Introduction to Latin American Politics
CPO 3303
Professor: Leslie Anderson
Office: Anderson 318
Purpose of the Course
This class is an introduction to Latin American politics at the advanced undergraduate level. It is
appropriate for political science majors, for anyone else with a significant interest in Latin American
politics and for graduate students at the Masters or doctoral level who would like an introduction to the
politics of this region early in their graduate years. If you are a graduate student please contact me
about doing a research paper in addition to the classwork listed here in order to receive graduate credit
for the class. Undergraduates do not need to write a paper for this class.
The class begins with an overview of topics, concerns, controversies and problems of Latin
America. The first few weeks of overview are followed by approximately three weeks of detailed study
of four countries: Mexico, Argentina, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The books required for the class are
listed below. They can be purchased through local book stores, online or through the publishers
directly. I have given you the publishers and the approximate cost of each book, in paper. I will also
place all of the books on reserve. Any articles that are required reading will be available online through
the University of Florida libraries.
Coverage of the material for this course will take several different formats. In class I will
combine class lectures with small group discussions. At home you will need to do all of the reading. The
material covered in lectures and the material covered in the reading is not identical. Some subjects will
be covered in lectures while others are covered primarily in the reading. To prepare yourself for the
exams you will need to do all the reading and also attend all classes. To study for the exams you will
need to know both the material covered in the lectures and the material covered in the reading. In
addition to lectures and reading, we will spend several class sessions in small group discussions of a
topic of controversy as indicated on the syllabus. These small group discussions will allow you to get to
know your classmates and will cause you to think more deeply about the topics covered in the class.
After the group discussions each group will report back to the class a summary of the position of their
own small group. This small group work will also enhance your ability to write your exams well.
Requirements and grading
You will write three essay exams for this class, two during the semester and one as a final exam.
Each of the first two exams are worth 25% of your grade; the final is worth 40% of your grade. Class
attendance and participation will count for 10% of your grade.
Required books
1) Thomas Skidmore, Peter Smith and James Green, Modern Latin America, Oxford University Press,
2009 ($60 in paper)
2) Harry E. Vanden and Gary Prevost, The Politics of Latin America: The Power Game, Oxford University
Press, 2011($50 in paper)
3) Leslie Anderson and Lawrence Dodd, Learning Democracy: Citizen Engagement and Electoral Choice
in Nicaragua, 1990-2001, University of Chicago Press, 2005 ($24 in paper)
4) Leslie Anderson, Social Capital in Developing Democracies: Nicaragua and Argentina Compared,
Cambridge University Press, 2010 ($28 in paper)
5) Roderic Al Camp, Politics in Mexico: The Decline of Authoritarianism, Oxford University Press, 5th
edition, 2006 ($50 in paper)
6) Javier Corrales and Michael Penfold, Dragon in the Tropics: Hugo Chavez and the Political Economy of
Revolution in Venezuela, Brookings, 2011 ($20 in paper). I may also add several articles to this list as
additional required reading.
Date
Topic
Readings
first class
pass out syllabus
week 1
Overview of politics
in Latin America
brief description of course and overview of
Latin America, topics to consider
Skidmore, Chapters 1, 2
Vanden, Chapters 1, 2, 3
week 2
September, 15Oct 7
Mexico
Skidmore, Chapters 13, 14
Vanden, Chapters 5, 6, 8
Skidmore, Chapter 3
Vanden, Chapter 13
Camp, Politics in Mexico, entire book
Small Group Work: Topic of Controversy: Response of Lopez Obrador to 2006 electoral results
Small Group Work: Topic of Controversy: Position of Women in Mexico, how far has Mexico come?
essay exam about here
October 9-31
Argentina
Skidmore, chapter on Argentina
Anderson, 2010, Chapter 3
Vanden, Chapter 16
Small Group Work: Topic of Controversy: Alfonsín’s decision to end trials, Obedience Debida Law and
Punto Final Law
Small Group Work: Topic of Controversy: Legalization of gay marriage in Argentina in 2010
November 1-21
Nicaragua
Skidmore, chapter on Central America
Anderson and Dodd, Chapter 2
Anderson, 2010, Chapter 2
Vanden, Chapter 20
Small Group Work: Topic of Controversy: Ortega’s establishment of CPCs: Citizen Empowerment
Councils at the municipal level
essay exam about here
November 22 December 6
Venezuela
Skidmore, Chapter on Venezuela
Vanden, Chapter 18
Corrales/Penfold, entire book
Small Group Work: Topic of Controversy: Chavez’s use of electoral calendar to become long-term
president
last class
Final Exam