Unit information: The Politics of Latin America in 2011/12

Unit name	The Politics of Latin America
Unit code	POLIM3032
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Mendez
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	none
Co-requisites	none
School/department	School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit examines the politics of selected Latin American states. The course is a multidisciplinary survey of the region's politics, political economy, and foreign policy. The course is divided in two parts, of which the first will treat the Latin American region as a whole, with particular emphasis on a number of core themes; viz. the colonial legacy, common elements of political structure, cross-national trends of the economy, regional security concerns, and the overall relationship with the outside world. The second part will focus on case studies, which are intended to contextualize these core themes within the peculiarities of some of the major Latin American states. These will feature Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, and Cuba.

Aims:

• To understand the evolution and complexity of Latin American political systems.

• To understand the region’s colonial legacy, common elements of political structure, cross-national trends of the economy, regional security concerns, and the overall relationship with the outside world.

• To examine likely future political scenarios in Latin America based on projections from current political trends.

• To develop a critical awareness of the social and economic context within which Latin American political systems are located (including political culture, class, and race).

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit students will:

• be familiar with the main theories and debates of Latin American politics.

• be in a position to understand the historical evolution of the region.

• be able to examine specific Latin American countries in terms of their social, economic, and political trajectories.

• be able to identify the main political developments occurring in Latin America today.

Teaching Information

Classes will meet once a week for ten weeks (2 hours per week). Seminar discussion, guided by the tutor and by student presentations, will be the chief teaching method.

Assessment Information

Formative assessment: 10 minute presentation

The formative assessment is designed to measure the students’ research and analytical skills and understanding of particular cases.

Summative assessment: an essay at least 2,500 words long and no longer than 3,500 words long.

The summative assessment is designed to measure the student’s understanding of theories and debates related to Latin American politics; their knowledge of key specific cases; and their ability to critically analyse the political developments occurring in the region from a conceptual, empirical and normative perspective.

Reading and References

• Brown, M. (2008). Informal Empire and Latin America: Culture, Conflict and Capital. Blackwell: Oxford.

• Crandall, R. (2008). The United States and Latin America after the Cold War. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.

• Panizza, F. (2009). Contemporary Latin America: Development beyond the Washington Consensus. Zed Books: London.

• Skidmore, T. (2004). Modern Latin America. Oxford University Press: Oxford).

• Smith, P (2005). Democracy in Latin America. Oxford University Press: Oxford.

• Vanden, H. And Prevost, G. (2009) Politics of Latin America: The Power Game, Oxford University Press: Oxford.