Latin
American Politics:
A Combined Classroom & Interactive On-Line Seminar
Fall, 1999
SYLLABUS
SEMINAR DESCRIPTION
The center of this seminar is
representative democracy in the Latin American countries. The seminar focuses on
understanding how democratic governments operate in practice, and how politics is the
context of government. Over the semester we will keep in mind human behavior in
general and the cultural traditions of Latin America's 20 nation-states. In looking
at Latin American countries we have the chance to compare and look into their past, much
of which has not been democratic.
We will start with a review of basic concepts and the language of
political discussion. Then we will proceed to examine ideologies, political parties,
interest groups, governmental institutions (primarily executive and legislative), and
policies aimed at problems of economic development and demands for greater social justice.
The debate over how to strengthen liberal democratic processes while promoting economic
growth is the thread uniting this course. This debate is sometimes discussed in
terms of representativity and governability.
REQUIRED READINGS
Dietz & Gil, Urban Elections in Latin America, (Boulder, Colorado: Lynn, Rienner, 1998).
Merryman, Civil Law Tradition, (Palo Alto, California: Stanford University Press, 1985).
Peeler, Building Democracy in Latin America, (Wilmington, Delaware: Scholarly Resources, 1998).
Howard J. Wiarda and Harvey F. Kline,
editors, Latin American Politics and
Development, Fourth Edition, (Boulder, Colorado: Westview
Press, 1996).
Inter-American Development Bank, Modernization of the State and Strengthening of Civil Society, (Washington, D.C.: no date [1998]).
Latin American Newsletters, Special Report: Who Is Competing for Power in Latin America, (London: February, 1999)
Readings from selected Websites as assigned.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
Course reading and assignments are designed to bring you close to politics and governing as practiced in today's Latin American countries. The course takes on a modified distance learning format when I am away from Plattsburgh. When away our interaction will be via the World Wide Web and email. Literally we will share a joint learning experience. You will need access to the Web and to email to participate in the course.
1. Email account. You will need an email account and use of a browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. This will allow you to track our email exchanges and use of the Internet.
2. Map quiz. As a matter of practicality you need to be conversant with the location of the 20 countries of Latin America. This is your means to sort political and governmental information. Wiarda & Kline provide you with a map of Middle America on page 342, and of South America on page 70. You are expected to know both the country and its capital, and each spelled correctly. For the quiz you will be asked to fill out a blank map in class. Every two major mistakes moves your quiz grade down one step. Minor mistakes such as misspelling I'll consider on a case by case basis. Course countries: Caribbean region [Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti]; Middle/Central America region: [Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama]; South America region [Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil] (4% of grade - September 16.)
3. Weekly & Assigned Reports by Email. As a "distance learning" component of the course you are to participate by sending to me weekly comments and questions on the reading and course matters. I will respond and carry-out a dialogue with you individually. Address the question of the week posted on the course calendar. Thes ear eto be sent no later than 10:00 each Thursday. (24% of grade).
2. Discussion Group: At least once a week you should "check-in" to the discussion group for overall classroom discussion. There is an assigned topic each week. Please discuss the same question of the week you wrote about in the email. You are to address this question taking into account the comments of others, and past weeks' discussions. The weekly question is a minimum. Introduce new topics of your own. (24% of grade).
4. Legislative Process Research Project. You will be assigned a topic. A final paper is due the day of the final examination, 10-15 pages in length. (24% of grade)
5. Final two hour
comprehensive in-class examination given during finals week. (24% of grade). /
Attendance: You may miss the equivalent of one week of class
meetings without penalty. For each two classes you miss beyond this week your grade will
be lowered one step, i.e. B+ to B.