Sociology of Economic Change: Latin American Responses to Global Capitalism
SOC 292
Spring 2010
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
LAST 292 |
Global markets, imperialism, and global capital have shaped the relative wealth of the Americas for centuries. Latin America today has the highest levels of income inequality in the world and a great diversity of economic structures, from Cuba, one of the last socialist states, to Chile, a model of free-market export-led development. Latin America is an ideal case to study the influence of imperialism, state vs. market control of the economy, and current trends such as neoliberalism, free trade, and fair trade on economic development. This class examines the rise and fall of economies in Latin America since the conquest with a focus on developments from World War II to the present. We will explore conflicting theoretical perspectives such as world-systems theory, dependency theory, and neoclassical economics. We will read about the influence of class, culture, local elites, labor movements, multinational development institutions, and global capital. We will critically examine the influences of colonialism, import substitution, industrialization, the shifts between democracy and dictatorship, austerity measures, and the current left turn in Latin American politics. We will end this class with an in-depth look at the debates around free trade, fair trade, international solidarity movements, worker cooperatives, and traditional labor movements. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Effective Citizenship, Intercultural Literacy
Effective Citizenship: In this class we will assess competing arguments about the social and political issues of globalization, free trade, fair trade, union activism, the influence of free markets, the current turn to the left in Latin America, and international solidarity movements. The themes in this class develop the students abilities to analyze and develop informed opinions on the political and social life of one's local community, one's country, and the global community, and to engage in constructive action if appropriate.
Intercultural Literacy: This class examines the Latin American history and current events in Latin America. In addition to looking at Latin America historically we also will examine global influences on Latin America's economic and social development. This course will help students develop the ability to understand diverse cultural formations in relation to their wider historical and social contexts and environments. In addition students will be required to examine these issues from competing ideological perspectives.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS SOC |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: SOC151 OR SOC152 |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (LAST)(SOC) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Selections from:
Galeano, Eduardo, OPEN VEINS OF LATIN AMERICA: FIVE CENTURIES OF THE PILLAGE OF A CONTINENT, 1997, Monthly Review Press
Thorp, Rosemary, PROGRESS, POVERTY AND EXCLUSION: AN ECONOMIC HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, 1998, Washington, D.C.: Inter-American Development Bank (September 18, 1998)
Bergquist, Charles, LABOR IN LATIN AMERICA: COMPARATIVE ESSAYS ON CHILE, ARGENTINA, VENEZUELA, AND COLUMBIA, 1986, Stanford University Press
Seidman, Gay, MANUFACTURING MILITANCE: WORKERS' MOVEMENTS IN BRAZIL AND SOUTH AFRICA, 1970-1985, University of California Press, 1994
Dornbusck, Rudgier and Edwards, Sebastian, THE MACROECONOMICS OF POPULISM IN LATIN AMERICA (A NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH CONFERENCE REPORT), 1992, University of Chicago Press.
Talbot, John M., GROUNDS FOR AGREEMENT: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE COFFEE COMMODITY CHAIN, 2004, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Bunker, Stephen G. and Ciccantell, Paul S., GLOBALIZATION AND THE RACE FOR RESOURCES (THEMES IN GLOBAL SOCIAL CHANGE), 2005, The Johns Hopkins University Press
Jaffee, Dan, BREWING JUSTICE: FAIR TRADE COFFEE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SURVIVAL, 2007, University of California Press
Klein, Naomi, NO LOGO: TAKING AIM AT THE BRAND BULLIES, 2000, Picador USA
Fernandez-Kelly, Maria Patricia, FOR WE ARE SOLD, I AND MY PEOPLE: WOMEN AND INDUSTRY IN MEXICO'S FRONTIER, 1983, State University of New York Press
Collins, Jane L., THREADS: GENDER, LABOR, AND POWER IN THE GLOBAL APPAREL INDUSTRY, 2003, University Of Chicago Press
And additional readings from: Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Ricardo, and Prebisch
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Examinations and Assignments:
4-5 papers for the semester |
| Instructor(s): Long,Daniel A. Times: .M.W... 11:00AM-12:20PM; Location: PAC422; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 25 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: 5 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 5 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 5 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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