LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY
II: Human Rights in Modern Latin America
Summer, 2008 History 232
1st Six Week Session
T/R 7:00-10:20 pm
Prof. James
Baer
Office: Bisdorf 252
Office Hours
for Summer 2007: TR 6:30-7:00 pm
Office
Telephone: (703) 933-3978 Secretary (703) 845-6214
Email:
jbaer@nvcc.edu
Web Page:
www.nvcc.edu/home/jbaer
Course
Description: This course will cover the history of Latin America in the 19th
and 20th centuries with a focus on human rights. Topics will include
Caudillos in the 19th century and modern Argentina, where the “Dirty
War” killed thousands and led to demands by the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo
for an accounting of human rights abuses. All participants will complete a
research project and present it to the class during the last week.
Required
texts: The Emergence of Latin America in
the 19th Century by David Bushnell and Neill Macaulay; I, Rigoberta Menchu, by Rigoberta Menchu; and Revolutionizing
Motherhood, by Marguerite Guzman Bouvard.
Grades will
be based on the following:
Schedule of
Classes
May 20: Tues:
Introductions and Discussion of Latin American nations after Independence and
issues of human rights. Assignment for next class: Read Emergence of Latin America Introduction ,
Ch. 1 & 2.
May 22:
Thurs: Discussion of Latin America in the 19th century and questions
of human rights. Last hour of class: Complete online assignment regarding
caudillos and prepare written assignment for next class (Click here for Caudillo Assignment) and read Text Ch 4 through 8.
May 27: Tues:
Colloquium on Caudillos
due first half of class. Then, continue Latin America in the 19th
century and early 20th century and implications for human rights.
Assignment read Text Ch
9-13 and begin Revolutionizing
Motherhood
May 29:
Thurs: Instead of class, view “The Official Story” and complete online activities on the Dirty War in
Argentina. Complete Revolutionizing
Motherhood and write book review (book
analysis assignments)
June 3: Tues:
Book analysis on Revolutionizing Motherhood due. Discussion on Argentina in the
20th century and human rights abuses. Assignment for next class:
Begin reading book by Rigoberta Menchu.
June 5: Thurs:
Discussion of military regimes in the late 20th century in Central
and South America. Last hour of class: read about Central America and Truth
Commissions (Click here for
Truth Commission web sites) Post comments on your reaction to effectiveness
of healing process and “Truth Commissions” on Blackboard. Continue reading I, Rigoberta Menchu.
June 10:
Tues: Discussion of truth commissions, amnesties and response to human rights
abuses in Latin America. Assignment
for next class: Finish reading Rigoberta Menchu book and prepare book
analysis of I, Rigoberta Menchu.
June 12:
Thurs: Book analysis of I, Rigoberta Menchu due. Discussion of current issues of human
rights: sexuality, reproductive rights, political and economic.
June 17, 19:
Tues/Thurs: All students will meet with instructor individually and prepare 10 page research paper
on some aspect of human rights in Latin America.
June 24, 26:
Tues: Students present their findings to the class.
June 26:
Thurs: Final papers due. Students
present their findings to the class.
Online
resources on Human Rights:
“Derechos’ (Rights) in Latin America web site: http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/la/eng.html
Human Rights
Watch Report 1999: http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/americas/back0624.htm
Human Rights
report 2000: http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2000/papers/mendez2000.pdf
Human Rights
Watch Report on Women in Latin America: http://www.hrw.org/women/overview-lac.html
General
Online Resources on Latin America:
Latin American Network Information Center
- LANIC
Select Internet
Resources on Latin America