Indigenous Peoples and Social Movements in Latin America

Unit 1: Introduction

1.1. Introduction to the course

Review Syllabus. Unit-by-Unit Description. Semester Planning and Deadlines.

1.2. Latin America

Main characteristics of Latin American Culture: Geography and Livelihood.

Week 2

2. Indigenous Peoples

2.1. Identifying Indigenous Peoples

Main Criteria. Issues Identifying Indigenous Peoples.

READING: Jeff Conrntasel. 2003. Who is Indigenous? "Peoplehood" and Ethnonatuinalist Approaches to Rearticulating Indigenous Identity. University of Victoria. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. Vol. 09. No. 1. Spring. pp 75-100.

2.2. Indigenous Livelihood and Vulnerabilies

Factors of Vulnerability and Resilience. Main economic, social and environmental issues.

Week 3

3. Ethnocultural Diversity in Latin America

3.1. Approaches to Asses Diversity in Latin America

Concept of Diversity. Classification of Ethnic Groups. Ethnicity and Nationality.

READING: Fearon, J. D. 2003. Ethnic Structure and Cultural Diversity by Country. Journal of Economic Growth 8: 195–222.

Week 5

3.2. Fractionalization

Concept and Factors. Polarization.

READING: Alesina, A. et al. 2003. Fractionalization. Journal of Economic Growth 8(2): 155-194.

Week 4

4. Collective Action and Political Participation

4.1. Collective Action and Decentralization

Concept of Collectivity and Action. Theories of Community Participation.

READING:  Tarrow, S. 1993. Cycles of Collective Action: Between Moments of Madness and the Repertoire of Contention. Social Science History 17(2): 281-307.

READING: Booth, J. A. 1979. Political Participation in Latin America: Levels, Structure, Context, Concentration and Rationality. Latin American Research Review 14(3): 29-60.

Week 5

4.2. Political Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples

Ethnic Political Parties and Institutions. Organizational Maturity. Electoral Volatility.

READING: Birnir, J. K., and Lee Van Cott, D. 2007. Party System Fragmentation and the Dynamic Effect of Ethnic Heterogeneity on Latin American Legislatures. Latin American Research Review 42(1): 99-125.

READING: Su, Y. P. 2014. Explaining Electoral Volatility in Latin America: Evidence at the Party Level. Latin American Politics and Society 56(2): 49-69.

Week 6

4.3. Repression and Protests

Participation and Violence. State and Protest. Unwanted Policies and Political Threats.

READING: Meyer, D.S. 2004. Protest and Political Opportunities. Annual Review of Sociology 30: 125-145.

Week 7

5. Social Movements and Transnational Mobilization

5.1. Social Movements

Theories of Social Mobilization. Types of Participation in Public Life. Social Activism.

READING: Cederman, L.E., Wimmer, A. and Min, B. 2010. Why do ethnic groups rebel? New data and analysis. World Politics 62(1): 87-119.

FIELD TRIP: Emancipation in Latin America – The Rebellion of Tupac Amaru II.

Week 8

READING: Martinez-Torres, M.E., and Rosset, P. M. 2010.  La Vía Campesina: the birth and evolution of a transnational social movement. The Journal of Peasant Studies 37(1): 149-175.

READING: Laclau, E. and Mouffe, E.H. 1985. New Social Movement and the Plurality of the Social. Hegemony and Socialist Strategy, London, Verso Books. 27-42.

Week 9

READING: Madrid, R.L. 2005. Indigenous Parties and Democracy in Latin America.. Latin American Politics and Society 47(4): 161-179.

READING: Van Cott, D.L., 2003. Institutional Change and Ethnic Parties in South America. Latin American Politics and Society 45(2): 1-39.

Week 10

READING: Evers, T. 1983. Identity: The Hidden Side of the New Social Movements in Latin America.

5.2. Social Movements in Latin America

Mapuches in Chile

The Mapuche in Neoliberal Multicultural Chile

Week 11

Ecuador and its Revolution

The Indian Movement and Political Inclusion in Ecuador.

Movimiento al Socialismo in Bolivia

Plurinationalism in Bolivia. Insights from the Bolivian MAS.

Week 12

EZLN in México

Social Change and the Zapatistas.

The Quechua Movement in Peru

Another Incomplete Revolution. Populism and Demagogy.

GUEST LECTURE: Peruvian Indigenous Political Party

Week 13

6. Non-Conventional Social Movements

6.1. Guerrillas in Latin America

Insurgency and Counterinsurgency. Rural and Urban Guerrillas.

6.2. The Feminist Movement

Indigenous Feminism in Latin America. Gender and Inequality.

Week 14

6.3. The Environmental Movement

Climate Change Activism. Failures and Triumphs of Environmental Policy in Latin America.

6.4. The Human Rights Movement

Human Rights Activism in Latin America.

6.5. Wild Card

Any other Social Movement as Final Presentation

Week 15

VII. The Future

Final Debate: Indigenous People in Latin America as a Major Political Force

Final Exam

30% - Ongoing evaluation (reading sessions and discussions)
20% - Participation in Class (homework, reports, oral participation, discussion, and attitude in class)
20% - Final Debate
30% - Final Paper