Description:

As authoritarianism spreads across America, this course offers a feminist reading of authoritarian politics in Central America--centered on its everyday forms of racism, sexism, and classism intensified under neoliberal politics. From an ethnographic perspective, this course excavates the intersectional memories of authoritarianism, democratic disenchantments, and radical pessimism. Then, it discusses the fascist cooptation of family, bodies, and labor, the political ecologies of authoritarianism, and the feminist forms of activism under authoritarianism.

Instroctor:
Grazzia Grimaldi

Sample Reading List:

• Gago, Verónica, Feminist International. How to Change Everything.
• Morris, Courtney, To Defend This Sunrise: Black Women's Activism
• Copeland, Nicholas, The democracy machine. Neoliberalism, Radical Pessimism
• Chamorro, Luciana, Subjects of Aspirations: Populist Governance
• Gutiérrez, Julio, Staging the New City: Urban Spectacles

See instructor for complete list.

Reading/Writing Assignments:

Readings may vary but will average 70-100 pages weekly.

Requirements/Grading:

Term Assessments:

• Presentation or performance - 20%
• Papers/writing assignments - 45%
• Participation - 10%

Final Assessments:

• Final paper or project - 25%

Other Requirements:

• Open to First Year Undergraduates and Sophomores Only.