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Extractive Legacies in Latin America (ANTH30025)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Not available in 2024
Overview
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Since the turn of the last century, Latin America in general and the Andean region in particular have witnessed a pronounced escalation of investment in extractive industries. Driven in large part by historically high commodity prices and rising Chinese demand, national governments have sought to use oil and mineral rents to finance novel programs of economic redistribution. While generating significant socio-economic benefits, these projects have also contributed to the intensification of environmental conflicts, particularly around water. In recent years, Chile has been home to more than 35 mining-related conflicts, most of them on indigenous territories over water resources.
This subject takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding these conflicts, with a particular focus on the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It asks comparative questions about the relationships between large-scale mining and indigenous displacement, conflicts over culturally distinct understandings of territory, relationality, and well-being, the legacies of water privatization, the increasingly asymmetrical relations between corporations headquartered in the Global North and extractive frontiers in the Global South, and the effects of climate change on water-related struggles throughout the region. Throughout, we explore similarities and differences with both past and present mining struggles in Australia.
The Atacama Desert offers a particularly privileged location in which to investigate these dynamics on the ground. One of Chile’s main tourist attractions, its rich deposits of copper, lithium and other minerals, its water scarcity, and its long history of indigenous settlements in tension with colonial enclaves, have made it a fascinating microcosm of the regional, national, and global dynamics explored throughout the subject. As a University of Melbourne Overseas subject (UMOS) this subject will take place on site in collaboration with the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Whilst based in Chile, the subject will involve field trips to relevant sites.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate a detailed understanding of socio-political narratives and debates surrounding the extractive industries in Latin America
- Demonstrate an independent approach to knowledge through on-site experience
- Effectively communicate the social, political, historical and cultural realities shaping Chilean society and the extractive sector in particular
- Articulate the relationship between diverse and contested forms of knowledge and practice within Latin America and the socio-historical contexts that produced them
- Understand the different cultural politics surrounding the extractive sector in Chile versus in Australia
- Be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussions and class presentations.
Generic skills
- Develop an understanding of debates in domestic and international politics and an ability to evaluate different interpretations of political phenomena
- Demonstrate an understanding of research processes in the social sciences including design, methodology and methods, critical analysis and interpretation, and the diversity of approaches to research
- Recognise the importance of ethical standards of conduct in the research and analysis of social and political phenomena
- Work productively in groups
- Communicate effectively in oral and written formats
- Develop an ability to work with independence and self-reflection and engage in problem solving.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
- Basic Spanish language skills would be an advantage but not essential.
- Students are encouraged, but not required, to undertake one of the following subjects prior to enrolling in this subject:
- Exploring Latin America (SPAN30021)
- Cultures & Flavours of Latin America (UNIB20019)
- Global Histories of Indigenous Activism (HIST30074)
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Contribution to online platform documenting and discussing the overseas subject
| Due on the last day of teaching period | 25% |
Group presentation in class
| Due on the last day of teaching period | 15% |
Critical research essay
| 4 Weeks after the end of teaching | 60% |
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend all classroom-based sessions and field site visits unless they have received written permission from the instructor not to attend. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Hurdle requirement: Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
Not available in 2024
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Off-campus study
This subject has an overseas component
As a University of Melbourne Overseas subject (UMOS) this subject will take place on site in collaboration with the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Whilst based in Chile, the subject will involve field trips to relevant sites.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024