POLITICS OF THE AMERICAS

(POLI 446.01)

Dr. James Daniel Steele, Associate Professor Department of Political Science

Semester: Spring 2001 Time: MW 12:30p-1:45p

Office: 232 Gibbs Hall Class Location: 214 Gibbs Hall

Phone: 336/334-7673 Email: steelej@ncat.edu

Office Hours: MW 10 a.m.-11a.m. and 2p-3p or by appointment

Web Site: http://www.ncat.edu/~steelej/sphere/index.htm

REQUIRED TEXTS

Peter Winn, Americas (NY: Pantheon Books, 1997); and Kim Butler, Freedoms Given, Freedoms Won: Afro-Brazilians in Post-Abolition Sao Paulo and Salvador (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1998) and Kate Turabian, A Manual For Writers (Chicago: University of Chicago, latest).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to identify, describe and analyze current problems, theories and trends that dominate international relations today. An historical context to the study of international relations will be introduced to assist in the analysis of the current challenges to global relations.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. Provide the student with a basic knowledge of the major social and political forces involved with shaping the Americas (Central America, South America and the Caribbean).

2. Develop an awareness of the socio-cultural complexities that influence the Americas (class, ethnicity, gender, religion).

3. Familiarize the student with issues and perspectives by African people about the world, and their relationship to global society.

4. Acquaint the student with the available resources pertaining to the regions, its people, its politics and society (journals, books, internet services).

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

I. Class Participation (15%)

When you are not in class, you cannot participate. This is defined as more than just coming to class, but being prepared for classroom discussions and activities on the subject matter to be scheduled for discussion, including: homework, presentations and any quizzes.

II. Report on the Americas (10%) Due Date: April 3

You will be required to report on a specific subject that influences the society of a specific country or that impact countries in the Americas. As part of your requirement, you must translate one article from a foreign language magazine/newspaper (pre-approved) from the country that you are reporting, for an in-class presentation. The sum of your efforts will be a 10 minute class presentation (from written notes).

III. Tests-Essays (50%)

A. February 28

B. April 30

IV. Semester Paper (25%)
	A. Topic chosen with prospectus (January 31): 10 points
	B. Paper due (March 14): 90 points
	C. How will the paper be graded?
		1. Grammar/Basic writing skills (25%)
		2. Basic structure (25%). Does the paper conform to the instructions for the assignment, as well as, the standard for typed assignments?
		3. Content. (50%). Your ability to execute the requirements for the assignment. The Content grade will be multiplied by two. The score from each of the sections will be added and divided by four to provide your grade.
			Example
			Grammar:	A (4)
			Structure:	B (3)
			Content (x 2):	B (6)
			Total:	13 divided by 4
			Grade:	B (3.25)

***The paper that is to be submitted must be the same as the topic that you are asked to write on***

Penalties. All assignments are due on the date indicated, at the beginning of class. Anything beyond that time will be deducted by one grade point. Assignments will not be accepted after the end of the class period (10:45a.m.). Untyped assignments will not be accepted.

Absences. The student is responsible for any time missed from the class, by contacting the professor or the Political Science Office, prior to, the beginning of class.

R= available at the reserve section of Bluford Library

Course Overview of Introductory Material

Maps, Maps and more Maps

Library Tour

Background to the Americas.

Framework of Analysis

Winn, "A View From The South," pp. 4-38.

Winn, "Legacies of Empire," pp. 39-83.

The Context of Power in the Americas: The Variables of Race and Gender (I)

James Daniel Steele, "The crucible of racial politics in the Americas: Race-denial in the Americas and the obstacles to change" [R]

Magnus Mörner, "American, Iberian and African Antecedents," Race Mixture In The History Of Latin America (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1967): pp. 9-19. [R]

Eliza Larkin Nascimento, "Afro-Latin America and the Origins of Pan-Africanism,"

Pan-Africanism And South America (Buffalo: Diaspora): pp. 31-45. [R] *

Winn, “A Question of Color,” pp. 271-306.

