BOSTON UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & POLITICAL SCIENCE PARDEE SCHOOL OF GLOBAL STUDIES IR367/PO360 INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FALL 2017 MWF 10:10-11:00 ROOM CAS B06A Emeritus Professor of International Relations & Political Science David Scott Palmer Office: 154 BSR Room 406 Office Hours: M-W-F 11:30-12:30 & by appointment Telephone: 617-353-9388 E-Mail: dspalmer@bu.edu Course Rationale, Goals, & Organization This course, which assumes no prior knowledge of Latin America or U.S.- Latin American Relations, is intended to introduce you to a part of the world that, in the words of long-time New York Times correspondent Tad Szulc, Americans will do anything for Latin America except read about it. But you re in the course to help prove him wrong and I m here to help you do that. During our weeks together you ll read and reflect on a novel or testimony by a Latin American author. You ll learn where all Latin American and Caribbean countries and capitals are. You ll capture a sense of the enduring impact of the colonial experience and major patterns of post-independence politics. You ll learn about each of the 20 Latin American republics and become especially knowledgeable about at least one of them (your choice). You ll become acquainted with the ways the United States has related to the region over the past two centuries, as well as with some of the most pressing issues in our current policies. We ll also take some time each week to discuss what s been happening in the region. When you complete the course, you will have a good grasp of the history of Latin American politics, the major contemporary characteristics, and explanations for the distinctive patterns of politics in the region and among individual countries. You will also have an understanding of the major developments over the decades in inter-american relations and the most pressing concerns today. 1
Readings (Available at the BU Barnes & Noble Bookstore at IR367 and/or PO 360) Harvey Kline & Christine Wade, eds. Latin American Politics & Development, 9 th edition (Boulder: Westview Press, 2018) [ISBN 9780813350509] David Scott Palmer, U.S. Relations with Latin America during the Clinton Years (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2006) [ISBN 9781616101428] One novel or testimony by a Latin American author from the following list (your choice): Miguel Angel Asturias, The President (Long Grove IL: Waveland Press, 1963) [ISBN 9780881339512] A Guatemalan novelist and Nobel Laureate describes life and death under caudillo rule Mariano Azuela, The Underdogs, Signet Classic (New York: Penguin, 1996) [ISBN 9780451531087] A Mexican novelist s skeptical view of the Revolution of 1910 Carolina Maria de Jesús, Child of the Dark, Signet Classic (New York: Penguin, 2003) [ISBN 9780451529107] Life in a Brazilian shanty town (favela) in the 1950s through the eyes of a resident Jacobo Timerman, Prisoner without a Name: Cell without a Number (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2001) [ISBN 9780299182441] An Argentine journalist narrates his ordeal during a repressive military dictatorship (1976-1983) Mario Vargas Llosa, Death in the Andes (New York: St. Martin s Press, 2007) [ISBN 9780312427252] A Peruvian novelist and Latin America s most recent Nobel Laureate depicts the intertwining of myth and reality in a sierra mining town during the Shining Path guerrillas People s War In addition, there are some readings (noted with an *) posted on the IR 367 Blackboard website, along with announcements and basic course materials Finally, the Latin American Weekly Report (LAWR) covers current developments in the region and is available in an on-line 10-week subscription at a special student rate of $25 (regular cost is $100). LAWR is valuable as a resource for our regular discussions of current events. Sign up during the first class meetings. You are responsible for knowing & understanding the provisions of the CAS Academic Conduct Code, at bu.edu/academics/resources/academic-conduct-code 2
