POL 262 Latin American Politics
Dr. Dandavati
TR 12:00-1:20
Lubbers Hall 121
Spring 2011
The purpose of this course is to familiarize you with the politics and culture of Latin American
and in the process provide a base of knowledge from which analyses and comparisons can be
made. The course is essentially comparative in orientation. The primary focus of the course will
be on understanding problems of economic and political development and studying institutions
such as the state, the military, and the Church in order to provide a basis for identifying
similarities and appreciating differences within Latin America itself. We will build on these
broader issues by focusing on the political, socio-economic and cultural realities of particular
countries in the region. We will evaluate alternative frameworks for social, political and
economic change and democracy in the continent as a whole and as individual countries in
particular. We will be talking about politics and society in the U.S. tangentially in order to
compare and contrast with the Latin American countries.
The text for this class will consist of Engendering Democracy in Chile, by A. Dandavati, 2005,
Peter Lang. We will be supplementing these texts with readings, lectures, documentaries and
participatory learning. I expect all students to attend all class sessions, come prepared with the
readings, participate in class, initiate discussion and ask questions as well as consult library
resources on Latin America for additional information, so as to benefit from this course.
Grade Summary: You will turn in a Portfolio with two to four creative/reflective/narrative
pieces related to Latin America. We will talk more about this in class and your completed
Portfolio will be due at noon on Thursday, the 17th of March before Spring Break and it will be
worth 40% of your final grade. There will be a final exam taken in class, closed book and this
will constitute 20% of your final grade. There is no study guide provided. There is no grade
given for attendance, but I will dock your grade for not attending. If you miss class, you are
responsible for all announcements and material covered in that class period. The ‘attendance’
grade will be docked from the oral presentation part of the final grade.
Portfolio
Issues Presentation
Countries Presentation
Final Exam
40%
20%
20%
20%
The final letter grade will be given out in accordance with the following scale:
90 and above
85 - 89
80 - 84
73 - 79
66 - 72
59 - 65
52 - 58
45 - 51
44 and under
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CF
January 11th, January 13th
Introductions. Distribution of Syllabus.
Why study Latin America?
The Colonial Foundations and Independence
Read “The Colonial Foundations, 1492-1880s” by Skidmore and Smith
January 18th, January 20th
The Political Economy of Underdevelopment and Development
Read “The Latin American Economies Restructure, Again” by Glade
Read “The Political Economy of Latin America” by Vanden and Prevost
January 25th, January 27th
Nationalism, Populism and Corporatism
Read “Democracy and Authoritarianism: Latin American Political Culture” by Vanden and
Prevost
February 1st, February 3rd
The Military and National Security Doctrine
Repression and Bureaucratic Authoritarianism
Read “The Politics of Insecurity” by Jorge Nef
February 8th, February 10th
The Debt Crisis
The IMF and the World Bank
Structural Adjustment Programs and Free Markets
Read “State versus Market: The Rise and Fall of Import Substitution” by Green et al
Pages 68 – 110
February 15th – NO CLASS – WINTER BREAK
February 17th
Dilemmas of growth and equity
Read “Social Structure and Change in Latin America” by Veltmeyer and Petras
Read “Participation and Political Process: The Collapsible Pyramid” by J.K. Black
February 22nd, February 24th
Liberation Theology: Does it Liberate?
Christian Base Communities
Read “Religion in Latin America” by Vanden and Prevost
March 1st, March 3rd
Struggle for Human Rights, Growth of Civil Society, Democratization
Women’s Movements, New Social Movements
Read “Engendering Democracy” p. 79-133
March 8th, March 10th
Foreign policy and regional integration. Relations with the U.S., European
Union, Asia and Africa
Read “International Relations in Latin America: Conflict and Cooperation” by Ray
Read “The United States and Latin America: Into a New Era” by W.S. Smith
Read “Latin America in the World” by Larman Wilson
Read “Preserving Hegemony: National Security Doctrine in the Post-Cold War Era (2001)” by
MacSherry
March 15th, March 17th
Prospects for Democracy, the rise of the Left
Challenges faced by Latin America
March 18th – March 27th – SPRING BREAK
March 29th, March 31st
Issues Presentations
April 5th, April 7th
Issues Presentations
April 12th, April 14th
Issues and Countries Presentations
April 19th, April 21st
Countries Presentations
April 26th, April 28th
Countries Presentations
The Final Exam is Tuesday, May 3 from 12:30-2:30 p.m.