LABS 2330
SPR 2005
THEME: THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER
CIBS (Center for Inter-American and Border Studies) 1514 Hawthorne St
Jon Amastae, Ph.D., and Tina Mayagoitia, M.P.A.
Office CIBS 1514 Hawthorne St
T R: 10:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Room: CIBS Conference Room
Telephone 747-5196
Office Hours T/R 15:00-16:00 p.m.
Email: jamastae@utep.edu, mayagoit@utep.edu
1. General Introduction
The goal of this course is to present a general picture of the US-Mexico
border(lands), including the history, economy, sociocultural dynamics, political contexts,
artistic heritage and development, and the Border’s place in understanding international
relations, migration, and globalization. The reason for the representation “the
border(lands)” is that the term “the border” is typically used ambiguously to refer
occasionally to the border quite literally as the international dividing line between the two
nations, and occasionally to refer to the zone on either side of the international line in the
ways that those zones (there is one on each side) are affected by proximity to the line and
to the country on the other side. The course will place emphasis on both line and zone
phenomena and the ways in which they also interact.
A brief outline of the course follows. The aim of the course is to include
significant and sufficient material in each unit so that students will understand the
fundamental issues in each unit along with some representative details and examples.
There are many other topics that could have been included. The ones included here are
presented as a representative sample, not the complete set of what could be said about the
Border. Moreover, each of the topics could in fact be an entire course in itself.
Therefore, only representative examples of each will be included.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
History of the Border(lands)
Society and Culture of the Border(lands)
The Economy of the Border(lands)
The Political Dynamics of the Border(lands)
Environment and Health in the Border(lands)
Border(lands) Art and Artists
Migration to and across the Border(lands)
Transnationalism/ Globalism in the Border(lands)
Synthesis (Adding it all up, What does it all mean?)
Each unit will consist of 2-4 lessons, with readings, on-line discussion, and assignments,
including supplementary materials and activities, including films, exhibits or concerts,
talks, and field visits. In covering these topics, several specific objectives will be sought.
They are
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Know basic history of US-Mexico Border
Describe significant contemporary Border phenomena
Describe the relationships among Border phenomena
Relate historical Border trends to contemporary events and issues
Describe relationships among Border and National phenomena/events
Describe relationships among Border and International phenomena/events
Describe the chief differences on the US and Mexican sides of the Border
Describe the chief differences in US and Mexican perceptions of the Border
Find information about Border Institutions
Project aspects of the border in the future
Describe factors along which the US-Mexican border could be compared to other
international borders
2. General Course Policies
There are no specific prerequisites for the course. However, it is assumed that
enrollees have a very general familiarity with US history and government, and have
accumulated at least 30 semester hours of college credit.
Readings: Lorey, David. The US-Mexico border in the Twenieth century: a history of
economic and social transformation. Wilmington, Del.; Scholarly Resources: 1999.
It can be purchased at the UTEP bookstore or Students may order it at www.amazon.com
or www.barnesandnoble.com.
Additional readings:
Texas Borderlands 2005 will be available at CIBS and it may also be downloaded from:
http://www.shapleigh.org/key_issues_detail.sstg?id=20
USEPA Border 2012 will be available at CIBS and
http://www.semarnat.gob.mx/UCAI/frontera2012/
it may also be downloaded from:
Bordering the Future will be available at CIBS and it
http://pie.tamucc.edu/strapln/bord-futur/bordermain.htm
may also be downloaded from:
Federal Reserve Bank Workers Remittances to Mexico
We’ll make every effort to follow the order of the syllabus but it could be subject to
change.
Attendance: Attendance is instrumental to succeed in this and any other class. Students
exceeding three absences will loose 10 points from their final grade and those exceeding
6 absences will be dropped from the class.
Participation: Active participation during class discussion is fostered, encouraged, and
highly recommended. (Comments, questions, etc.).
Homework: is expected on time and spellchecked. Late homework will not be accepted.
