POL 310 - Sustainable Development: The Dominican Republic

Spring 2002

118 Cornell Hall

MW 12 to 1:15 p.m.

 

 

Professors:       Dr. Pedro Pequeño                                                     Dr. Michael Gunter

Office:               CSS 104-105                                                            CSS 212

Office Hours:   By Appointment                                                         T&R 10:45-12:15

Phone:              ext. 2370 or ext. 1565                                                ext. 2263

Email:               ppequeno@rollins.edu                                                mgunter@rollins.edu

 

 

REQUIRED TEXTS

The following required texts are available at the Rollins College Bookstore:

 

Elliott, Jennifer.  An Introduction to Sustainable Development.  NY: Routledge, 1999.

 

Howard, David.  Colouring the Nation: Race and Ethnicity in the Dominican Republic.  Oxford: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2001.

 

Itzigsohn, Jose.  Developing Poverty: The State, Labor Market Deregulation & the Informal Economy in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.  University Park, PA: Penn State University Press, 2000.

 

Pessar, Patricia R.  A Visa for a Dream: Dominicans in the United States.  Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1995.

 

Wucker, Michele.  Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola. New York: Hill and Wang, 2000.

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION       

This course seeks to better understand sustainable development by taking an in-depth look at the Dominican Republic.  Highly controversial and deeply ingrained value judgments surround the term sustainable development.  Amidst this politically charged debate, general consensus now exists as to the objective of sustainable development as that which utilizes the interest of the earth’s natural resources without encroaching upon its capital.  Just exactly how this process is carried out, though, remains hotly contested.  That is, the precise political steps for policy implementation remain fuzzy to date. 

 

As such sustainable development has come to represent the larger domain of political discussion that surrounds the environment and development.  This course examines these issues by looking specifically at the Dominican Republic.  We will do so in three stages over the course of the semester. The first stage addresses the contested terrain of sustainable development.  The second stage looks at the Dominican Republic history, society, and culture as it pertains to sustainable development.  And the third and final stage emphasizes sustainable solutions in the Dominican Republic, challenging students to rethink management of both the economy and the environment.

 

 

COURSE EXPECTATIONS

This is a four-credit course with an additional, required two-credit field study that involves spending approximately two weeks in the Dominican Republic this May.  You will need to make logistical and financial arrangements early this semester for this component of the course.  We will provide further details and deadlines about this in class.  Scholarship funds are available for travel to the Dominican Republic.  Contact the Financial Aid office for information. 

 

Students are accountable for all materials presented in lectures, discussions, students class presentations, and assigned reading.  Participation (and thus attendance) in class is expected, especially since we have the luxury of a small seminar environment.  Material discussed in class will appear on exams and other assignments.  As outlined below, participation will play a key role in determining final grades, especially border-line cases.  Only three excused absences will be accepted without penalties.  After such absences, ten point wills be taken off for each class you miss, unless you have a written excuse from the Dean of Student Affairs, Director of Athletics or physician.

 

There are three exams in this class (two partial exams and one comprehensive final exam), one individual class presentation, and three written focus reports (5-6 pages each).  All exams are in an essay format.  The final exam is cumulative.  There are two exam formats: (1) open notes only; and (2) no books and no notes.  You will be asked to pick the format of your choice prior to each exam.  You cannot use quotations in any of the exams, but you can always paraphrase.  If you use quotations on the exams, you will receive a “0” on the essays in which your quotations are found.  The same is true about plagiarism.

 

Class presentations must be accompanied by a typed outline to be handed to all members of the class. Class presentations without outlines are not acceptable. If you miss your class presentation without a verifiable excuse, or do not have a typed outline, you will have to write a seven-page paper on the same material assigned to you.  Class presentation will be evaluated using four criteria: (1) critical thinking; (2) understanding of an author’s argument; (3) explanation of key concepts; and (4) ability to identify similarities and differences between the theorists discussed in class.

 

Academic Honesty

 

If caught cheating in an exam, the student shall be summarily dismissed from the course and a grade of “F” is to be entered in his/her transcript.  The class presentation is to be an independent and original manifestation of the student’s intellect and joint efforts, plagiarism, and borrowing of ideas, are not accepted and, in addition, could result in serious (grading) punishment.

