COURSE DESCRIPTION

	This celebrated Nobel laureate is referring to the apparent end in recent mid-term elections of a political monopoly enjoyed for decades by Mexico's ruling political party, the PRI. His ambivalence about the future is no isolated emotion. Mexico is (according to some) just now emerging from its gravest socio-economic crisis in years. At the same time, the political life of the nation is undergoing what could prove to be the most profound change since the Revolution of 1910. For the first time since that upheaval the ruling party has lost control of Mexico's legislative body. The chief executive of Mexico's populous and politically crucial Federal District, or in other words the "mayor" of Mexico City, is Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, leader of a left-of-center opposition party. And these crises and changes are inextricably intertwined with unrest, insurgency, and growing fears about the involvement of Mexicans and Mexican national territory in international drug trafficking.
	What does any of this matter to citizens of the United States and, more particularly, of Eugene, Oregon? Thousands of immigrants (undocumented and otherwise) cross into our nation on a daily basis. In Oregon, as elsewhere, their (often underpaid) labor helps our agricultural and forestry industries survive. Moreover, the political and economic health of both nations are more closely linked than ever thanks to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). On a more "cultural" level, many of us eat regularly at Mexican restaurants, and celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican national holiday, with margaritas and partying. Yet few in the U.S. are aware of the historical process that brought Mexico to its current situation; Cinco de Mayo is commonly referred to here as "Mexican Independence Day," though this is entirely incorrect. There is little understanding here of the complexities of the Mexican cultural heritage, nor of the processes of invasion, colonialism, and neocolonialism which have shaped Mexico for centuries. What passes for analysis in the U.S. media generally highlights the fragility of the Mexican economy, the poverty of its people, the corruption of its political system, and the crises facing its "revolutionary" leadership.
	History 480 is an attempt to lead students beyond the superficial fare most readily available to them. For one thing, we will learn what Cinco de Mayo is really all about, actually and symbolically. Beginning with a look at the society and culture of the first Mexicans, the course moves through a consideration of the importance of the Spanish conquest, the colonial system, independence, revolution, and the issues of Mexican life in the present day. As much as possible, emphasis will be given to the historical experiences of the majority, especially people of indigenous and mixed ancestry, as they have struggled to come to terms with (or overturn) systems imposed on them by domestic and foreign elites.

WARNING: ASSIGNMENTS RECEIVED ON THE DUE DATE BUT AFTER OUR CLASS MEETING HAS ENDED WILL BE FINED 3 POINTS. A FINE OF 5 ADDITIONAL POINTS PER DAY WILL BE SLAPPED ON ALL LATE WORK! STUDENTS WHO DO NOT COMPLETE ALL WORK FOR THE QUARTER WILL BE GIVEN A GRADE OF "F" UNLESS ARRANGEMENTS FOR AN INCOMPLETE HAVE BEEN MADE IN ADVANCE.

REQUIRED TEXTS