Grading: 1. Map Quiz (10%) On a blank map of Latin America & the Caribbean, Identify & locate the 33 independent countries & 34 capitals (M 11 Sep) 2. Short paper (15%) A three page reflection on historical/political aspects of the novel or testimony you read (Due F 22 Sep) 3. Participation (20%) The quality of your questions, comments, & observations on readings, presentations, & class discussion 4. Research Paper (25%) About 10-12 pages explaining some important aspect of politics of either one Latin American country or a paired comparison of two (Papers on Mexico through Venezuela due M 23 Oct); (Papers on Colombia through Brazil due W 15 Nov). 5. Final Exam (30%) About half will cover Latin American politics, & about half will deal with elements of U.S.-Latin American relations (TBA) Classes, Topics, & Assignments: Getting Started W 6 Sep F 8 Sep Introduction Latin America Today: The Big Picture Reading: LAPD, 3-18 M 11 Sep Countries of Latin America I Map Quiz Reading: LAPD, 89-100 W 13 Sep Countries of Latin America II Novels & Testimonies Make an initial selection of your country F 15 Sep Novels & Testimonies I General discussion M 18 Sep Novels & Testimonies II Reflection Presentations 3
W 20 Sep Novels & Testimonies III Reflection Presentations F 22 Sep Novels & Testimonies IV Reflection Presentations Short Papers on Novels & Testimonies Due Overview of Latin American History M 25 Sep Latin American Political History I Reading: LAPD, 19-27 W 27 Sep Latin American Political History II Reading: LAPD, 28-57 F 29 Sep Latin American Political History III Reading: LAPD, 59-74, 89-100 Latin America Country Studies, from North to South We are studying each of the 20 independent countries usually identified as comprising Latin America. Reading assignments include one broad overview from Latin American Politics & Development (2017 edition!) and one or two short analyses of current issues and concerns. In addition, you will find more up-to-date information in Latin American Weekly Report and other on-line publications: Inter-American Dialogue [thedialogue.org] Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) [wola.org] Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) [coha.org] Insight Crime [insightcrime.org] Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies [chdsstratcom.ndu.edu] Americas Barometer [americasbarometer.org] Americas Program, Center for International Policy [cipamericas.org] 4
Americas Program, Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) [csis.org/americas] Finally, the Library of Congress s Hispanic Division Handbook of Latin American Studies contains short summaries by experts of the best books and articles written about their country of specialization [loc.gov/hlas] M 2 Oct Introduction to Country Studies Reading: *Juan Pablo Luna & Alberto Vergara, Latin America s Problems of Success, Journal of Democracy 27:3 July 2016, 158-65; *Shannon K. O Neil, Latin America s Populist Hangover, Foreign Affairs 95:6 Nov/Dec 2016, 31-8 Make the final selection of your country W 4 Oct Mexico I Reading: LAPD, José Luis Velasco, 319-44 F 6 Oct Mexico II Reading: *Beatriz Magaloni & Zaira Razu, Mexico in the Grip of Violence, Current History 115:778 February 2016, 57-62 TU 10 Oct Central America I: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras Reading: LAPD, Guatemala, Michael Allison, 411-21; El Salvador, Christine Wade, 395-410; Honduras, Mark Ruhl, 423-33; *José Miguel Cruz, The Root Causes of the Central American Crisis, Current History 114:769 February 2015, 43-8 *Adriana Beltrán, A New Era of Accountability in Guatemala? Current History 115:778 February 2016, 63-7 W 11 Oct Central America II: Nicaragua, Costa Rica Reading: LAPD, Nicaragua, Richard Millett, 383-94; Costa Rica, Mitchell Seligson, 369-81; *Kai Thaler, Nicaragua: A Return to Caulillismo, Journal of Democracy 28:2 April 2017, 157-69 F 13 Oct Panama Reading: LAPD, Orlando Pérez, 435-47 5
