POLI 342 - Urban Politics of Latin America

Cross-Listed as LATI 342

In Sao Paulo and Mexico City, how are multi-racial coalitions challenging police violence and housing segregation? Has Bogota’s election of an openly gay mayor made the city safer for LGBTQ+ Colombians? And in El Alto, how did a 34-year old Aymara woman build a coalition of street unions and Bolivian youth to beat the party establishment and capture City Hall? Democratic elections have penetrated metropolitan Latin America, offering excluded communities new avenues for making demands. In this research seminar, we will explore how the changing rules of political competition affect urban struggles around representation, gender inequality, housing discrimination, and the informal sector. The course examines mayoral elections and urban movements in cities such as Caracas, Lima, Medellin, Montevideo, Porto Alegre, and Santiago de Chile. Student responsibilities include seminar leadership roles, a research project, and presentation of your findings in a public colloquium. Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or permission of instructor. Every year. (4 Credits)