IR/PO 353 - Populism and Neo-populism: Latin American Politics in a Changing World

This course introduces students to the political, social and cultural developments of modern (from the 1970s to the present) Latin America. Emphasis will be placed on the changing relationship between elite and “pueblo”, on the emergence of new forms of political representation and social movements, on the evolution of new social and cultural identities, and on the development of a mass culture and its relations to elite culture. We will start by analyzing the state building process in Latin America and the differences with the American and European model. We will 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 neopopulism, 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.