HIST 2309A: Modern Latin America

Dr. Guadalupe Escalante Rengifo

Winter 2027

This course covers the major events that shaped Latin America from the Wars of Independence to the end of the twentieth century. First, we examine how emerging nations built their political, economic, and cultural structures while navigating the legacies of Spanish and Portuguese rule. Central to this inquiry is how Latin American states both reproduced and transformed colonial hierarchies of race, gender, social classification, religion, and identity. Second, the course considers how twentieth-century states navigated major revolutions, economic shifts, foreign interventions, dictatorships, and migration. Finally, we will reflect on late-twentieth-century resistance movements that challenged local and global forces, including racism, populism, neoliberalism, and extractivism. Throughout the term, students will engage with key concepts and explore a rich mix of sources—such as archival materials, press and media, music, popular art, literature, and film—to develop a critical understanding of Latin American history and culture.