Meets the following requirements: HS HY   

This course is an exploration of the complex relationship between local communities and the nation state in Latin America.  We probe the theoretical discussion of both state and community to attempt to understand how scholars have defined and studied these entities.  With case studies from Mexico and Central America, we look at general synthetic works as well as local community studies in an effort to unpack the complex methods used by scholars in their efforts to document the complex processes of social, political and cultural change.  We also try to distinguish the methodological and
theoretical differences across disciplines in the discussion of the historical construction of community and nation state.  By using a broad interdisciplinary set of readings we focus on the real and perceived distinction that exists in the scholarship.  Students are expected to focus on coming to terms with the issues at hand so that by the end of the course we can have informed discussions about the nature of these complex phenomena.  By emphasizing comparative developments in Mexico and Central America, we should be able to see how the two nations experienced the process of social transformation.  Finally, the main emphasis of the course is on gaining a mastery on a historical and theoretical problem through intensive reading about the topic.  Students are expected to engage the materials and contribute to discussion, write response papers on the books, write a longer paper on a book of your choosing, and present these findings orally to the class.  Intermediate. 

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.  Class limit: 20.  Enrollment in this class is required for students going to Yucatan in Winter 99 but not limited to those students.  *HS* *HY*