Political Science 337
LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS
Course Description
This course provides a basic introduction to Latin American politics. The first part of the course examines the evolution of state structures in the region, including early colonial and post-colonial rule, the populism and radicalism of the 1950s and 1960s, the emergence of military regimes during the 1970s, and the recent reestablishment of constitutional "democracies." We then consider various economic, social, cultural, and environmental issues which condition contemporary state-society relations throughout the region. The last section examines hemispheric relations, especially between Latin America and the United States, and contemporary initiatives to promote regional integration.
Course Requirements
Each student in this course is expected to fulfill the following course requirements.
1. Complete each week's readings in advance and actively participate in class sessions. Class attendance is required.
2. Take two prelim exams, to be administered on February 8th and March 20th.
3. Prepare a 8-10 page research paper on a topic related to Latin American politics. Paper guidelines will be passed out in class. A brief description of the intended paper is due on February 13th and the paper itself is due on April 3rd. Papers cannot be rewritten after the due date and will be marked down 3 points for each day they are late.
4. Take a final exam at the end of the term.
5. (Optional) Give a brief oral presentation of your research paper. (10 points maximum)
Students are expected to comply with the University Honor Pledge
I pledge to support the Honor System at The University. I will refrain from any form of dishonesty or deception, such as lying, cheating, or plagiarizing, which are Honor violations. I am further aware that as a member of the academic community, it is my responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the Honor System. I will report to an Honor Council if summoned.
(Please notify me of any special needs)
Grading Final grades will be calculated according to the following percentages.
Class Attendance and Participation 20%
First Exam 20%
Second Exam 20%
Research Paper 20%
Final Exam 20%
Grading Scale
A 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 D 63-66
D- 60-62 F 59 or less
Course Materials The following two books constitute the required texts for this course and are available for purchase at the ODU Bookstore.
Ronaldo Munck. Contemporary Latin America. New York: Palgrave, 2003.
Peter Winn. Americas: The Changing Face of Latin America and the Caribbean. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999.
Course Outline
I. INTRODUCTION
II. HISTORICAL BACKDROP
A. Conquest and Colonization
B. Independence and Nation-Building
III. POLITICAL CONFLICT
A. Populism
B. Revolution
C. Militarism
IV. CONTEMPORARY GOVERNANCE
A. Democratic Transitions
B. Democratic Limitations
C. Social Movements
V. POLITICAL-ECONOMY
A. Dependent Development
B. State-Led Development
C. Neo-Liberalism
VI. SOCIAL PATTERNS
A. Class
B. Gender
C. Ethnicity
VII. CULTURE
A. Political Culture
B. Religion
VIII. ENVIRONMENT
A. Population and Urbanization
B. Ecology
IX. INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
A. United States-Latin American Relations
B. Regional Integration
X. CONCLUSION: ALTERNATIVE FUTURES
Reading Assignments
I. INTRODUCTION January 9-11
Ronaldo Munck. Chapter 1, "Introduction: Setting and Issues," pp. 1-22.
Peter Winn. Chapter 1, "A View from the South," pp. 3-32.
II. HISTORICAL BACKDROP
A. Conquest and Colonization January 13
Peter Winn. Chapter 2, "Legacies of Empire," pp. 33-83.
B. Independence and Nation-Building January 18
Peter Winn. Chapter 3, "The Perils of Progress," pp. 84-119.
III. POLITICAL CONFLICT
A. Populism January 20-23
Ronaldo Munck. "Beyond Oligarchy," pp. 23-29.
Peter Winn. Chapter 4, "A Second Independence?" pp. 120-154.
B. Revolution January 25-30
Peter Winn. Chapter 13, "Making Revolution," pp. 492-549.
C. Militarism February 1-6
Ronaldo Munck. "Military Authoritarianism," pp. 33-38.
Peter Winn. Chapter 5, "Capital Sins," pp. 155-199.
IV. CONTEMPORARY GOVERNANCE
A. Democratic Transitions February 10-13
Ronaldo Munck. "Democratic Openings," pp. 38-42.
B. Democratic Limitations February 15
Ronaldo Munck. Chapter 4, "Governance," pp. 62-75.
C. Social Movements February 17
Ronaldo Munck. "NGOs: Filling the Gap," pp. 76-81.
Ronaldo Munck. Chapter 6, "Social Movements," pp. 101-120.
V. POLITICAL-ECONOMY
A. Dependent Development February 20
Ronaldo Munck. "Dependent Development," pp. 43-47.
B. State-Led Development February 22
Ronaldo Munck. "State-Led Development," pp. 48-52.
C. Neo-Liberalism February 24-27
Ronaldo Munck. "The New Economic Model," and "Beyond Neoliberalism," pp. 52-61.
VI. SOCIAL PATTERNS
A. Class March 1
Ronaldo Munck. "Social Structures," pp. 82-86.
Ronaldo Munck. "Poverty and Welfare," pp. 95-100.
B. Gender March 3-13
Ronaldo Munck. "Social Relations," pp. 86-87.
Peter Winn. Chapter 9, "In Women's Hands," pp. 307-345.
C. Ethnicity March 15-17
Ronaldo Munck. "Social Relations," pp. 87-89.
Peter Winn. Chapter 7, "Children of the Sun," pp. 234-270.
Peter Winn. Chapter 8, "A Question of Color," pp. 271-306.
VII. CULTURE
A. Political Culture March 22
Ronaldo Munck. "Ideologies of Change," pp. 121-126.
B. Religion March 24-27
Ronaldo Munck. "Religion and Society," pp. 126-130.
Peter Winn. Chapter 10, "The Power and the Glory," pp. 346-393.
VIII. ENVIRONMENT
A. Population and Urbanization March 29-31
Ronaldo Munck. "Urbanization," pp. 90-95.
Peter Winn. Chapter 6, "Continents on the Move," pp. 200-233.
B. Ecology April 3-5
IX. INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
A. United States-Latin American Relations April 7-17
Ronaldo Munck. "Colonialism to Globalism," pp. 138-143.
Peter Winn. Chapter 12, "Endangered States," pp. 442-491.
B. Regional Integration April 19
Ronaldo Munck. "Regional Integration," pp. 143-147.
X. CONCLUSION: ALTERNATIVE FUTURES April 21-24
Ronaldo Munck. Chapter 9, "Conclusion: Futures Imperfect," pp. 157-174.
Peter Winn. "Epilogue," pp. 601-608.
