Mass Migration in Latin America, Causes and Consequences

4 Credits.

Latin America is experiencing an historic migration crisis, with profound political, geopolitical, economic, and social implications. Venezuela is the most talked about case, and for good reason. Its prolonged political and humanitarian crises have produced nearly 8 million migrants and refugees, including nearly 7 million that now live elsewhere in Latin America and the Caribbean. But Venezuela is hardly the only source country in this region, as poverty, violence, dictatorship, climate change, and hopelessness lead increasing numbers of Latin Americans to flee their communities. Today, the region is home to 20.3 million forcibly displaced people, a challenge the UN Refugee Agency describes as “unprecedented both in its complexity and scale.” This course explores the causes and consequences of regional migration, including for the United States.