PSCI 366: Politics and Governments of South America

Fall 2001 Dr. Leaman’s Office: CLS 2050

Tuesday and Thursday, 9:25-10:40 AM Office Hours: TR 8:50-9:20 AM &

Room: SCI S-111 4:15-5:30 PM; W 1:30-3:00 PM; Telephone: 773-442-5657 or by appointment with Dr. Leaman

Website: www.neiu.edu/~dleaman E-mail: d-leaman@neiu.edu

Description: This course takes us on a tour through a large and vitally important region of the Americas. “South America” is the region stretching from the northwestern border of Colombia to the southeastern tip of the Tierra del Fuego. It is comprised of twelve nation-states, including the second most populous in the Americas, Brazil. So that our travels through this area are not aimless, we will be guided by various major comparative political themes. Class themes include: Iberian colonialism and its legacies; nation-building and state-building; competing political economy models: nationalism, socialism, and (neo)liberalism; military authoritarianism versus democratization; civil-military relations; indigenous struggles; racism, poverty, and economic class conflict; women’s political action; religion and politics; labor unions and political parties; national sovereignty and the drug wars; the role of the U.S.; revolutionary groups; and the human rights movement. Each of these comparative themes is explored in particular countries/case studies within the region. Course readings are also quite diverse, enabling us to learn from different vantage points and to assess the advantages (or disadvantages) of various approaches -- political scientific, historical, autobiographical/testimonial, and journalistic -- to the study of Latin American politics. Our success on this “tour” will depend always on intellectual inquisitiveness, hard and meaningful work, and active class participation. Good luck to all of us.

Basic Requirements: In addition to the readings listed below, this course will feature three short answer quizzes, two short papers, and a final essay exam. For graduate students, the second paper will be a major research project (utilizing both primary and secondary sources) that will culminate in a 10-15 page research paper and a seminar-style class presentation. Due dates are listed on the course calendar. Any changes in this schedule will be announced in advance. The penalty for lateness on any assignment or exam is one letter grade PER DAY of lateness. In addition, attendance and prompt arrival are required at EVERY class; more than three absences and/or frequent tardiness will automatically result in a zero for the participation portion of your final grade. If you cannot make it to a class for some unavoidable reason, you must inform me by voice mail or e-mail BEFORE that class. This is an upper-level university course. As such, you should think of this class as a ten hours/week job -- three hours in class and at least seven hours working outside of class every week. Please keep this syllabus and “job description” in mind throughout the course as we participate together in this learning adventure. By course’s end, I hope that we will be proud of all that we have learned.

Readings: There are three books required for this course (listed below). Please purchase them immediately at the campus bookstore. There also will be a set of xeroxed readings on Colombia, one week’s assignment, given to you as a class handout later in the course.

Skidmore, Thomas E. and Peter H. Smith, MODERN LATIN AMERICA, 5th ed. (2001).

Murillo, Maria Victoria, LABOR UNIONS, PARTISAN COALITIONS, AND MARKET REFORMS IN LATIN AMERICA (2001).

da Silva, Benedita, Medea Benjamin and Maisa Mendonca, BENEDITA DA SILVA: AN AFRO-BRAZILIAN WOMAN’S STORY OF POLITICS AND LOVE (1997).

Grading: Final grades follow the standard percentages (A = 90-100%; B = 80-89%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; F = Below 60%). The “weights” of various grades and the differing requirements for undergraduate and graduate students are summarized below.

Undergraduates Graduate Students

Three quizzes 30% (50 each) Three quizzes 30% (50 each)

Short Paper #1 20% (100) Short Paper #1 15% (75)

Short Paper #2 20% (100) Research Paper 25% (125)

Final Exam 20% (100) Final Exam 20% (100)

Participation 10% (50) Participation 10% (50)

500 points 500 points

Short Answer Quizzes (undergraduates and graduates): The quizzes evaluate your mastery of the reading assignments. Each will have five straightforward questions that require you to identify and explain the significance of a selection of important terms, concepts, and names.

Short Paper #1 (undergraduates and graduates): This paper -- approximately four pages, typed and double-spaced -- will be a take-home essay responding to Benedita da Silva’s testimonial. You will be given one week to address one of the questions provided by the instructor.

