HY483     
Land and Conflict in Latin America since 1750

This information is for the 2019/20 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Anna Cant SAR 3.12

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Empires, Colonialism and Globalisation, MSc in History of International Relations, MSc in International Affairs (LSE and Peking University), MSc in International and World History (LSE & Columbia) and MSc in Theory and History of International Relations. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

Extending from the late Spanish colonial era, through the wars of independence and up to present-day social conflicts, this course will focus on land. How has land been conceptualised and fought over? How have different social groups developed relationships with the land? In what ways have conflicts over land shaped Latin American politics? Students will be encouraged to take an interdisciplinary approach to these questions, drawing on new research in geography, anthropology and political science, as well as various strands of history. Despite the great diversity of the Latin American continent, land is a constant reference point and one that lends itself to rich comparative study. Topics will include the global and local politics of the colonial hacienda system, anti-colonial indigenous rebellions, scientific exploration and population displacement, peasant movements, land reform, Cold War development policies and ongoing social protests over land and resource extraction.

Teaching

20 hours of seminars in the MT. 20 hours of seminars in the LT.

There will be a reading week in week 6 of the Michaelmas and the Lent Terms.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay and 2 other pieces of coursework in the MT.

Students are required to write one 2,500-word formative essay in the Michaelmas Term and two formative discussion posts at the beginning of the year.

Indicative reading

Assessment

Essay (50%, 5000 words) in the ST.
Online assessment (35%) and class participation (15%) in the MT and LT.

Online assessment comprises online discussion posts of 500 words; 6 in the MT and 6 in the LT

Key facts

Department: International History

Total students 2018/19: Unavailable

Average class size 2018/19: Unavailable

Controlled access 2018/19: No

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills