Summer 2006

LAS f366 • 13-REVOLUTION IN MODERN LAT AMER

Course Description

In this course, students will study and compare two social revolutions in twentieth century Latin America: the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and the Cuban Revolution of 1959. Each qualifies as a social revolution because it experienced an abrupt transformation of political, economic, and social relationships. In addition, both the Mexican and Cuban Revolutions have challenged the foreign policy of the United States. Yet the different outcomes of these revolutions present the student with a paradox that must be explained. Why did the Mexican Revolution, despite the massive participation of peasants and workers, not result in the same degree of radicalism as did the middle-class revolution in Cuba? Discussions in this course will focus on the theory of revolution, especially the work Theda Skocpol. The subjects for comparative analysis include: the reasons for revolt, leaders and participants, post-revolutionary reforms, and the international consequences of Latin American revolutions. One's grade is based upon a mid-term essay examination on the Mexican Revolution (worth 300 points), two map assignments (50 points each), and a final essay examination on the Cuban Revolution in comparison to the Mexican (600 points). To earn an A, the student must have accumulated 900 or more points at the end of the session; a B, 800 to 899 points; and so forth.

Texts

REQUIRED READING PACKET available at Jenn's at 2200 Guadalupe: Theda Skocpol, "A Structural Analysis of Social Revolutions" Jonathan Brown, "Foreign & Native-Born Workers in Porfirian Mexico" John Tutino, "Revolutionary Confrontation, 1913-1917" Louis Perez, "Cuba, c. 1930-59" Jorge Dominguez, "Cuba after 1959" REQUIRED READING at COOP BOOKSTORE Michael Gonzales, The Mexican Revolution Julia Sweig, Inside the Cuban Revolution On reserve at UGL Video Library: "Mexico" Vidcass 1636, vol. 1. "Crisis in Central America" Vidcass 372, vol. 2.

back