Caudillos and Dictators from Bolívar to Bolsonaro: Modern South America

Latin American history provides key insight into the origins and resurgence of authoritarianism as well as various forms of political and social resistance. Consequently, this course surveys the major social, economic, political, and cultural trends that shaped modern South American history. We will examine the nation-states forged in the aftermath of early-nineteenth-century independence movements, their diverse peoples, and how their development was shaped by US imperialism and intervention. We will analyze the following themes: liberalism vs. conservatism; modernization and neocolonialism ('order and progress'); the rise of nationalism and populism; industrialization and the environment; (im)migration and urbanization; and neoliberal reform. Special emphasis is placed on racial and gender inequality and the struggle for both national and individual self-determination.