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Development and Sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean

Once more, Latin America has strengthened its position as an exporter of raw materials following international rules. Certain researchers believe that this – in combination with globalisation and increasing international competition for natural resources – will limit the possibilities to guarantee sustainable development. They emphasise that increased orientation towards mining operations and mono-cultural agriculture will have a detrimental impact on the environment and social relationships caused in part by a marginalisation of small-scale agriculture, deforestation, demographic changes and new migration movements. Other researchers believe that this development generates growth and international competitive powers, thus freeing up resources for social reformation programmes. This course analyses these two standpoints, in addition to state and social actors whose activities address matters of sustainable development. Furthermore, the course discusses how on the one hand, sustainable develop relates to democracy, and social justice on the other hand. Such a discussion requires a fundamental review of definitions and notions of “development”, and how these differences have influenced Latin American politics and public debate.

  • Schedule

    The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.
  • Course literature

    Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.

    Spring 2020
    Teacher: Larissa Basso

    Book list

    • BARAIBAR NORBERG, Matilda (2020): The political economy of agrarian change in Latin America, Palgrave (chapter 03) – EBOOK available at Stockholm University (selected chapters)
    • CARBONNIER, Giles, Humberto Campodónico and Sergio Tezanos Vázquez (eds.) (2017): Alternative Pathways to Sustainable Development: Lessons from Latin America, Brill (chapters 04, 12) – EBOOK available at Stockholm University (selected chapters)
    • CARRUTHERS, David (ed.) (2008): Environmental Justice in Latin America: problems, promise and practice, MIT Press (chapters 01, 02) – EBOOK available at Stockholm University. (selected chapters)
    • DOMINGUEZ, Jorge and Ana Covarrubias (2015): Routledge handbook of Latin America in the world, Routledge (chapters 05, 26) – EBOOK available at Stockholm University (selected chapters)
    • GWYNNE, Robert N. and Cristobal Kay (eds.) (2014): Latin America Transformed: globalization and modernity, 2nd edition, Hodder Arnold (chapter 06) – EBOOK available at Stockholm University (selected chapters)
    • VIOLA, Eduardo and Matias Franchini (2018): Brazil and climate change: beyond the Amazon, Routledge (chapter 06) – EBOOK available at Stockholm University (selected chapters)

    (The course will also have a different number of articles from Journals)

  • Course reports

  • More information

    Learning and collaboration platform: Athena

  • Contact