Labor and Democracy in Latin America

Catalog description

Labor movements are crucial actors in Latin American politics. This course will analyze and explain the contributions of organized labor to democratization processes in Latin America from the 19th century to the present-not only in the struggle for formal democracy, but also in the creation of new forms of participation and in the expansion of social citizenship rights. Special attention will be given to the role of labor in shaping the major political eras in the region, including the rise of populism following the onset of mass politics, the period of redemocratization in the late 20th century, and the more recent political shift towards the left. The course will cover a wide range of countries in the region and different labor movements in different historical periods. It will draw on political economy and political sociology approaches to explain both general processes and differences across countries.