Bolivia: Latin American Revolutionary Movements and Conflict Resolution

Educational Excursions

Students undertake several educational excursions during the semester. Excursions are designed to reveal new perspectives on Bolivia's political development and the impact of revolutionary movements on the lifestyles and cultural traditions of urban and rural communities.

Educational excursions also give students the opportunity to explore research topics for the Independent Study Project.

Note: During the fall semester, students typically travel to Cochabamba, the subtropical Chapare lowlands, and the city of Campo Grande (Brazil). In the spring semester, excursions typically include visiting mining camps in Oruro and Potosí, and the city of Jujuy (Argentina).

BOLIVIA

Cochabamba. Students learn how an urban movement led by water activists led to the expulsion of Bechtel Corporation from Cochabamba. The excursion focuses on the importance of water management and control for local development and conflict resolution.
Eastern plains of Bolivia and Santa Cruz. Students spend time in the large city of Santa Cruz and receive on-site lectures on local conflicts, civic committees, and regional politics. Students compare and contrast the opinions and perspectives held by the region's civic committee and the residents of shantytowns as the two groups tend to sit on opposite and often conflicting political sides.
City of El Alto. Students visit El Alto, President Evo Morales' political stronghold. Students learn about the government repression of 2003 and subsequent fall of Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada's government and the role of neighborhood committees during these violent events.

BRAZIL
Students travel to Campo Grande do Sul, in southwestern Brazil, to meet with representatives of Brazil's Movement of Landless Rural Workers (MST) where they will learn about the struggle for land and justice. Students consider the MST’s present circumstances, actions, and evolving objectives.

Credits: 16

Duration:15 weeks

Program Base: La Paz

Language Study: Spanish

Prerequisites: Coursework in political science, Latin American studies, or development studies; 3 semesters Spanish Read more...