The State of the State in Latin America
LAST 246
Spring 2016 not offered
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Beginning in the early 1800s, governments imbued with liberal ideals worked to form the state as the central institution to oversee all sectors of society. While each area of Latin America took a different path in the formation of the state, what was similar was the understanding that a strong centralized state with extensive powers was crucial to the creation of a modern and unified nation. In the early years of the formative period of the state, elites worked to "civilize" the citizens through the creation of legal systems, industry, and the inclusion of European immigrants to break away from a colonial past. What developed was a closed society, closely monitored by the state. By the 20th century, the oligarchic order came under attack from the new populist leaders arising throughout Latin America. Under populist leaders, the state worked closely with labor unions, intellectuals, and peasants to build a new, modern society that could provide social justice. The development of the Cold War significantly altered Latin American politics and ushered in a new period of conservative order. Many populist governments slowly failed and Latin America plunged into disorder and civil war. Mounting pressure from the US and elites pressed Latin American military authoritarian states to quickly order and curb the spread of socialism and communism. The state responded with violence, terror, fear, and coercion to eliminate threats. Throughout Latin America, thousands died, were displaced, or disappeared. |
Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS LAST |
Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (LAST) |
Major Readings:
Ariel de la Fuente, CHILDREN OF FACUNDO: CAUDILLO AND GAUCHO INSURGENCY DURING THE ARGENTINE STATE-FORMATION PROCESS Domingo F. Sarmiento, FACUNDO: OR, CIVILIZATION AND BARBARISM (New York: Penguin Classics), 1998. Mariano Azuela and E. Munguia, THE UNDERDOGS Gilbert M. Joseph and Jurgen Buchenau, MEXICO'S ONCE AND FUTURE REVOLUTION: SOCIAL UPHEAVAL AND THE CHALLENGE OF RULE SINCE THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY Mariano Ben Plotkin, MANANA ES SAN PERON: A CULTURAL HISTORY OF PERON'S ARGENTINA Mark Danner, THE MASSACRE AT EL MOZOTE Daniel Wilkinson, SILENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN: STORIES OF TERROR, BETRAYAL, AND FORGETTING IN GUATEMALA George W. Lovell, A BEAUTY THAT HURTS: LIFE AND DEATH IN GUATEMALA. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2010
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