Butler, "Introduction: Brazil and the Afro-Atlantic Diaspora: Recontextualizing Abolition,"

pp. 1-15.

Suggested

Eric Williams, "The Origin of Negro Slavery," Capitalism And Slavery (London: Andre Deutsch, 1964): 1-29. [R]

Leslie Rout, The African Experience In Spanish America (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996).[R]

The Context of Power in the Americas: The Variables of Race and Gender (II)

Paul Lawrence Haber, “Identity and political process: recent trends in the study of Latin American social movements,” Latin American Research Review (vol. 31, no. 1, 1996):

pp. 171-188 [R]

"Gaining Ground: The Indigenous Movement In Latin America." NACLA REPORT ON THE AMERICAS vol. 29 (March/April 1996): pp. 14-43 [R]

Norma Stolz Chinchilla, "Women's Movements in the America," NACLA REPORT ON THE AMERICAS (July-August, 1992): 17-23.[R]

Butler, "Self-Determination: The Politics of Identity," pp. 47-66.

Butler, "The Politics of Race in São Paulo," pp. 88-128

Peter Winn, “In Women’s Hands,” pp. 307-346.

Culture As Political Expression

Winn, "The Magical and the Real," pp. 399-411.

Philip Kasinitz, "The Carnival: Community Dramatized," Caribbean New York (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1992): pp. 133-159.[R]

Butler, "The Politics of Culture in Salvador," pp. 168 -209

Alma Guillermopreito, "A Little History," Samba (NY: Knopf, 1990): pp. 22-43.[R]

Culture: An Audio-Visual Introduction

Religion and Politics

Winn, "The Power and the Glory," pp. 346-393.

Patricia Birman and Márcia Pereira Leite, "Whatever Happened to What Used to be the Largest Catholic Country in the World?" Daedalus (Spring 2000): pp. 271-290.[R]

Jean Daudelin and W.E. Hewitt, "Churches And Politics In Latin America: Catholicism At The Crossroads," Third World Quarterly, (June 1995, Vol. 16 Issue 2): pp. 221-237 [R]

The Americas: Foreign Relations and the Challenges to National Survival

Peter Smith, Talons of the Eagle (NY: Oxford University Press, 2000): pp. 11-37 [R]

Winn, "Endangered States," pp. 447-491.

Dick Parker, " The Cuban Revolution," NACLA Report on the Americas (March/April 1999) Vol. 32 Issue 5, pp. 17-22 [R]

Winn, "Making Revolution", pp. 492-549.

Immigration

Barry Yeoman, "Hispanic Diaspora," Mother Jones (July-August 2000): pp. 34-41 [R]

Philip Kasinitz, "The Three West Indian Immigrations," Caribbean New York (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1992): pp. 19-37 [R]

Winn, "Continent on the Move," pp. 200-233.

Development, Debt and Distribution

World Bank, Human Development Index

I Dream of 'Gini': The Gini Index and the Distribution of Wealth

Winn, Capital Sins, pp. 159-199.

Butler, "Order and Progress": Elite Objectives and the Shaping of Abolition," pp: 16-46.

Maria Clara Couto Soares, "Who Benefits and Who Bears the Damage Under World Bank/IMF-led Policies," Fighting For The Soul Of Brazil (NY: Monthly Review Press, 1995): 8-16.[R]

Kim Moody, "NAFTA and the Corporate Redesign of North America," Latin American Perspectives (Winter, 1995): 95-116.[R]

Country Study: Race in the Development of Brazilian Society

Video: "Is It Easier To Kill Us While We Sleep?"

Butler, "Sao Paulo: The New City - The New Negro," pp. 67-87.

Butler, " Salvador: Afro-Bahia in an Era of Change," pp. 129-167.

Butler, "Full Free," pp. 210+