COURSE TITLE: LATIN AMERICA: STATE, NATION & CONFLICT SINCE INDEPENDENCE
COURSE NUMBER: HIST 198
SECTION TIMES/DAYS: 01 04 [MWF 08:00-08:50; 09:00-09:50]
INSTRUCTOR: Margarita R. Ochoa, Ph.D.
CORE AREA: EHAP
FLAGGED: None
COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS
This course traces the principal economic, social and political transformations in Latin America from the
Wars of Independence to the present in order to understand the roots of ethnic conflict, social inequality
and political instability in modern Latin America. Why is there so much poverty in Latin America? What
has been the role of the United States in the region? How does the military maintain such power in
politics? Why is Latin music so damn good? These and other questions will be addressed in lectures,
readings, films and discussions. The class will use a comparative framework to address topics such as the
consolidation of nation states and their insertion in the world economy after Independence; changes in
land use and labor organization; political movements for liberalism, populism, and revolution; popular
culture; industrialization and class politics; military regimes and subsequent redemocratization; U.S.
policy and intervention; and the emergence of contemporary social movements in the context of
neoliberal economies.
While some familiarity with Latin America will be helpful, this is an introduction to the history of the
region since the end of colonial rule. If you haven't already, I encouraged you to take History 198: Latin
America: Encounters and Conquests
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students will become historically literate by demonstrating in written work, oral presentation, and
classroom discussions the following:
 Knowledge of historical facts, themes and ideas over a broad period of time.
 An ability to evaluate historical evidence.
 An understanding of the concept of context and a comprehension of change over time.
 Recognition that there are different perspectives on the past, whether those be historical,
interpretive, or methodological in nature.
 Writing skills that are coherent and reflective, as well as analytical and grammatically correct.
PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND: None.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Chasteen, John Charles. Born in Blood & Fire: A Concise History of Latin America. Third Edition. New
York: Norton, 2011.
Sarmiento, Domingo Faustino. Facundo: Civilization and Barbarism. Translated by Kathleen Ross.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003.
Partnoy, Alicia. The Little School: Tales of Disappearance and Survival. Second Edition. San Francisco:
Cleis Press, 1998.
Additional primary and secondary source readings available on MyLMUConnect.
COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS
Participation (Discussion, Quizzes, Attendance):
Written Assignments (15% each):
Midterm:
Final:
15%
45%
15%
25%