In this class you will learn about the effects of globalization on indigenous communities of South America. Is globalization a good or bad thing for indigenous communities? For example, should we allow transnational corporations to mine indigenous lands? Should foreign organizations, like those from US universities, go and “help” indigenous communities? What about the free flow of goods, ideas, and services through the internet and social media?

This class will provide the theoretical and analytic tools to answer these difficult questions. First, we will explore how indigenous communities construct an identity based on ancient precolumbian cultures and native languages. This does not occur in a vacuum, but is in fact supported by globalized or transnational organizations such as the tourism industry, academia, NGOs, New Age/spiritual movements, evangelical missions, and other foreign projects/entities.

We will Skype in guest speakers from Peru — an indigenous language teacher, a government worker, a machine operator working in the mines, a community organizer, among others — and talk to them about their experiences of current social and economic conditions. We will read articles from magazines and journals, watch documentaries and movies, and discuss and critically analyze how these materials portray the multiple facets of native life, religion, and culture. If you want to travel to South America to study abroad, do an internship, or sight see, this class will provide the broader social, economic, cultural, and historical contexts to deepen your understanding of indigenous societies.

Course Requirements:

Reading assignments and one presentation.

Class Format:

Lectures, discussions, documentaries, interviews with guest speakers from Peru.