Debates in Latin American Social Theory

This course examines the intellectual debates in Latin American history and culture. The class will focus on the role of race, gender, and ethnicity as variables that affect socio-economic mobility in Latin America and affect concepts of national identity. We will explore the impact of European and African immigration on indigenous heritage peoples in Latin America and how the various ethnic groups have produced hybrid cultures in the arts, cuisine, and in other cultural idioms that have shaped poly-cultural Latin American and US Latino communities. The broad scope of this course is an ideal starting point for minors in Latino Studies and for students who plan to include Latin American Studies in their majors.