Short Paper #2 (undergraduates only): In lieu of a research paper, all undergraduate students will write a second take-home essay -- approximately four pages, typed, and double-spaced -- on Maria Victoria Murillo’s analysis of labor-government relations in Argentina and Venezuela. You will be given one week to answer one of the questions provided by the instructor.

Final Essay Exam (undergraduates and graduates): The final in-class essay exam will offer you the opportunity to engage in broad intellectual synthesis. The essay questions to choose from will be thematic and will require you to weave together learnings from different sections of the course. The final may also include a few short answer questions from the final weeks’ readings.

Research Paper (and Class Presentation) (graduate students only): Your research project on a comparative topic of your choice will proceed in a series of four steps: topic question; outline; first draft; and final draft. In your research, you will be expected to utilize at least ten secondary and primary sources (including national language sources if you are able). The instructor will work with you at each step of the way. Missed deadlines will adversely affect your grade. Your research will result in a 10-15 page paper that meets professional standards for documentation, content, and form, as well as a short oral presentation of your subject (ten minutes or so). You may also have a hand in selecting some handouts for the entire class to read prior to your report..

Video Texts: We will utilize a variety of videos in class including segments from the Americas series. These audio-visual “texts” supplement the readings. Note-taking is recommended.

COURSE CALENDAR AND TOPICS

Week 1 Introduction to Major Comparative Themes

August 28 and 30

READ: Modern Latin America, pp. 1-41

Benedita da Silva, Foreword, Preface, and Introduction

Week 2 Iberian Colonial Legacies and Modern Transformations

September 4 and 6

READ: Modern Latin America, pp. 42-67

Benedita da Silva, pp. 3-30

Week 3 Argentina: Competing Political Economy Models in the 20th Century

September 11 and 13

READ: Modern Latin America, pp. 68-106

Benedita da Silva, pp. 31-56

Quiz #1 on September 20

Week 4 Chile: Political Party Competition and Electoral Political Systems

September 18 and 20

READ: Modern Latin America, pp. 107-136

Benedita da Silva, pp. 56-81

Typed topic question for graduate research paper due on September 25

Week 5 Brazil: Political and Economic Development for Whom?

September 25 and 27

READ: Modern Latin America, pp. 137-161

Benedita da Silva, pp. 83-110

Week 6 Argentina, Brazil, and Chile: Military Dictatorship and Democratization

October 2 and 4

READ: Modern Latin America, pp. 161-176

Benedita da Silva, pp. 110-137

Outline and preliminary bibliography for graduate research paper due on October 11

Week 7 Benedita Da Silva and the Politics of Race, Religion, Class, and Gender

October 9 and 11

READ: Benedita da Silva, pp. 139-201

Short Essay #1 due on October 16

Week 8 Peru: National Identity, Indigenous Struggles, and Revolution

October 16 and 18

READ: Modern Latin America, pp. 177-216

Quiz #2 on October 25

Week 9 Latin America, the United States and the World

October 23 and 25

READ: Modern Latin America, pp. 355-398

Week 10 Colombia: Revolution, Militarization, Drug Wars and National Sovereignty

October 30 and November 1

READ: Class handout of readings on Colombia

Week 11 Neoliberalism, Populism, and State-Labor Relations in Latin America

November 6 and 8

READ: Murillo, Abstract and pp. 1-39

First typed draft of graduate research paper due on November 15

Week 12 Venezuela: Labor Unions, Political Parties, and Market Reforms

November 13 and 15

READ: Murillo, pp. 45-91

Quiz #3 on November 20

Week 13 Argentina: Labor Unions, Political Parties, and Market Reforms

November 20 and Thanksgiving holiday

READ: Murillo, pp. 131-171

Short Paper #2 (undergraduates) and Research Paper (graduates) due on November 29

Week 14 Thinking Theoretically: Multilevel Comparisons and Analytical Frameworks

November 27 and 29

READ: Murillo, pp. 172-204

Modern Latin America, pp. 399-407, 409-422

Week 15 Wrapping Up

December 4 and 6

READ: Finish up any missed readings

In-Class Final Essay Exam: Thursday, December 13, 8:00-9:50 AM