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Comparative Politics of Latin America

This course explores the political changes and democratization processes in Latin America, examining the factors behind the spread of democracy, the role of the United States, and the implications for US-Latin American relations. The course includes readings, exams, and assignments.

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Comparative Politics of Latin America

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  1. PS 134AA:COMPARATIVE POLITICS OF LATIN AMERICA, orDEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIZATION INLATIN AMERICASpring 2011

  2. Instructor: Peter H. Smith 364 Social Science Building phsmith@dss.ucsd.edu Office hours: Wednesday 11-1 TA/Grader: Kathryn Dove 320 Social Science Building kdove@ucsd.edu Office hours: Wednesday 3:30-4:30

  3. COURSE WEBSITE http://weber.ucsd.edu/~phsmith/ps134aa.htm OR go to UCSD and then: Political Science Faculty Peter Smith Homepage Teaching PS134AA

  4. REQUIRED READING • Peter H. Smith, Democracy in Latin America: Political Change in Comparative Perspective (2005) • Thomas E. Skidmore, Peter H. Smith, and James N. Green Modern Latin America, 7th revised edition (2010) • Course Reader: • www.universityreaders.com • “STUDENTS BUY HERE” in “Student Store” • Create an account of login • Follow instructions

  5. EXAMS AND ASSIGNMENTS • Mid-term: Wednesday, May 4 (33% of grade) • Final: TBA (67% of grade) • Optional paper: Wednesday, May 25 (30% of course grade, reducing mid-term to 20% and final to 50%)

  6. KEY QUESTIONS • What explains the spread of democracy in Latin America? Given authoritarian past? • What kind of democracy? What quality? • What’s new about the current phase of democratic change? How does it compare to prior periods? • What role (if any) for the United States? • What implications for U.S. relations with Latin America?

  7. COURSE SCHEDULE • Mar 30: Introduction • Apr 06: Cycles and Transitions • Apr 13: Changing Roles of the Military • Apr 20: Presidentialism, Parties, and Legislatures • Apr 27: Economic Policies and Governmental Performance

  8. SCHEDULE(cont.) • May 04: MIDTERM • May 11: Liberal and Illiberal Democracy/ Social Class and Satisfaction • May 18: Politics of Gender • May 25: The Rise of the New Left • June 01: What Now? Democracy and U.S.-Latin American Relations

  9. ELECTORAL REGIMES • Democratic = free and fair • Semi-democratic = free but not fair • Oligarchic = fair but not free • Nondemocratic = Nonexistent or openly fraudulent

  10. NONDEMOCRATIC TRADITIONS Types of Authoritarian Regime ________________Power Structure___________________ Personalist Institutionalized Leadership ________________ ___________________ __________ Traditional Caudillo or Collective Junta or Military “Man on Horseback” Bureaucratic-Authoritarian Regime Technocratic State or One-Party State or Civilian Sultanistic Despotism Corporatist Regime

  11. FRIENDLY ADMONITIONS • 1.Try to put yourself in the place of a Latin American citizen, • 2. Imagine how the world feels, not only how it looks, • 3. View course material as relevant to political change in other regions and parts of the world, • 4. Take videos seriously, and • 5. Have fun!

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