Important Class Information

Class information from the syllabus

Instructors

Roger Burbach

Center for the Study of the Americas, Berkeley

Maria Elena Martinez-Torres

CIESAS-Sureste, Chiapas

Course description

This course will study the social movements that are transforming the political and social landscape of the Americas. While looking at emergent radical leaders like Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Evo Morales in Bolivia, the focus will be on the new social movements that are sweeping the continent, challenging neo-liberal globalization, the traditional political parties, the formal democratic regimes, and US domination. These movements are offering an alternative to the established power structures while much of the world is engulfed in conflict and war. We'll have guest lecturers for many classes via live video conferences with specialists or activists in the social movements of their countries.

Required Texts

1.  Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri.  Multitude.  War and Democracy in the Age of Empire. Penguin Books, 2005.

2.  Diana L. Raby.  Democracy and Revolution.  Latin America and Socialism Today.  Pluto Press, 2006.

3.  Roger Burbach and Orlando Nunez, Fire in the Americas, Verso, 1987.  All of the required readings from this book are in the Class Reader.  If anyone wishes to purchase the book, a limited number of copies are available from Roger at $15.

4.  The Class Reader is available at Krishna Copy, 2111 University Ave. at Shattuck, Tel: 540-5959.

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