Welcome to Latin America: From State Building to Democratic Consolidation! The course will be framed in the context of the last 30 years (1980-2009). We will start by analysing the state building process in Latin America and the differences with the American and European model. We will then devote a considerable amount of our time to other crucial questions such as the direction and pace of regime change in Latin America, and the relationship between democracy and development. We will also explore some of the most urgent challenges facing Latin American countries such as neo-populism, market reforms, and democratic consolidation. We will conclude the course with a discussion on the future of the state, democracy and development in the region.
Prerequisites:
None
Learning outcomes:
The course will offer students a critical and comparative introduction to the study of Latin America. Please keep in mind that this course is not meant to give you the basic information on a particular country of Latin America. Plenty of information is available from different sources: libraries, current newspapers and magazines, and the internet. The course is instead meant to enable you to understand and interpret current events in Latin America by providing you with the required conceptual tools and analytical skills through the use of diverse sources: readings, films, and documentaries.
Method of presentation:
This course invites students to engage with lectures, films, and documentaries both critically and constructively and provides an opportunity for creative, stimulating, and interesting discussion. In order to take full advantage of the course as well as to contribute your part, you will need to consistently do the background readings, actively participate in class, and come to class prepared to engage with the films, documentaries, lectures and follow-up discussions. Engaging with and completing your assignments on time is also part of this process.
Required work and form of assessment:
1st Written Assignment (Literature Review): 15%
Mid Term in class Exam: 25%
2nd Written Assignment (Country Comparison): 15%
Final Exam: 30%
Class Participation: 15%
Course Policies - READ CAREFULLY!
Extensions will be granted only when students are able to present compelling reasons for their inability to meet a deadline and supply satisfactory documentation (e.g. a doctor's note for a severe illness, etc.) in support of their claims. Generic or vague medical certificates or notes are not acceptable. Otherwise, students must ensure that the course Instructor receive a hard copy of their assignments on time (NO E- MAIL SUBMISSIONS, PLEASE).
If students have questions or concerns about grades, the appeals process will operate in the following way: 1) the first point of appeal will be the Instructor; under no circumstances are students to bring an appeal to the Academic Advisor without first taking their appeal to the Instructor. In order to receive an amended grade, the student must demonstrate in writing (one page note) that their work did in fact meet
the requirements of the assignment. 2) If the student and the Instructor are unable to resolve their differences, the student will then take the appeal to the Academic Advisor.
If students are unable to attend an in-class test, they must inform the Instructor of their situation as soon as they are aware of the conflict and not after the test has taken place. Make-up tests will be granted only under special circumstances which may include: conflicts with religious observations, and unexpected and well-documented personal or medical contingencies (in cases of severe illness). In these cases students are required to provide the Instructor with a letter from the relevant source (e.g. doctors, Health Services, religious authority, etc.) to support their requests for special consideration. Generic or vague medical certificates or notes are not acceptable. Without appropriate documentation, the student cannot be guaranteed the rescheduling of deadlines or in-class tests.
Pressures that result from overall course load and requirements from other courses (overlap in due dates, simultaneous assignments due on the same week, etc.) do not constitute sufficient reason for rescheduling or extending assignment deadlines or in-class tests.
content:
Week 1: Class Presentation. The Emergence of the State in Comparative Perspective
Session 1, Reading: Bates
Session 2, Reading: Lopez Alves
Week 2: Problems of Democratic Consolidation: quality of democracy, political parties and new patterns of instability
Session 3, Reading: Mainwaring and Scully
Session 4, Reading: Valenzuela
Week 3: The populist tradition and the recent emergence of neo-populism
Session 5, Reading: Cardoso and Hewlege
Session 6, Reading: Dornbusch and Edwards
Kaufman and Stallings
1st Written Assignment
Week 4: The demise of ISI and launching of market reforms
Session 6, Reading: Edwards
Session 7, Reading: Williamson.
