| Instructor: Dr. Anna Zalik azalik@yorku.ca | Course Dates:June 3rd – June 28th, 2024 Week 1 June 3-7th in Mexico City (via National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM) Week 2 June 21 -28th in Toronto (via York University) | Prerequisites? None | Open to Non-Majors? Yes |
Course Overview
This course introduces students to the practical implications of a continental free trade through immersive experiences in Southern Ontario and Central Mexico. Through a binationally offered field course, students will be introduced to the social relations, political ecology and political economic factors surrounding the implementation of the Canada US Mexico agreement (NAFTA 2.0). The course explores how the agreement is related to, and affects, environmental justice broadly conceived. Thematic topics of interest include food and agriculture; energy, extractives, and infrastructure; migration and labour regimes. Across these examples the course centres upon the overarching themes of gender, financial investment, Indigenous rights, and social movements for racial and environmental justice.
Students taking part will be enrolled at either York University or the National Autonomous University of Mexico. The course is offered over two intensive one week periods based in each of Toronto – at York University, and Mexico City -at the UNAM. The formal course periods will run for 3 hours per day in the case of in-class room experiences and up to 6 hours per day in the case of immersive site visits.
As background materials, students will be assigned texts on the history of the NAFTA agreement available in both English and Spanish translations. Field visit and panel presentations will be organized at each of the institutions related to thematics of the food and agriculture; energy, extractives and infrastructures; migration and labour regimes; gender and human rights; financial investment and Indigenous rights.
While students would ideally have a working knowledge of both English and Spanish, arrangements will be made to support ‘elbow translation’ in the context of seminar discussions.
Learn more about Professor Anna Zalik!
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For further information, please contact yuabroad@yorku.ca