How do we create a vibrant social-economy that gives opportunity to all, especially in a region where sustained growth and equality have long been elusive goals? In the last three decades, millions of Latin Americans have risen out of dire poverty, much of the region overthrew military dictatorships, and Latin American commodities have expanded into vast new markets (especially Chinese). Nevertheless, the promises of ending poverty, sustained growth, and governments that work for the best interest of the majority of Latin Americans have been maddeningly elusive. Arguments for revolution or authoritarianism are again on the rise and Latin America may be a bellwether for the world. For example, the region's policymakers have been among the first to experiment with the possible "limits" or extremes of economic policy, such as communism and central planning, or neoliberalism and unregulated markets. In addition, there is no other region in the world that can compare to Latin America's mix of 1) enormous natural resources relative to small population; 2) inequality in multiracial societies; and 3) high levels of violence without formal warfare. The elite of Latin America, like almost everywhere, have no intention of creating egalitarian societies if it means a reduction in their own resources. Therefore, across these diverse societies, "development" is utopian in its ultimate imagined manifestations. For this reason, cultural studies and anthropology are not excluded, but students will mostly read texts by economists and political scientists.
