Contemporary Politics of Latin America

This course introduces students to the politics of Latin America. It presumes little or no knowledge of the region but promises that students who take this module will begin to understand some of the principal structural features of the region development and some of the principal political and social forces whose interactions help account for the way the region has changed since independence in the early 19th century. Throughout the course students will examine how particular economic and political outcomes have been derived. To achieve this, the course focuses on political, economic and social actors and how they interact not just within the region but also within the structural features of the international economy. Students are expected to attend class, contribute during class and utilize the online resources.