MAS 374 Politics of Latino Identity

TTH 9:30-11 am #40350 BEN 1.104 Angie Gutierrez

In this class, we will focus on the politics of Latino identity and understanding who counts as Latino and what it means politically to belong to this pan-ethnic group. We will explore the political mechanisms of how Latinos became a group in the United States and investigate the political similarities and differences of group members that still exist today. Should we expect Latinos to maintain this unique identity for generations to come, and what can Latino identity tell us about political attitudes and participation?

By the end of this course, you should be able to understand the differences and similarities between national origin groups and explain how these differences affect political participation. You will better understand what it means to belong to a pan-ethnic group and be able to discuss the benefits and costs of pan-ethnicity. In addition to knowing current trends in political participation, we will learn about the history behind these trends in order to contextualize and fully understand why these patterns exist.