COURSE DESCRIPTION
EVALUATION
REQUIRED TEXTS
COURSE PLAN

 
Course description and objectives
The seminar will address the struggles of Latin American grass-roots groups and social movements -- indigenous peoples, Amazon forest dwellers, landless peasants, women, and urban squatters, among others -- for justice and equality. Not all Latin American citizens have enjoyed such rights to the same extent, despite the fact that democracy is now the system of choice in most countries of the continent. Violation of basic human and environmental rights, racial and gender discrimination, and acute economic disparities, are only a few of the challenges against which Latin American citizens have mobilized. This course will assess the effectiveness of these efforts and their contribution for the improvement of democracy in Latin America. A key question to ask is what does citizenship mean for groups that have not fully benefitted from the promises of democracy?What are their demands? What strategies have grass-roots groups used to achieve their goals? What constrains have they faced? What lessons can be drawn from each case? Can these lessons be replicated to other contexts?

The format of the course is that of a group of researchers preparing a book. We will discuss working hypotheses to explain different outcomes of grass-roots groups’ and social movements’ struggles, and we will develop a theory. We will then look at specific cases -- the struggle for human rights, for indigenous peoples,’ minorities,’ women’s, and landless peoples’ rights, for labor rights and for the rights of the urban poor.  We will compare cases across time and across Latin American countries. The objective of the course is to provide students with the opportunity of evaluating Latin American democracies thoroughly, i.e., beyond the limits of formal political institutions. Good knowledge of Latin American politics and society, and active participation in the seminar is expected.

It is strongly recomended that students attend to all sessions of the Latin American Studies Film Series. The films were selected to illustrate the themes of this course and will be shown to coincide (roughly) with our class discussions. (See films' description and schedule).

Evaluation
The student will be evaluated based on his/her class participation (25%), two class presentations (20% each), and a term-paper (35%). For details, see POLS 326 Assignments.

 Required Texts:
1) Alvarez, Sonia, Dagnino, Evelina, and Escobar, Arturo (1998): Cultures of Politics/ Politics of Cultures, Westview Press, Boulder, CO.
2) Chalmers, Douglas et al. (1997): The New Politics of Inequality in Latin America - Rethinking Participation and Representation, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
3) Escobar, A. and Alvarez, S. (eds.) (1992): The Making of Social Movements in Latin America, Westview Press, Boulder. CO.
4) Jelin, Elizabeth and Hershberg, Eric (1996): Constructing Democracy - Human Rights, Citizenship, and Society in Latin America, Westview Press, Boulder, CO.
5) Burdick, John and Hewitt, W. E. (2000): The Church at the grassroots in Latin America, Praeger, Westport, CT.(This is an expensive book not published in paperback. If you cannot afford it there will be two copies available in the reserve room).

Course Plan

January 17:  INTRODUCTION
Presentation of course readings and format. what does citizenship mean?

January 24: WORKING CONCEPTS
Definition of working concepts -- democracy, participation, civil society.
Required readings:
- O’Donnell, G. (1994): “Delegative Democracy,” in Journal of Democracy, 5 (1). ON RESERVE
- Vilas, Carlos (1997): “Participation, Inequality, and the Whereabouts of Democracy,” in Chalmers et al.
- Reis, F. (1996): “The State, the Market, and Democratic Citizenship,”  in Jelin & Hershberg
 
January 31: MAPPING THE SOCIO-POLITICAL SCENE
Definition of grass-roots and social movements, mapping of socio-political actors and institutions in Latin America.
Required readings:
- Calderon, F. et al (1992): “Social Movements: Actors, Theories…” in Escobar and Alvarez (eds.): The Making of Social Movements…
- Slater, D. (1998): “Rethinking the Spacialities of Social Movements: Question of (B)orders, Culture, and Politics in Global Times,” in Alvarez et al.
- Burdick, J. (1992): Rethinking the Study of Social Movements: The Case of Christian Base Communities in Urban Brazil,” in Escobar and Alvarez.
- Ribeiro, Gustavo (1998): “ Cybercultural politics: Political Activism at a Distance in a Transnational World,” in Alvarez et al.
 
