HUM 390AS - The New Latin American Social Movements: From Theory to Practice

Institution:

Antioch University-Los Angeles

Subject:

Description:

There is an expanding trend among "disenfranchised" communities throughout Latin America (and indeed, the Third World, including within the US), that are opting for autonomous, horizontal models of self-governance to practice an alternative approach to global capitalism. Starting with the successful example of the Zapatistas in Chiapas, Mexico, to the effective ways of surviving the economic debacle of Argentina proposed by several autonomous organizations like the Unemployed Workers' Movement (MTD Solano), the movement of recovered factories, etc., and the South Central Farmers in Los Angeles, the autonomy that these collectives are working towards is not only from the handouts of the welfare state, but also from traditional Leftist politics and methodologies. Challenging the clarion call of the "end of history and ideologies," these new social movements embark on a critical re-reading of Leftist ideologues and reinterpret notions of power, hegemony, and leadership. Betting on a praxis that opens trails, these movements don't follow blueprints for revolutionary action, but instead believe with the Zapatistas that the path is traced by walking (caminando preguntamos). This workshop examines the philosophical foundations of this post-Marxist political praxis. Recovering classical texts of famous iconoclasts like Antonio Gramsci and Michel Foucault, these shed light on more current debates on political power, its sustainability by social movements and their negotiations with the nation-state, as posited by John Holloway, Antonio Negri, Gustavo Esteva, and Arturo Escobar. No grade equivalents allowed. HUMANITIES DOMAIN

Credits:

1.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.antiochla.edu

Phone Number:

(310) 578-1080

Regional Accreditation:

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Quarter

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