Quizzes: there will be a quiz every day about the news articles, assigned reading and/or
extracurricular events attended.
Midterm Exam: Thursday March 17
Last Day to Drop with a “W” Friday March 18
Final Exam: Tuesday May 3 from 10:30-1:00 p.m.
Extracurricular Events: Students are expected to attend four extracurricular events; at
UTEP, UACJ, or our binational community. (EE attendance will be recorded with
attendance voucher provided and signed by Professor).
Final Grades:
Attendance
Participation
Homework
Quizzes
Events
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
10%
15%
10%
10%
15%
20%
20%
Total
100%
Introduction and Border Timeline
I.
History of the Border(lands)
The Goal of this unit is to present the basic historical outline of the US-Mexico
Border. Students should be able to name and order the significant events and
trends in the creation of the modern border, and understand their importance to
the modern Border.
Tuesday January 11
Thursday January 13
Lesson
1.
The Border(lands) through 1880
Reading: Lorey, Ch. 1
Tuesday January 18
2.
1880-1920
Reading: Lorey, Ch. 2
Thursday January 20
3.
1920-1965
Reading: Lorey, Ch. 3-4
Tuesday January 25
4.
1965-Present
Reading: Lorey, Ch 6
Thursday January 27
Rescheduled for Friday 28th event at the CORTEZ Building
Friday January 28
The Confectionary Historical Marker Inauguration
Tuesday February 1
DVD From Grand Rapids Michigan to Cd. Juarez: The Electrolux Case
Thursday February 3
Border Liaison Mechanism at the Chamizal National Memorial
Tuesday February 8
Texas Borderlands
Chapter 1 Demographics on the Border Region
Thursday February 10
Texas Borderlands
Chapter 4 Higher Education
Tuesday February 15
Texas Borderlands
Chapter 5 The Border Workforce
Fed. Reserve Bank
Workers Remittances to Mexico
Thursday February 17
Texas Borderlands
Chapter 8 The Environmental and Economic Consequences of Border
Industrialization
Tuesday February 22
Texas Borderlands
Chapter 12 Border Transportation and Security
Thursday February 24
Bordering the Future
Introduction: Bordering the Future
The Economy: Growth without Prosperity
Tuesday March 1
Bordering the Future
Crime: Line of Fire
Video Drugs on the Border
Thursday March 3
Border Collage: Roundtable with Thomas More College Students by Francisco Ortega
Tuesday March 8
Border Patrol Tour with Thomas More College Students
Thursday March 10
Bordering the Future
Housing: Homes of Our Own
Unregulated Settlements Colonias video
Tuesday March 15
Congreso de Literatura Mexicana
Carlos Fuentes: Fronteras de Cristal
Thursday March 17
The Chronicle
US Policy on Immigration
Tuesday March 22
Spring Break (no class)
Thursday March 24
Spring Break (no class)
Tuesday March 29
Bordering the Future
Health: Chronic Conditions
EE “I Lived to Tell: On Poetry, Justice, and the Disappeared” at 7 p.m. UTEP: UGLC
Thursday March 31
Cesar Chavez Day (no class)
EE Cesar Chavez Day March Downtown El Paso
Tuesday April 5
Bordering the Future
Workforce Development: Higher Skills, Better Jobs
Video: Globalization and NAFTA
Thursday April 7
Bordering the Future:
Immigration: Crossing the Line
Bordering the Future:
The Border: Where We Stand
Tuesday April 12
El Paso’s Murals virtual tour website:
http://www.co.el-paso.tx.us/mural/ipix/home.html
El Paso Scene April 2004 issue
“Murals”
Thursday April 14
USEPA
Border 2012 DVD and Text
Tuesday April 19
Music on the Border II
Thursday April 21
Music on the Border II
Tuesday April 26
EP-Juarez Walking tour across the Border
Thursday April 28
EP-Juarez Walking tour across the Border
Tuesday May 3
Dead Day
Thursday May 5
Final Exam