POL215

043416

This course takes a critical approach to the field of security studies through examination of the historical and contemporary security context in Latin America. Throughout the course, students engage with a broad range of perspectives on security including positivist, feminist, green, and human security approaches. The course begins by questioning how Latin American societies ascertain and prioritize security threats using desecuritization theory to deconstruct conventional ideas and assumptions. The course then covers a broad range of security issues in Latin America including state violence, non-state armed actors, organized crime, geopolitical threats, and insecurity related to resources, environment and health. In addition, the course includes critical perspectives on the different government policy and community responses to security threats including militarization, vigilantism, non-state armed governance, and non-violent community activism.

GRD - Regular Grades A, B, C, D, E

Undergraduate

CE - CL (Cross Listed)