 

 

Learning Disability

 

If you have a learning disability, you must meet with the Director of the Academic Resource Center, Dr. Karen Hater, by no later than January 31.  If your exams are untimed due to learning disability, you must take them on the prearranged dates and time.  No take-home exams will be given due to learning disability. (“Untimed” exam means that you have an extra hour to complete the exam).

 

 

GRADING POLICY:

Per the Rollins College Catalogue, the grade report is based on the following definitions with the point distribution chart below:

 

A is reserved for work that is exceptional in quality and shows keen insight, understanding, and initiative.

 

B is given for work that is consistently superior and shows interest, effort, or originality.

 

C is a respectable grade required for graduation; it reflects consistent daily preparation and satisfactory completion of all work required.

 

D- is the lowest passing grade; it is below the average necessary to meet graduation requirements and ordinarily is not accepted for transfer by other institutions.

 

F is failing.

 

 

 

Points

Grade

Points

Grade

900 – 880

A

770 – 751

C

879 – 851

A-

750 – 725

C-

850 – 831

B+

724 – 700

D+

830 – 811

B

699 – 650

D

810 – 791

B-

649 and below

F

790 – 771

C+

 

 

 

 

You are responsible for turning in assignments on time.  Late assignments are docked one letter grade for each calendar day after the due date.  In other words an A quality paper which is one day late receives a B. Make-up tests are not given, except under extenuating circumstances, i.e. illness, death in the family, religious holiday.  In these cases the instructor must be informed prior to the exam or assignment due date.  Do not test your imagination or creativity on this issue.

 

 

GRADING DISTRIBUTION:

Oral Report                                         100 points

Focus Papers (3 X 100)                      300 points

Participation                                         100 points

First Partial                                           100 points

Second Partial                                      100 points

Final Exam                                           200 points

                                   

TOTAL                                                                                                                                                            900 points

 

 
COURSE SCHEDULE

 

Part I 

The Contested Terrain of Sustainable Development

 

Week 1:                                             

Introduction: The Limits to Growth                   

            Reserve: Our Common Future Chpt.2

 

 

Week 2:                     

Martin Luther King Day

            Reserve: The Closing Circle

 

The Development of Sustainable Development

Elliott Chpt.1

 

 

Week 3:  

Challenges of Sustainable Development

            Elliott Chpt.2

 

Implementation

Elliott Chpt.3

            Reserve: Fighting Back - Human Adaptations in Marginal Environments

 

 

Week 4:         

Costs of Development

Itzigsohn Chpt.1

 

Rural Livelihoods

Elliott Chpt.4

 

 

Week 5:                                             

The Informal Economy

Itzigsohn Chpt.6, 7

 

Urban Livelihoods

Elliott Chpt.5

 

 

Week 6:         

The Cost of Tourism

            Reserve: The Holiday and Its Makers - The Tourists

            Elliott Chpt.6, 7

           

Exam One

 

Part II

The Dominican Republic Case

 

 

Week 7:         

The Caribbean and the Dominican Republic

            Wucker Ch. 1, 2, 3, 4

 

 

Week 8:                     

The Dominican Republic and Haiti:  A Political and Social History

            Wucker Ch. 5, 6, 7

 

Week 9: Spring Break          

 

 

Week 10:       

Conclusions

            Wucker Ch. 8, 9

 

Week 11:                   

Raise and Ethnicity in the Dominican Republic

            Howard Ch. 1, 2, 3, 4

 

Week 12:       

Transnational Racial Identity.  Raise and Nation in Dominican Politics. Conclusions.

            Howard Ch. 5, 6, 7, 8,

 

Exam two

 

 

Part III

Building Sustainable Solutions:

Integrating Theory with Practice

 

Week 13:                   

Dominican Exodus

            Pessar Chpt.1, 2

 

Dominicans in New York

            Pessar Chpt.3, 4

 

 

Week 14:       

Transnational Lives

Pessar Chpt.5

 

Northern Aid to the South

Non-state Actors

            Reserve: TBA

 

 

Week 15:

Consumption vs. Development

Sustainability & Accountable Corporation

Green Development: Development from Below

            Reserve: TBA

 

Week 16:

Conclusions and Review

 

Final Exam: Thursday, May 2nd, 11 a.m.

 

 

* Please note changes in this schedule may be necessary as we progress through the semester.  Any such changes will be announced in class.