Imagining Transnational Latin America

What factors compel the rethinking of the place of Latin America in the US imaginary, and in the world? The place of Latino/as in the US? Is a post-neoliberal Latin America possible, and if so, what will it look like? Globalization, free trade pacts, democratization, popular resistance, local and regional migration and the explosive growth of transnational communities and identities are some of the critical issues we will examine. The course will serve as a vehicle for Division II and Division III writing projects, offering a broad framework that will facilitate exchanges between students working on various paradigms and in or across disciplines in the social sciences and cultural studies. We will read key texts in a range of disciplines to help us develop a common conceptual and analytic vocabulary. Students will be expected to conceive, carry out and present periodically their research projects to the class. Depending on students' interests and abilities, portions of the course may be conducted in Spanish.