What’s happening to the world’s tropical forests? Why are they disappearing, why should we care, and what can be done about it? In this course, we will take an interdisciplinary social science examination of deforestation and development in tropical forests, focusing on Latin America and particularly on the Amazon basin. We will examine the various stakeholders in tropical forests and the relations between them, and how these actors relate to the causes and consequences of unsustainable development. Finally, we will explore the costs and benefits for people living in and around these areas of a variety of alternative development options.