Instructions

The final project is a term paper (approximately 2500–3000 words, or 10–12 pages) on a Latin American issue. Your final paper should include at least ten references, and at least five of these references should be from peer-reviewed sources.

You may communicate with your Open Learning Faculty Member as you develop your chosen project idea from the list below. You will complete and submit your final project after you have completed Assignment 4.

Write about ONE topic from the following list.

1.     Explain how globalization has impacted and changed the entire region we call Latin America.

2.     Explain the origin of the BRIC countries and how Brazil became a member of BRIC. What is the role of BRIC, and Brazil in particular, in shaping the rise of the Emerging Economies and the G20? How has BRIC, the Emerging Economies, and the G20 group challenged the dominance of the world by the West?

3.     How has the debt problem shifted from Latin America to European countries? What are the major causes of this important shift?

4.     How did President Hugo Chavez and Venezuela challenge American imperialism in Latin America? Which Latin American countries have been the major supporters of Chavez and Venezuela in challenging US imperialism?

5.     How has American warmongering disasters in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Middle East helped Latin America to escape continued US imperialism in Latin America?

6.     How has the massive increase in migration into the US by Latin Americans changed Latin America? Comment on whether Latin Americans who return to lands which were taken militarily from Mexico by the US should be considered illegal immigrants.

7.     Has the continued high demand for illegal drugs by Americans caused the drug menace in Mexico? What solutions would you recommend?

8.     Explain why free trade areas such as NAFTA benefit all of the member countries. Explain how trade is different from colonization. Focus on the key factor that trade is mutually beneficial to all parties because it is voluntary, while colonization benefits the imperial power at the expense of the colonies because it is imposed by military force.

9.     Explain why it’s impossible for Latin America to develop and increase its per capita income without global free trade, foreign investment, population control, and emigration out of Latin America. Comment on why foreign debt incurred for investment and economic growth is good debt; whereas, foreign debt incurred for private or public consumption is bad debt.

Suggested Approaches to Choosing a Topic

Here are some suggested approaches to choosing a topic for the final project. You may want to examine one particular issue related to one country, sub-area, or the entire region.

If you are interested in economics and globalization you may want to explore, for example, the economic impact on parts of Latin America of the migrants who leave the area to work in North America in order to send money to their countries of origin. The issue of globalization in a particular area could also be analyzed from a socio-cultural perspective; for example, you may want to discuss the impact of globalization on Latin American contemporary culture or the influence of American culture on certain cities or regions. If your field is international relations, politics, or economics, you may want to discuss how the influences of power and dominance from external forces influenced the people in the past and continue today (e.g., IMF, structural adjustments, US influence).

Organic Approach to Developing the Final Project

We recommend that you take an organic approach to developing the final project as you work through the course and the readings. Keep notes of ideas, points, and issues as your work through the course modules and record your questions and reflections about what grabs your interest or concerns you in each module so that you can draw on your notes when completing your project.

Get your own voice on paper first, including the questions that you have in your mind. Then research to explore your own thinking further, to learn what others think of the issue, and to find facts that support or refute your initial views. Answer the questions that were on your mind.

When you are writing your final project, revise your draft as you go along. Keep each of your drafts (HUMN 3981 Project draft 1, 2, 3, etc.). This helps you follow the evolution of your own thoughts.