Latin American thinking: socio-economic, political and cultural ideas, 7.5 ECTS
Second levelFacts
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The history of ideas in Latin America is related to the power structures which have characterized the region since the encounter between the European and indigenous civilizations. The course focuses on the ideas and theories attempting to explain this basic and difficult coexistence between different social groups within a societal hierarchy marked by immense inequalities in terms of class, race, ethnicity and gender, as well as the also conflictive relationship between the continent and the international powers. The course takes up some of the main contributions of Latin American thinkers in areas such as politics, sociology, economy and pedagogy, as well as the local adaptations of imported ideas in these areas. The aim of the course is to provide an understanding of the ideas which have historically prevailed in Latin America as well as of the social, economic and political context which have nurtured them.
Area of interests: Human, Social and Political Sciences, and Law
Are you interested in human beings and society? How we function individually and together, what drives us, our learning processes, how rules and laws have been established, and how we interact with each other? If that is the case we have a lot to offer. This area of interest covers anything from Pedagogy, Psychology and Gender Studies, to Statistics, Political Science, Law and many other subjects. Their common denominator is the relation between human beings and society, independent analytical thinking and often an international perspective.
Subject
Latin American Studies
Latin America is changing. New movements and ideas are gaining ground; patterns of trade are altered; poverty decreases. While the continent seeks a place in today’s globalized world, political and economic developments offer opportunities for previously marginalized groups to demand acceptance and rights. Progress notwithstanding, several of the countries on the continent continue to be marked by the inequality and instability that has plagued their pasts. The interaction between past, present and current tendencies is at the centre of Latin American Studies. It is a multidisciplinary subject, whose methods and theories are primarily derived from the social sciences. Apart from the general study of the continent, students are given the opportunity to concentrate on specific themes and sub-regions. At advanced levels, the question of how the study of social sciences and the humanities can be enriched by examples and insights from Latin America is addressed. The Institute of Latin American Studies is responsible for the courses. Research at the institute spans a multitude of subjects, such as economic integration, the interaction between gender-ethnicity-class, human rights, and social movements.