The objective of the course is to give the student a global perspective of the relations between the United States, Spain and Latin America throughout history. The course will also study the series of problems which have shaped the character of interamerican relations, the mechanisms of economic integration and its repercussions in the socio-political sphere.
CLASS FORMAT
The students will read different texts (historical and press) that will be given to them by the professor to initiate discussions in class. Audiovisual materials (music, movies, transparencies) will be utilized to help the students understand the topic in question. The student will turn in two papers, one cover a movie, and another about a historical document. There will also be two partial exams and a cumulative final exam.
EVALUATION
One of the objectives of the course is to promote the discussion and debate between the student, therefore, class participation and discussion of the proposed themes counts towards the final grade. The final grade of the course is divided in the following manner.
Participation: 25%
Commentaries (papers): 25%
Partial Exams: 25%
Final Exam: 25%
SCHEDULE
Topic 1. The importance of words
I. Latinoamérica, Iberoamérica, Hispanoamérica. The world as an ideological weapon.
II. The importance of perspective. Colonialism, neocolonialism, imperialism, revolution.
III. The indefinition of political systems. Democracies and Dictatorships.
IV. Other forms of domination. Dependent economies, dependent states
Topic 2. Latinos in the United States today.
I. Latinos in the U.S.
II. Latinos in different Latin countries.
III. Reasons for immigration.
IV. Exclusion or integration?
BLOCK I. NATIONAL CONSOLIDATION AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
Topic 3. First contact.
I. The beginning of problems. The independence of the U.S. and its position in the world.
II. Latin American states and their dependencies. Social models and economic structures.
III. The
II. Las independencias dependientes latinoamericanas. Modelos sociales y estructuras
económicas.
III. The formation of nations and the Monroe Doctorine.
IV. From words to reality. Manifest Destiny and Mexico.
Topic 4. Creating supremacy on the continent.
II. The American Civil War and European neocolonialism.
III. Expansion and channels. The Panama Canal.
IV. History of an island. Relations between Cuba and North America.
V. The end of the Spanish colonies. The Spanish American War (1898).
BLOCK II. PECULIAR RELATIONS REGARDING HEGEMONY AND REVOLUTION
Topic 5. Military and economic intervention
I. North American economic expansion in the Caribbean.
II. Defending interests. The Nicarague of Augusto César Sandino.
III. The politics of Big Stick and la Buena Vecindad (good vicinity)
IV. The Latin America during World War II.
Topic 6. The new era of revolutions and its consequences.
I. The armed insurgency as a solution. The repression of dictatorships. Latin America in the context of the Cold War.
II. Two different views. The Mexican Revolution and the presidency of Arbenz in Guatemala.
III. Patriotism or death, “we will win.” The Cuban Revolution and its importance in Latin America.
IV. September 11, 1973. Pinochet and the Condor Plan.
Topic 7. Spain and the United States today.
I. Friends and enemies of convenience. Franco and the United States.
II. Spain as a member of the EU and NATO
III. The new American political economy and the current Spanish presence in Latinamerica.
IV. The current political players.
TEXTS
The students will work with texts the professor will give them, and as a reference the following:
a. Francisco Morales Padrón. Historia de unas relaciones difíciles.
Publicaciones de la Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, 1987.
COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY:
b. Eduardo Galeano. Las venas abiertas de América Latina.
c. VV.AA. América Latina hoy. (Siglo XXI editores)
d. Jorge Castañeda. La utopía desarmada.
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