Power, Politics and Religion in South America (in collaboration with Kulturstudier)

See admission requirements and apply through the web pages of Kulturstudier (kulturstudier.com).

The course focuses on three case countries: Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. 

History, trends and institutions 

• Pre-colonial and colonial history; and key political structures and institutions at independence.
• Modern political and economic history and thought. 
• The role of South American countries in international relations, including within the global financial, production, and trade systems.

Inequality, resource conflicts and sustainability challenges 

• Key features of the region's deep economic and political inequalities – across class, gender and ethnicity – and key power relations and structures that sustain these. 
• Conflicts over commons and resources (minerals, timber, agricultural commodities, etc.), and for human rights and justice – and the role of social movements, including indigenous peoples, farmers, women and other oppressed groups. 
• The most important sustainability challenges, especially those that concern South America as a key area in the climate and environmental crises. 
• The 'criminalization' of the state and society, including corruption, violence and drugs in everyday life and politics.

Religions, identities and popular culture 

• The practices, roles, and politics of South America's religious diversity—including conservative vs. conservative progressive Catholicism; syncretism; and neo-evangelical churches. 
• Indigenous peoples and minorities' beliefs, including in the Andes and the Amazon. 
• Culture in a broad perspective, including popular culture (including football, carnival, telenovelas, music and street art). 

More about the course

• Read more on the web pages of Kulturstudier (kulturstudier.com)

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Semester fee at OsloMet (student.oslomet.no).

Course fee: Please see the web pages of Kulturstudier (kulturstudier.com).

Career opportunities will depend on what degree you study for, and combinations with other studies. If you take the course as part of a bachelor's degree in development studies: Former students work in public administration, NGOs, international aid, the media industry, as well as in schools and education. 

The course can be incorporated as a semester course (30 ECTS) in the bachelor's degree in development studies at OsloMet.

• Bachelor's degree in development studies  (in Norwegian)
• See also study opportunities at Kulturstudier (kulturstudier.com)