 February 7: BUILDING THE COURSE’S THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
 Definition of citizenship, conditions of movements' effectiveness, operationalization of variables (how to measure “effectiveness”?). Cursory analysis of main issues and mobilization efforts in Latin America.
Required readings:
- Lopez-Maya, M. (1997): ‘The Rise of Causa R in Venezuela,” in Chalmers et al.
- Sikkink, K. (1996): “ The Emergence, Evolution and Effectiveness of the Latin American Human Rights Network,” in Jelin & Hershberg.
- Garcia, M. (1992): “The Venezuelan Ecology Movement,” in Escobar and Alvarez.
- Chuchryk, P. (1994): “From Dictatorship to Democracy – The Women’s Movement in Chile,” + Jaquette's "Introduction" in Jaquette, Jane (ed.): The Women’s Movement in Latin America BOOK ON RESERVE.
- Wagner, S. and Schultz, D. (1995): “Civil-Military Relations in Mexico: The Zapatista Revolt and Its Implications,” in Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs,” v. 37, n. 1, Spring. ON RESERVE
 - Yashar, Deborah (1998): "Contesting citizenship - Indigenous movements and democracy in Latin America," Comparative Politics, v. 31, n. 1, October. ON RESERVE
- King, G., Keohane, R. and Verba, S. (1994): Designing Social Inquiry, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. (pp. 12-27, 99-114) ON RESERVE
 
 February 14: HUMAN RIGHTS
Required readings:
- Garreton, M. (1996): “Human Rights in Democratization Processes,” in Jelin & Hershberg
- Pinheiro, P. “ Popular Response to State-Sponsored Violence in Brazil,” in Chalmers et al.
- Caldeira, T. “Crime and Individual Rights: Reframing the Question of Violence in Latin America,” in Jelin & Hershberg.
- Navarro, M. (1989): "The Personal is Political: Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo," in Eckstein, S.: Power and Popular Protest, University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, ON RESERVE
 
February 21: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
Required readings:
- Stavenhagen, R. (1996): Indigenous Rights: Some Conceptual Problems,” in Jelin & Hershberg
- Selverston, M. (1997): “The Politics of Identity Reconstruction: Indians and Democracy in Ecuador,” in Chalmers.
- Warren, K. (1998): “Indigenous Movements as a Challenge to the Unified Social Movement Paradigm for Guatemala," in Alvarez and Escobar.
- Findji, M. (1992): “From Resistance to Social Movement: The Indigenous Authorities Movement in Colombia,” in Escobar & Alvarez.

February 28: ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
Required readings:
- Garcia, M. (1992): “The Venezuelan Ecology Movement: Symbolic Effectiveness, Social Practices, and Political Strategies,” in Escobar & Alvarez.
- Hochsteler, K. (1997): “The Evolution of the Brazilian Environmental Movement and its Political Roles,” in Chalmers.
- Schmink, M. (1992): “Amazonian Resistance Movements and the International Alliance,” in Kosinski, L (ed.): Ecological Disorder in Amazonia - Social Aspects,  UNESCO/ISSC/Educam, Rio de Janeiro. ON RESERVE
- Keck, M. (1995): "Social Equity and Environmental Politics in Brazil: lessons from the rubber tappers of Acre," Comparative Politics 27 (July). ON RESERVE

PAPER PROPOSAL DUE (SEE GUIDELINES)!

March 14: RACIAL MINORITIES’ RIGHTS
Required readings:
- Hasembalg, C. (1996): “Racial Inequalities in Brazil and Throughout Latin America: Timid Responses to Disguised Racism,” in Jelin and Hershberg.
- Grueso et al. (1998): “ The Process of Black Community Organizing in the Southern Pacific Coast of Colombia,” in Alvarez and Escobar.
- Cunha, O. (1998): "Black Movements and the “Politics of Identity” in Brazil" in Alvarez and Escobar.
- Burdick, John (2000): "The Evolution of a Progressive Catholic Project: The Case of the Black Pastoral in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil," in Burdick and Hewitt: The Church at the Grassroots... BOOK ON RESERVE
 
