Latin American Politics

Catalog description

In this class we will aim to understand the main forces (political and economic) that impact democracy in the region. Surveying main debates in Latin American studies, as well as historical cases, we will address the challenges Latin American societies face in order to find their own ways to fight inequality, poverty and oppression. At the end of the semester, students should be able to discuss the most relevant debates regarding why countries transition from authoritarianism to democracy, how did colonialism influence Latin America's lasting affair with authoritarianism, what role does economic development play in a country's transformation. We will also analyze important topics such as women and indigenous movements, poverty and inequality, U.S.-Latin American relations, as well as a series of case studies that focus on Mexico and Central America, the Southern Cone, and the Andes region.