Week 5: The political economy and the consequences of market reforms
Session 8: Reading: Geddes
Weyland
Session 9: Documentary – Speaker: Prof. Agustina Budani
Week 6: Argentina, Brazil, Chile
Session 10 & 11: Reading: McComb & Zarazaga - Argentina (in Randall) Maloney - Chile (in Randall)
Baer & Paiva – Brazil (in Randall)
Week 7: Session 12: Review and preparation for Exam
Session 13:Mid Term Exam
Week 8: MID-SEMESTER BREAK
Week 9: Mexico and Venezuela
Session 14: Reading: Ramirez – Mexico (in Randall) Session 15: Reading: about Venezuela: TBD
Week 10: Session 16 & 17:Film
Week 11: Session 18 & 19: The Political Economy of Democratic Transitions
Reading: Haggard and Kaufman
2nd Written Assignment
Week 12: Session 20 & 21: Documentary
Week 13: Session 22: Site visit to Plaza de Mayo – The transition to democracy
Session 23: Group discussion about site visit
Week 14: Session 24 & 25: Q&A – Preparation for Final Exam
Week 15: Session 26: One on One session with students
Session 27: Final Exam
Required readings:
Unless otherwise noted, the readings included in this syllabus are mandatory. You are expected to do the readings prior to the class and come prepared for participation and discussion.
Bates, Robert (2001). Prosperity and Violence. The Political Economy of Development, New York: W.W. Norton & Co., Chapters 3 & 4 (pp. 50-83).
Cardoso, Fernando Enrique (1979), “On the characterization of authoritarian regimes in Latin America”, in: D. Collier (ed.), The New Authoritarianism in Latin America, NJ, Princeton University Press, pp. 33-57.
Domínguez, Jorge (1999): “US-Latin American Relations during the Cold War and its Aftermath”. In Bulmer-Thomas and Dunkerley (eds.): The United States and Latin America: The new agenda. Harvard University Press, pp. 33-50.
Dornbusch Rudiger and Sebastian Edwards (1991): “The Macroeconomics of Populism”. In Dornbusch and Edwards (Eds.), The Macroeconomics of Populism in Latin America, pp. 7-13.
Edwards, Sebastian (1996): Crisis and Reform in Latin America. From Despair to Hope. New York, Oxford University Press. Chapters 1, 2, & 3 (pp. 1-65).
Geddes, Barbara (1995): “The politics of Economic Liberalization”, in Latin American Research Review, Vol. 30, Issue 2, pp. 135-157.
Haggard, S. and Kaufman. R (1995). The Political Economy of Democratic Transitions. Princeton University Press, New Jersey, pp. 3-74.
Huntington, Samuel (1992). The third wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century. University of Oklahoma Press. Chapters 1, 2, & 3 (pp. 3-163).
Kaufman, Robert and Barbara Stallings (1991): “Populism, Profligacy and Redistribution”. In Dornbusch and Edwards (Eds.), Op. Cit., pp. 45-74.
Mainwaring, Scott and Timothy Scully (1995): Building Democratic Institutions. Party Systems in Latin America. Stanford University Press, 1995, pp. 1-34.
López-Alves. F. (2000). State Formation and Democracy in Latin America, 1810-1900, Durham, Duke University Press, Chapter 1 (pp.1-48).
O’Donnell, Guillermo (1994): “Delegative Democracy?” in Journal of Democracy, Vol 5/1, pp. 55-69. Randall, Laura – Editor (1997).
The Political Economy of Latin America in the Postwar Period, Austin, University of Texas Press.
Selections of texts:
Maloney, William. Chile, pp. 22-69.
Baer, Werner & Paiva, Claudio. Brazil, pp. 70-110.
McComb, Robert & Zarazaga, Carlos. Argentina, pp. 149-184
Ramirez, Miguel. Mexico, pp. 111-148.
Valenzuela, Arturo (2004): "Latin American Presidencies Interrupted" Journal of Democracy - Volume 15 Number 4, October, pp. 5-19.
Weyland, Kurt (2004): “Neoliberalism and Democracy in Latin America: A Mixed Record”. Latin American
Politics and Society, Vol. 46, Issue 1, pp. 135-157.
Williamson, John (1989): “What Washington means by policy reform”, in Williamson, John (Ed.) Latin American Adjustment. How much has happened? Institute of International Economics, Chapter 2.
Note: I reserve the right to change this schedule and list of readings if circumstances require it.
