Latin American Studies

This course introduces students to key debates about migration in Mexican and Chicanx Studies through cultural productions that focus on migration and diaspora. This interdisciplinary course introduces students to Mexican and Chicanx literature and film through narratives of migration. It examines how representations of migration and diaspora have evolved from the 1940s to the present day in the light of debates about citizenship, ethnicity, narco-culture and gender.

How can we explain Latin America’s persistent inequality and uneven development? This course explores the region’s development trajectory in relation to the international economy from the colonial period (c. 1500–1800) to the present. It examines how political, economic, institutional, demographic, and environmental factors shaped — and were shaped by — Latin America’s integration into the world economy. Key themes include: the long-run determinants of Latin American development; the legacy of colonialism and its impact on inequality; the formation of modern states and markets; Latin America’s complex engagement with international markets and institutions; the persistent tension between development efforts and political and macroeconomic instability; Latin America’s industrialization efforts, especially in contrast to the European and East Asian development models; and the evolution of political regimes — from authoritarianism to democracy, through waves of populism and military rule. The course pays particular attention to the interaction between policy choices, political culture, and economic outcomes, exploring their short- and long-term effects on poverty, inequality, and prospects for sustainable development. Due to its interdisciplinary nature, the course will appeal to students in Economic History, Economics, International History, Political Science, Development, and International Relations.