Comparative Law & Society: Conflicts in the Structuring of Democratic Polities across Latin…

Catalog description

This course examines how different democratic polities with their own distinct, historically rooted traditions have used the law to promote shared goals of liberty and equality. Chile is widely seen as an exemplar in the successful deployment of law to enable the transition from an authoritarian to a democratic society. Topics include: how history has shaped inherited legal institutions and concepts across Latin America, Europe, and the United States; constitutional review; administrative regulation; criminal justice; debates over free speech, as well as ongoing struggles to promote racial, ethnic, and gender equality. Visits to a number of key sights: the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos; the Universidad de Chile; and the Tribunal Constitucional de Chile.