II. Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Brazil and the Caribbean
Africa, South of the Sahara
- I. Sept 26 (M) Political Economic and Geopolitical History I
- - Sub-Saharan Africa (146)
- - Geopolitical Framework: Legacies of Colonialism and Conflict (169-172)
- - Economic and Social Development: The Stuggle to Rebuild (175-183)
- Africa's 'Iron Lady' revitalizes Liberia
- Resource-based Development in Gabon
- II. Sept 28 (W) Political Economy II and Geopolitical Framework II
- - Agricultural subsistence / Plantation Agriculture (160)
- - Enduring Political Conflict (172-175)
- Africa's Continental Divide
- South Sudan's Steep Climb
- Land Reform in South Africa
- III. Oct 3 (M) Demographic Change and Cultural and Environmental Challenges
- - Population and Settlement: Young and Restless (157-163)
- - Cultural Coherence and Diversity: Unity through Adversity (163-169)
- - Africa's Environmental Issues and Climate Change Vulnerability (152-155)
- Africa: famine alarm sounds
- TED TALKS: Good News of the Decade
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CSM
- As part of the HIPC, describe what Liberia had to do, and what it got in return
- Describe the new sources of economic investment that are now entering Liberia
- Identify where Liberia's main weakness still lies
Film
- Illustrate why, although rich in resources, Gabon's economy is weak
- Explain why Gabon fell into debt
- Explain the impact of SAP's in Gabon
- Identify where new hopes lie for sustainable development in Gabon
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CSM
- Identify the problem that lies at the root of many of Africa's wars
- Explain why this this issue not received enough attention
- Contrast how an African gets access to land through tradition and through title
- Explain why The West believes that the latter is better
- Explain why many others feel that the traditional way is better for Africa
- Describe Botswana's model approach to land reform, clarifying why the country believes that it is necessary to handle rural and urban landscapes differently
- Identify and describe the cultural differences between Northern and Southern Sudan
- Explain why the South decided to succeed, clarifying whether it has cultural/nationalist or political/economic roots
- Describe 2-3 examples of the level of underdevelopment in the South
- Explain the basis of hope that the South Sudan will be able to succeed economically on its own
- Explain the basis of pessimism that South Sudan may not do well
Film
- Describe South Africa’s main strategy to redress unequal land distribution
- Explain why that program has not progressed very quickly or successfully
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CSM
- Identify on a map the region experiencing the famine
- Explain what has happened climatically to make this region vulnerable to famine
- Explain how people have responded to drought in the past, and clarify why these strategies are not working in this case
- Identify 2-3 ways in which a functioning state can help make people less vulnerable to famine
- Explain why Somalia, in particular, has failed to provide this support
- Explain why the US has been slow to provide aid to Somalia
Film
- Identify 2-3 factors that are expected to bring down Africa's child mortality rates
- Explain why Africa's progress "stalled" in the 90's
Spanish Latin America and Brazil
- I. Oct 5 (W) Political Economic and Geopolitical History
- - Latin America (82-83)
- - Geopolitical Framework: Redrawing the Map (102-104)
- - Econ. and Social Development: Dependent Economic Growth (104-110)
- Word Beats a Path to Latin America's Door
- Latin America's bid to keep its lush land
- II. Oct 10 (M) Political Economic Struggles and Demograhic Change
- Population and Settlement: The Dominance of Cities (92-98)
- Where have all the dictators gone?
- Colombia vows to restor seized lands
- Aid tactic: Lift small farmers
- Kingdom Divided
- III. Oct 12 (W): Cultural Diversity and Enivornmental Challenges
- - Cultural Coherence and Diversity: Repopulating the Continent (99-101)
- - Environmental Geography: Destruction of Tropical Rain Forests (84-86)
- - Climate Change (90-92)
- Machisma
- Demographic Growth in Guatemala
- Immigration and Urbanization in Sao Paolo
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CSM
- Explain why some refer to China, Russia and Iran's recent activites in Latin America as representing the "fall of US's Monroe Doctrine"
- Describe China and Russia's specific interests in the region
- Explain why some call this activity, particularly China's, simply a new 'economic imperialism'
- Explain why some feel that China's economic activity may provide a boost in the short run, but keeps them economically vulnerable in the long run
- Identify the two countries most active in purchasing land in L.A.
- Explain why this practice is on the rise
- Explain 2-3 reasons why L.A. countries not longer want to sell
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CSM
- Describe the most recent trend occuring in LA concerning where most countires lie in the political-economic matrix
- Provide specific examples to illustrate that trend
- While the article argues that a 'democratic tradition' is now solid in the region, describe the 'warning signs' that its notes may threaten that tradition once again
- Identify who seized the land that the government is attempting to reposses and when most of those seizures took place
- The government is also targetting underutilized lands. Explain why there are such vast amounts of underutilized land
- Clarify they type of farmer (large or small) the government is trying to put on the land and support
- Contrast the goals of the Green and Evergreen Revolutions
- Provide example ag techniques of the Evergreen Revolution
- Describe the type of farmers this revolution hopes to reach and why
Film
- Clarify the positions of Sandanistas and Contras concerning their support for land reform
- Explain which side was backed by Liberation Theology and which by Protestant fundamentalism, and why
- Explain and the U.S.'s position and role in influencing that conflict
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CSM
- Identify 2-3 factors behind Brazil's demographic transition that demographic transion theory' predicts
- Identify 2-3 factors of that transition that are not part of the theory
- Highlight the soap opera effect, and clarify whether or not that effect was actually intended
Films
- Use Guatemala to Illustrate the land distribution issue in Latin America
- Explain the social, economic and political implications of rapid demographic growth in the context of unequal land distribution
- Use the Sao Paulo case to provide evidence to suggest whether Brazil’s cities and national identity may be best described as a "melting pot" or "salad bowl" (or both?)
The Caribbean
- I. Oct 17 (M) Political Economic History and Current Challenges
- - The Caribbean (116)
- - Geopolitical Framework: Colonialism . . . independence (132-135)
- - Economic and Social Development (135-141)
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