RACE, CLASS, AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE LATI 50 Introduction to Latin America

OPTIONAL PAPER Topic: Any subject related to Latin American politics, economics, history, culture and/or society (whether or not covered in class)—proposed by student and approved by TA Examples: Sports (e.g. baseball), film (depictions of Latina women), music (lyrics, popularity of stars, etc.), advertising (Corona beer) In-class examples: Content of Latin American nationalism, impacts of drug wars (e.g., Plan Colombia or Plan Mérida), political implications of fiction, roles of public intellectuals, changing relations with the United States, forms of authoritarian rule Length: 6-10 double-spaced pages Due: Tuesday, June 4th Grade share: 30% (reducing mid-term to 20%, final to 50%)

FORMAT FOR PAPER Introduce topic (and its importance) Present a central question Describe sources and methods (how will you answer your question?) Analyze information and data Conclusion: Respond to your central question(s) Suggest avenues for further research (optional)

CLASS STRUCTURE Upper Class: Middle Class: Popular/Lower Class: Urban (industrialists, bankers) Rural (landowners) Middle Class: Urban (merchants, lawyers, etc.) Rural (small farmers) Popular/Lower Class: Urban (workers) Rural (peasants, campesinos) National Institutions: State (including military) Church External Sector: Economic (investors, merchants) Political (foreign governments)

SHADINGS BY RACE Race as a social construct Indigenous peoples: exploitation and discrimination African-origin peoples and slavery Myths of miscegenation: Mestizaje and the “cosmic race” (raza cósmica) Mulattos and Brazilian “escape hatch”

THE CONTEXT OF BOLIVIA War of the Pacific (1879-83) 80 % indigenous Mining (silver, tin) and agriculture Chaco War (1932-35) = incorporation Revolution of 1952 = mobilization Populist military rule (1970s-80s) Coca leaf and campesinos 60 % indigenous Evo Morales (2005-)