Notes:
Plagiarism is a serious academic offence with a severe penalty.
Welcome to Latin America: From State Building to Democratic Consolidation! The course will be framed in the context of the last 30 years (1980-2009). We will start by analysing the state building process in Latin America and the differences with the American and European model. We will then devote a considerable amount of our time to other crucial questions such as the direction and pace of regime change in Latin America, and the relationship between democracy and development. We will also explore some of the most urgent challenges facing Latin American countries such as neo-populism, market reforms, and democratic consolidation. We will conclude the course with a discussion on the future of the state, democracy and development in the region.
None
The course will offer students a critical and comparative introduction to the study of Latin America. Please keep in mind that this course is not meant to give you the basic information on a particular country of Latin America. Plenty of information is available from different sources: libraries, current newspapers and magazines, and the internet. The course is instead meant to enable you to understand and interpret current events in Latin America by providing you with the required conceptual tools and analytical skills through the use of diverse sources: readings, films, and documentaries.
This course invites students to engage with lectures, films, and documentaries both critically and constructively and provides an opportunity for creative, stimulating, and interesting discussion. In order to take full advantage of the course as well as to contribute your part, you will need to consistently do the background readings, actively participate in class, and come to class prepared to engage with the films, documentaries, lectures and follow-up discussions. Engaging with and completing your assignments on time is also part of this process.
1st Written Assignment (Literature Review): 15%
Mid Term in class Exam: 25%
2nd Written Assignment (Country Comparison): 15%
Final Exam: 30%
Class Participation: 15%
Course Policies - READ CAREFULLY!
Extensions will be granted only when students are able to present compelling reasons for their inability to meet a deadline and supply satisfactory documentation (e.g. a doctor's note for a severe illness, etc.) in support of their claims. Generic or vague medical certificates or notes are not acceptable. Otherwise, students must ensure that the course Instructor receive a hard copy of their assignments on time (NO E- MAIL SUBMISSIONS, PLEASE).
If students have questions or concerns about grades, the appeals process will operate in the following way: 1) the first point of appeal will be the Instructor; under no circumstances are students to bring an appeal to the Academic Advisor without first taking their appeal to the Instructor. In order to receive an amended grade, the student must demonstrate in writing (one page note) that their work did in fact meet
the requirements of the assignment. 2) If the student and the Instructor are unable to resolve their differences, the student will then take the appeal to the Academic Advisor.
If students are unable to attend an in-class test, they must inform the Instructor of their situation as soon as they are aware of the conflict and not after the test has taken place. Make-up tests will be granted only under special circumstances which may include: conflicts with religious observations, and unexpected and well-documented personal or medical contingencies (in cases of severe illness). In these cases students are required to provide the Instructor with a letter from the relevant source (e.g. doctors, Health Services, religious authority, etc.) to support their requests for special consideration. Generic or vague medical certificates or notes are not acceptable. Without appropriate documentation, the student cannot be guaranteed the rescheduling of deadlines or in-class tests.
Pressures that result from overall course load and requirements from other courses (overlap in due dates, simultaneous assignments due on the same week, etc.) do not constitute sufficient reason for rescheduling or extending assignment deadlines or in-class tests.
Week 1: Class Presentation. The Emergence of the State in Comparative Perspective
Session 1, Reading: Bates
Session 2, Reading: Lopez Alves
Week 2: Problems of Democratic Consolidation: quality of democracy, political parties and new patterns of instability
Session 3, Reading: Mainwaring and Scully
Session 4, Reading: Valenzuela
Week 3: The populist tradition and the recent emergence of neo-populism
Session 5, Reading: Cardoso and Hewlege
Session 6, Reading: Dornbusch and Edwards
Kaufman and Stallings
1st Written Assignment
Week 4: The demise of ISI and launching of market reforms
Session 6, Reading: Edwards
Session 7, Reading: Williamson.