March 21: THE RIGHTS OF CAMPESINOS AND LANDLESS WORKERS
Required readings:
- Starn, Orin (1992): "I dream of foxes and hawks:" Reflections on peasant protest, new social movements, and the rondas campesinas of northern Peru," in Escobar & Alvarez.
- Musante, Patricia (2000): "The Progressive Catholic Church and the Refashioning of Hegemony in Mexico: an Illustration from Tetelcingo," in Burdick & Hewitt: The Church at the Grassroots... BOOK ON RESERVE
- Gryzbowski, Candido (1990): "Rural workers' movement and democratization in Brazil," Journal of Development Studies, v. 26, n. 4, July.ON RESERVE
- Monbiot, G. (1993): “Brazil: Land Ownership and the Flight to Amazonia,” in Colchester & Lohmann: The Struggle for Land…  ON RESERVE
 
March 28: WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Required readings:
-  Jelin, E. (1996): “Women, Gender, and Human Rights,” in Jelin & Hershberg.
- Diaz-Barriga, M. (1998): “Beyond the Domestic and the Public: Colonas Participation in Urban Movements in Mexico City,” in Alvarez & Escobar.
- Feijoó, M & Nari, M. (1994): “Woman and democracy in Argentina, “ in Jaquette (ed.): The Women’s Movement… BOOK ON RESERVE
- Chinchilla, N.  (1994): “Feminism, Revolution, and Democratic Transition in Nicaragua,” “ in Jaquette (ed.): The Women’s Movement… BOOK ON RESERVE
Recommended:
- Franco, J. (1998): “Defrocking the Vatican: Feminism’s Secular Project,” in Alvarez & Escobar.
 
April 4: THE URBAN POOR AND CITIZENSHIP
Required readings:
- Canel, E. (1992): “Democratization and the Decline of Urban Social Movements in Uruguay: A Political-Institutional Account,” in Escobar & Alvarez.
- Bennet, V. (1992): “The Evolution of Urban Popular Movements in Mexico Between 1968 and 1988,” in Escobar & Alvarez.
- Baierle, S. (1998): “The Emergence of a New Ethical-Political Principle in Popular Movements in Porto Alegre, Brazil,” in Alvarez & Escobar.
- Nagle, Robin (2000): "'Pelo Direito de ser Igreja' The Struggle of the Morro da Conceicao," in Burdick & Hewitt: The Church at the Grassroots... BOOK ON RESERVE
 
April 11: LABOR, SOCIAL RIGHTS, AND LATIN AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES
Required readings:
- Roberts, K. (1997): “Rethinking Economic Alternatives: Left Parties and the Articulation of Popular Demands in Chile and Peru,” in Chalmers et al
- Paoli, M & Telles, V. (1998): “Social Rights: Conflicts and Negotiations in Contemporary Brazil,” in Alvarez & Escobar.
- Nylen, W. (1997): “Reconstructing the Workers’ Party (PT): Lessons from North-Eastern Brazil,” in Chalmers
- Arruda, M. (1996): Globalization and Civil Society: Rethinking Cooperativism in the Context of Active Citizenship, PACS, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ON RESERVE

 FIRST DRAFT OF TERM PAPER DUE (SEE GUIDELINES)!

April 18: CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS AND VIOLENCE 
Required readings:
- Burt, J. (1997): “Political Violence and the Grassroots in Lima, Peru,” in Chalmers et al.
- Huerta, Marta (1999): "An interview with Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos ..." in International Affairs, v. 75, n. 2. ON RESERVE
Cleaver, H. (1998): "The Zapatistas and the Electronic Fabric of Struggle," in Holloway, J. and Pelaez, E. (eds.) Zapatista! Pluto Press, London.
- Richani, Nazih (1997): "The political economy of violence: the war-system in Colombia." Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs,  Summer. ON RESERVE.
- Cala, Andres (2000): "The enigmatic guerrilla: FARC's Manuel Marulanda." Current History  99:56-9, n. 634 ON RESERVE.

April 25: REFINING THE COURSE’S FRAMEWORK AND CONCLUSIONS
Required readings:
- King, G., Keohane, R. and Verba, S. (1994): Designing Social Inquiry, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. (pp. 12-27, 99-114)  ON RESERVE
-  Jelin, E. (1998): “Toward a Culture of Participation: Challenges for a More Equitable World,” in Alvarez & Escobar.
- Chalmers et al. (1997): “Associative Networks: New Structures of Representation for the Popular Sectors?” in Chalmers et al.
- Pratt, M. (1998) “Where To? What Next?” in Alvarez & Escobar.
 
May 2: Term Paper Due (see guidelines).