4)
Discussion/Participation
10
100
400
50
560
Film and Critical Essays
Professor will supply assignment guidelines for each essay. Film essays will be 3-4 pages in
length. Critical essays (based on assigned readings) will be 5-6 pages. ALL ESSAYS WILL BE
EMAILED TO ksloan@uark.edu. NO PAPER COPIES.
Discussion and Participation
Students will be graded on their quality of participation in class discussions. Some points will
also be awarded for good attendance.
Late and Missed Work
I do not accept late work or allow make-up work unless you have been hospitalized, suffered a
death in the family, contracted the avian flu (stay at home!), or have been abducted by
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aliens (bring a note). If you genuinely have a conflict, attempt to make arrangements ahead of
time. Any late work accepted will be docked 10% for each class period that passes before it is
submitted.
Plagiarism
The University of Arkansas strives to be a center of academic excellence. As part of our
Statement of Ethics, the University strives to preserve academic honor and integrity by
repudiating all forms of academic and intellectual dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism and
all other forms of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and is
subject to a disciplinary response. Students who are caught cheating or committing plagiarism
may be given a failing grade in the course by the professor and may be subject to dismissal
or further discipline. Plagiarism is often misunderstood. It can be defined as submitting someone
else's work as your own. It is not permissible to "cut and paste" and then just cite another's work.
In writing for homework or projects, you should read and learn, process through your mind,
relate ideas, and then express what you learned in your own words. Cite the references where
you found your information. If you do use someone else's words, you must use quotation marks
and cite. You should not overuse quotes -- save them for a rare occurrence. If you need help in
learning how to cite the work of others see the Chicago Manual of Style.
Evaluation Standards
Besides considerable reading and discussion, the course requires several writing assignments.
Written work will be evaluated on the following criteria: 1) use of relevant class material
(evidence); 2) expression of ideas in a clear, concise, and engaging prose (style); and 3)
development of an argument or point of view that is pertinent to the issue at
hand and has breadth, coherence, and insight (interpretation).
A – excellent in all three areas. Offers an insightful argument based on solid,
ample evidence
B – good. Strong in all three areas or notable strengths in one balanced by
weaknesses in another
C – average. Adequate performance in one or more areas offset by serious weakness
in others that leaves presentation fragmented, unclear, or narrow
D – poor. Notable problems in all three areas. Remedial work needed to improve
substantive understanding or basic communication
F – unacceptable. Serious flaws in all three areas. No evident engagement in assignment.
Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him/her from fully
demonstrating his/her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can
discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate the
educational opportunity.
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Daily Schedule:
Aug 26
Introduction to course
Aug 28
Legacies of Empire, Legacies of Conquest
Rosenberg, 7-20
Sept 2
The Gospel of Democracy
Begin Dinges, The Condor Years (finish by Sept 25)
Map Quiz
Sept 4
From the Monroe Doctrine to the Good Neighbor Policy
Sept 9
Latin American Responses to Imperialism
Sept 11
The Age of Caudillos to the Rise of Professional Military Establishments
Sept 16
La Patria and the Armed Forces in the 20th Century
Sept 18
Enter the Cold War: Fighting the Domino Effect
Sept 23
Central American Revolutions
Rosenberg, “The Laboratory” & “The Triumph”
Sept 25
Latin America’s Dirty Wars—Case Study of Argentina
Discuss Dinges, Essay One due
Sept 30
Film “Voces inocentes” (El Salvador, 2004)
Oct 2
Film continued, discussion
Oct 7
The Personal is Political—Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo
Rosenberg, “The Good Sailor”
Begin Timerman, Prisoner without a Name (finish by Oct 21)
Oct 9
Power and Popular Protest in Latin America, Part I
Oct 14
Power and Popular Protest in Latin America, Part II
Film Essay One Due
Oct 16
Case Study: Peru’s Sendero Luminoso
Rosenberg, “Dialectic”
Oct 21
Documentary: Americas Series, “Capital Sins: Authoritarianism
and Democratization”
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Oct 23
Democracy and Development
Discuss Timerman, Essay Two due
Begin Collier, Basta! (finish by Nov 13)
Oct 28
The Debt Crisis and the Violence of Poverty
Superpower Economics & the Mantra of Free Trade
Oct 30
Cultures of Violence? Cultures of Fear?
Nov 4
Nov 6
Film TBA
Film continued
Nov 11
The Impact of Drugs on Violence on Latin American Societies
Nov 13
Discuss Basta! Essay Three due
Nov 18
Country Study: Colombia Part I
Begin Dudley, Walking Ghosts (finish by Dec 9)
Nov 20
Colombia Part II
Nov 25
NO CLASS
Dec 2
Documentary “Colombia’s Guerrilla War: A Sundered Nation”
Film Essay Two Due
Dec 4
Discussion and Catch Up Day
Dec 9
Discuss Walking Ghosts
Essay Four (Walking Ghosts) due on December 14, 2008 by 5:00pm [email to
ksloan@uark.edu]
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