Kean University, Union
New Jersey
PS 3440 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF LATIN AMERICA Fall 2009
Prof. N. Richani email - nrichani@kean.edu
Phone: 908-737-4097
Office J-105
Office Hours: M, 11:00 – 1:00 PM, T, 10:30 – 12:30 PM, W, 2:30 – 3:30PM
Course Description
This course focuses on Latin American states and their relationship with the US and the
rest of the world. It presents an analysis of the changing position of Latin America in the
international division of labor and the security system since the collapse of Spanish
Colonialsm. The course surveys inter & intra-regional relations and how these are
changing in function of globalization.
I
Course Objectives
A. Understand the relationship of Latin American countries
with the U.S., Europe, Japan and in more recent times with China
B. Examines the changing position of Latin America in the international
division of labor and in the global economy
C. Evaluates the military –security alliances of Latin America with the US
II
Course Content
A. Latin America Relationship with the U.S. since the 19th century
a. The Monroe Doctrine
b. Military cooperation with the US during and after the Cold War.
c. US- Latin America economic ties and free trade agreements
d. The Exhaustion of “Neo-liberalism” and the “Neo-Left” in Venezuela,
Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay
e. Migration and its impact on the relationship of Mexico, and Central
American states with the US
f. Prospects of the US “hegemony in its backyard”
1
B. The Evolution of Latin American relationship with the European Union
in:
a.Trade
b. Military
c. Cultural
.
C. Latin American Relationship with China and the developing world
a. Trade
b. Military
c. Alliances
D. Latin America and international organizations
a. The United Nations
b. Organization of American States
c. World Trade Organization
III
Methods of Instruction
A. Lecture
B. Audiovisual presentations
C. Students participation
IV
Methods of Evaluation
A. Mid -term exam: 30 % of the students final grade
B. Class Participation & attendance: 20%
C. Final Exam 50% of your total grade
Ethics
Cheating and plagiarism are serious violations of Kean University Academic Integrity
Policy. Please review the policy. www.kean.edu/forms/AcademicIntegrity,pdf or the Web
site for The guide at www.kean.edu/publications/TheGuide2007.pdf., and the Student
Code of Conduct is available at www.kean.edu/~conduct or the Web site for The Guide
at www.kean.edu/publications/Theguide2007.pdf
V
Suggested Texts
Tulchin, Joseph and Ralph Spach (2000). Latin America in the New International
System.CO: Lynne Reiner.
2
Smith, Peter (2000). Talons of the Eagle: The Dynamics of the US-Latin America
Relationship. NY: Oxford U Press.
Roett, Riordan and Paz, Guadalupe. (eds.) (2003). Latin America in a Changing Global
Environment. CO: Lynne Rienner.
La Rosa ,Michael (2006). Neighborly Adversaries: Reading in US-Latin American
Relations. MD.:Rowman & Littlefield.
VI
Selected Bibliography
A. Print Sources
A.K, Jeanne (eds.) (2003). Latin American and Caribbean Foreign Policy. MD: Rowman
and Littlefield.
Castañeda, Roberto & Patricio Navia (2007). “The Year of the Ballot.” Current History
106:697 (February) 51-57.
Blasier, Cole (1999). The Hovering Giant: U.S. Responses to Revolutionary Change in
Latin America, excerpted in LaRosa, Michael and Mora, Frank O., eds., Neighborly
Adversaries: U.S.-Latin American Relations . MD:Rowman and Littlefield.
Carothers, Thomas (1993). In the Name of Democracy: U.S. Policy Toward Latin
America in the Reagan Years. CA: University of California.
Dominguez, Jorge I. (2000). "The Future of Inter-American Relations: States, Challenges
and Likely Responses, " in Dominguez, ed., The Future of Inter-American Relations.
London:Routledge.
Jacoby, Tamar (2006). “Immigration Nation.” Foreign Affairs 85:6
(November/December), 50-65.
Hakim, Peter (2006) Is Washington Losing Latin America? Foreign Affairs 85:1
(January/February), 39-53.
Hammergren, Linn (2000). "Law and Injustice in Latin America." Journal of Democracy
(July).
.
Meyers, Deborah Waller (2003)."Does Smarter Lead to Safer? An Assessment of the
U.S. Border Accords with Canada and Mexico." International Migratio., 41/4
(December).
3
NACLA Report on the Americas (2007). In the Name of Democracy.40:1
(January/February )
Nevins, Joseph (2000). "The Remaking of the California-Mexico Border in the Age of
NAFTA," in Andreas, Peter, and Snyder, Timothy, eds., The Wall Around the West: State
Borders and Immigration Controls in North America and Europe. MD: Rowman and
Littlefield.
Peeler, John (2003). "Costa Rica: Neither Client nor Defiant." in Mora, Frank O. and
Hey, Jeanne A.K, eds., Latin American and Caribbean Foreign Policy. MD: Rowman
and Littlefield.
Rozental, Andres (2007).The Other Side of Immigration.Current History 106:697
(February), 89-90.
Skerry, Peter (2006). “How Not to Build a Fence.” ForeignPolicy (September/October),
64-67.
Turner, Frederick C. (1995). "Reassessing Political Culture," in Smith, Peter H., ed.,
Latin America in Comparative Perspective. Westview.
Weyland, Kurt (1998). "The Politics of Corruption in Latin America," Journal of
Democracy (April).
Valenzuela, Arturo (2005). Beyond Benign Neglect:Washington and Latin America.
Current History. 104:679 (February), 58-63.
Wise, Carol and Roett, Riordan, (eds.) (2003). Post Stabilization Politics in Latin
America Washinghton DC:Brookings Institution.
Zakaria, Fareed ( 1997). The Rise of Illiberal Democracy.
Foreign Affairs 76:6 (November/December), 22-43.
B. Non-Print Sources (web sites)
worldbank.org
eclac.org
undp.org (country reports)
Course Schedule
Sept.7 Introduction
Sept 10 Readings: Tulchin, Joseph and Ralph Spach (2000). Latin America in the New
International System.CO: Lynne Reiner. Chapter 1 (Hereafter TS)
4
Sept14 TS chap.2
Sept 17 TS chap 3
Sept 21 TS chap 4
Sept 23 TS chap 5
Sept 28 TS chap 6
Sept 30 TS chap 7
Oct.5 TS chap8
Oct 7 TS chap 9
Oct.12 (No class)
Oct 14 TS chap 10
Oct 19 Read: Hakim, Peter (2006) Is Washington Losing Latin America? Foreign Affairs
85:1 (January/February), 39-53.& Hammergren, Linn (2000). "Law and Injustice in Latin
America." Journal of Democracy (July).
Oct 21 Movie and Class discussion
Oct 26 Mid-term
Oct 28
Nov.2
Nov.4
Nov.9
Nov.11
Nov.16
Nov.18
Nov.23
Nov.25
5
Nov.30
Dec.2
Dec.7
Dec10
Dec.14 final
6