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Spring 2007
Ethnic Studies 98/198
2 Unit(s)

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About the Course:

This course involves a multi-perspective examination of Cuba. Through theory, history, ethnography, film, and community speakers, it will enable you to begin to deduce your own personal conclusions on current issues regarding the island. Particular emphasis will be given to diverse political economy and geopolitical perspectives on Cuba in its post-special period phase.

In its exploratory phases, the course will examine historical events and the role they play in revolutionary and post-revolutionary Cuba. However, a significant portion of this course deals with using those historical events to look at contemporary Cuba and its current issues—Immigration, New Dichotomies, Political transformation and reform, Post-Special Period race/class/identity issues, the Embargo/el Bloqueo, Poverty, and Culture.

Of course, we will spend plenty of time having fun and using the context we learn in order to dive into cuban culture; culture nights will include salsa lessons, a night of the orishas, and cuban cuisine night!

Assignments: 1 short paper and an end of the semester project. The project will require that the class choose a theme (e.g. Cuba’s Future, The Embargo, The Political Economy of Tourism, Human Rights, The Cuban/Venezuelan Alliance, etc.) as the topic for the forum. The class will be divided into committees that will then work on different aspects of organization (e.g. Presentation, Program Development, Publicity, Fundraising, etc). The forum will be open to the public and include researchers, community members, and professors of varying backgrounds and perspectives.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

How to Enroll:

If interested, please send an email with the subject of ‘Cuba DeCal’ to aholiday@berkeley.edu with your name, year, major, and a paragraph or two about why you are interested in this class. I will provide the lower- and upper-division CCNs at our first meeting.