Studying International Development through Service Learning – Bolivia and the Latin American Context

Political Science

Location
Cochabamba, Bolivia

Description
This course is offered by the Amizade Global Service-Learning Center in partnership with the Department of Political Science. Its objective is to examine the problems of political development by combining traditional course work with a service learning field component. As this particular class examines the Latin American context, specifically the Andean peasant community, it is build around student participation in the construction and expansion of a school in a Quechua community near Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Specifically, the course focuses on the problems of development and democracy within the context of Andean society, by approaching the topic in four stages:

(A) Survey of development theories and strategies including the modernization school, dependent development, and bureaucratic authoritarianism as well as more recent approaches centered on state capacity and economic liberalization.

(B) Links between economic and political development including an analysis of colonization, independence, social stratification, specific Latin American patterns of political organization and regime types as well as different forms of political resistance and (both indigenous and imported)
revolutionary models.

(C ) Bolivia as a Case Study: Being landlocked and one of the poorest societies in Latin America, the country quintessentially embodies many of the structural features and patterns that have shaped Latin American political development: dependence on silver and tin as a source of wealth, experiments in laissez-faire capitalism, a succession of elite controlled governments, profound racial and class-based stratification, deplorable conditions for the indigenous majority, military rule, weak governments, economic mismanagement, and a recent surge of populism. This segment will especially discuss US pressure to pursue aggressive economic reforms and crack down on coca cultivation.

(D) Andean peasant community (comunidad campesina): The issues covered in this segment include: basic organization of household economics in the Andes, redistribution and trade in Inca society, Andean reciprocity, aspects of barter, profits and losses in peasant economies, as well as land tenure and communal control.

Note that the course is currently planned as taking place almost entirely in the country, which means that some of the reading and several assignments will have to be completed prior to the field experience.

Bolivia
Cochabamba is situated in a valley surrounded by the breath-taking Andes Mountains. The city often boasts of its perfect climate with a daytime seasonal average of 72 F with no humidity. Despite the beautiful scenery and perfect climate, Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in all of the Americas. Cochabamba faces major problems such as shortages of water for farming, poor soil, and lack of industry.

This course in Bolivia offers volunteers the opportunity to experience both the urban and rural aspects of Bolivia. Cochabamba is a bustling city of 400,000 people. In addition to it's beautiful plazas, fountains, and churches, Cochabamba has the largest open air market in all of South America. Possible field trips include visits to the Andes, the rainforest, and Inca ruins.

Our service will be the construction of a school in a rural area just outside of Cochabamba. This project will be the start of a brand-new two story school house for a large number of children who are currently taking classes in a converted barn. This new schoolhouse will continue to build sustainable structures for the community, which began years ago with the construction of an orphanage for street children that now houses 40 children.

Details

Instructor: Reinhard Heinisch


Credits: 6

Service-Learning Abroad : June 11 - July 5, 2004

Credits Awarded: Credits are awarded for this course through the University of Pittsburgh. This course fulfills Studying International Development through Service-Learning (PS 1390) for 3 credits and Political Science Independent Study (PS 1901) for 3 credits.