A study of a special topic with an emphasis on discussion and participation. Descriptions of HIST 200 courses offered in a given semester are available on the History department Website or in the History department office prior to registration for that semester. May be repeated for credit with different topics.
| Distribution Area | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 course |
This course invites us to explore the causes, dynamics and outcomes of Latin America's drug wars. Our work will consider the social, political, economic, and cultural scope and scale of the drug wars. We will learn about the role of United States policy as it intersects with the internal, domestic factors in Latin America. Our discussion will include consideration of criminal cartels, gangs, migrants, militaries, politicians, businesspeople, and ordinary citizens, as well as the relationship between formal and informal sectors of society. Several key questions and themes are in play. What is the historical evolution of the drug wars in Latin America? What is the relationship between capitalism and the war on drugs? What is the impact of the drug wars on the nation-state? What happens to citizenship and civil society in the war on drugs? How do people experience the war on drugs in their everyday lives? What are the cultural manifestations of the drug wars? Once the war on drugs starts, why does it escalate, and how does it end if it does? What are appropriate policies? What can we learn about corruption as well as power by studying the war on drugs. These questions and themes will guide our exploration of the topic.