Week 5: The political economy and the consequences of market reforms
Session 8: Reading: Geddes
Weyland
Session 9: Documentary – Speaker: Prof. Agustina Budani
Week 6: Argentina, Brazil, Chile
Session 10 & 11: Reading: McComb & Zarazaga - Argentina (in Randall) Maloney - Chile (in Randall)
Baer & Paiva – Brazil (in Randall)
Week 7: Session 12: Review and preparation for Exam
Session 13:Mid Term Exam
Week 8: MID-SEMESTER BREAK
Week 9: Mexico and Venezuela
Session 14: Reading: Ramirez – Mexico (in Randall) Session 15: Reading: about Venezuela: TBD
Week 10: Session 16 & 17:Film
Week 11: Session 18 & 19: The Political Economy of Democratic Transitions
Reading: Haggard and Kaufman
2nd Written Assignment
Week 12: Session 20 & 21: Documentary
Week 13: Session 22: Site visit to Plaza de Mayo – The transition to democracy
Session 23: Group discussion about site visit
Week 14: Session 24 & 25: Q&A – Preparation for Final Exam
Week 15: Session 26: One on One session with students
Session 27: Final Exam
Unless otherwise noted, the readings included in this syllabus are mandatory. You are expected to do the readings prior to the class and come prepared for participation and discussion.
Bates, Robert (2001). Prosperity and Violence. The Political Economy of Development, New York: W.W. Norton & Co., Chapters 3 & 4 (pp. 50-83).
Cardoso, Fernando Enrique (1979), “On the characterization of authoritarian regimes in Latin America”, in: D. Collier (ed.), The New Authoritarianism in Latin America, NJ, Princeton University Press, pp. 33-57.
Domínguez, Jorge (1999): “US-Latin American Relations during the Cold War and its Aftermath”. In Bulmer-Thomas and Dunkerley (eds.): The United States and Latin America: The new agenda. Harvard University Press, pp. 33-50.
Dornbusch Rudiger and Sebastian Edwards (1991): “The Macroeconomics of Populism”. In Dornbusch and Edwards (Eds.), The Macroeconomics of Populism in Latin America, pp. 7-13.
Edwards, Sebastian (1996): Crisis and Reform in Latin America. From Despair to Hope. New York, Oxford University Press. Chapters 1, 2, & 3 (pp. 1-65).
Geddes, Barbara (1995): “The politics of Economic Liberalization”, in Latin American Research Review, Vol. 30, Issue 2, pp. 135-157.
Haggard, S. and Kaufman. R (1995). The Political Economy of Democratic Transitions. Princeton University Press, New Jersey, pp. 3-74.
Huntington, Samuel (1992). The third wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century. University of Oklahoma Press. Chapters 1, 2, & 3 (pp. 3-163).
Kaufman, Robert and Barbara Stallings (1991): “Populism, Profligacy and Redistribution”. In Dornbusch and Edwards (Eds.), Op. Cit., pp. 45-74.
Mainwaring, Scott and Timothy Scully (1995): Building Democratic Institutions. Party Systems in Latin America. Stanford University Press, 1995, pp. 1-34.
López-Alves. F. (2000). State Formation and Democracy in Latin America, 1810-1900, Durham, Duke University Press, Chapter 1 (pp.1-48).
O’Donnell, Guillermo (1994): “Delegative Democracy?” in Journal of Democracy, Vol 5/1, pp. 55-69. Randall, Laura – Editor (1997).
The Political Economy of Latin America in the Postwar Period, Austin, University of Texas Press.
Selections of texts:
Maloney, William. Chile, pp. 22-69.
Baer, Werner & Paiva, Claudio. Brazil, pp. 70-110.
McComb, Robert & Zarazaga, Carlos. Argentina, pp. 149-184
Ramirez, Miguel. Mexico, pp. 111-148.
Valenzuela, Arturo (2004): "Latin American Presidencies Interrupted" Journal of Democracy - Volume 15 Number 4, October, pp. 5-19.
Weyland, Kurt (2004): “Neoliberalism and Democracy in Latin America: A Mixed Record”. Latin American
Politics and Society, Vol. 46, Issue 1, pp. 135-157.
Williamson, John (1989): “What Washington means by policy reform”, in Williamson, John (Ed.) Latin American Adjustment. How much has happened? Institute of International Economics, Chapter 2.
Note: I reserve the right to change this schedule and list of readings if circumstances require it.
Plagiarism is a serious academic offence with a severe penalty.