M 16 Oct Cuba Reading: LAPD, Juan del Aguila, Frank Mora, & Brian Fonseca, 345-68; *Ted A. Henken & Archibald R.M. Ritter, Overcoming Cuba s Internal Embargo, Current History 114:769, February 2015, 73-6 W 18 Oct Hispañola: Dominican Republic & Haiti Reading: LAPD, Dominican Republic, Lilian Bobea, 449-63; Haiti, Georges Fauriol, 465-76 F 20 Oct Venezuela Reading: LAPD, David Myers, 217-44; *David Smilde, The End of Chavismo? Current History 114:769, February 2015, 49-55; *Michael M. McCarthy, Venezuela s Manmade Disaster, Current History 116:787, February 2017, 61-7 M 23 Oct Colombia I Reading: LAPD, Harvey Kline, 169-94 Mexico to Venezuela Research Papers Due W 25 Oct Colombia II Reading: *Lindsay R. Mayka, Colombia s Surprising Resilience, Journal of Democracy 27:3 July 2016, 139-47; *Eduardo Posada- Carbó, The Difficult Road to Peace in Colombia, Current History 116:787 February 2017, 74-6 F 27 Oct Ecuador Reading: LAPD, Jennifer Collins, 299-315; *Catherine M. Conaghan, Ecuador under Correa, Journal of Democracy 27:3 July 2016, 109-18 M 30 Oct Peru Reading: LAPD, Julio Carrión & David Scott Palmer, 195-216; *Alberto Vergara & Aaron Watanabe, Peru since Fujimori, Journal of Democracy 27:3 July 2016, 148-57; *Eduardo Dargent & Paula 6
Muñoz, Peru: A Close Win for Democracy, Journal of Democracy 27:4 October 2016 145-58 W 1 Nov Bolivia Reading: LAPD, Miguel Centellas, 283-98; *Santiago Anria, More Inclusion, Less Liberalism in Bolivia, Journal of Democracy 27:3 July 2016, 99-108; John Crabtree, Indigenous Empowerment in Evo Morales s Bolivia, Current History 116:787 February 2017, 55-60 F 3 Nov Chile Reading: LAPD, Peter Siavelis, 141-68: *Juan Pablo Luna, Chile s Crisis of Representation, Journal of Democracy 27:3 July 2016, 129-38; *Jennifer Pribble, Chile s elites Face Demands for Reform, Current History 116:787 February 2017, 49-54 M 6 Nov Argentina Reading: LAPD, Linda Chen, 103-22; * Argentina s new, honest inflation statistics: The end of bogus accounting, The Economist, May 24, 2017 W 8 Nov Uruguay & Paraguay Reading: LAPD, Uruguay, Martin Weinstein & Jorge Rebella, 245-63; Paraguay, Sebastian Meyer, 265-82 F 10 Nov Brazil I Reading: LAPD, Britta Crandall, 123-39 M 13 Nov Brazil II Reading: *Brian Winter, Brazil s Never-Ending Corruption Crisis, Foreign Affairs 96:3, May/June 2017, 87-94 W 15 Nov Countries Reviewed and Compared Colombia to Brazil Research Papers Due 7
U.S.-Latin American Relations: History & Current Issues F 17 Nov U.S.-L.A. Relations: Introduction Palmer, Chap 1, 1-8 M 20 Nov U.S.-L.A. History: Monroe Doctrine to the Good Neighbor *Weeks, Chaps 2-4, 14-96 M 27 Nov U.S.-L.A. History: The Cold War Palmer, Chap 2, 9-21 *Weeks, Chap 5, 97-123, & 7, 148-76 W 29 Nov U.S.-L.A. History: Post-Cold War & Intro to Issues Palmer, Chaps 3-5, 22-95; *Frank O. Mora, Post-Cold War U.S.-Latin American Policy: The Clinton, Bush, and Obama Administrations, in Michael J. LaRosa & Frank O. Mora, eds. Neighborly Adversaries 3 rd Edition, Lanham MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015, 243-63 F 1 Dec U.S.-L.A. Current Issues I *Intelligence Unit, U.S.-Latin American Relations at a Crossroads, The Economist, May 13, 2016; *Global American, 4 th of July: Remembering What America Is All About, Foreign Policy and U.S.- Latin American Relations, July 4, 2017 M 4 Dec U.S.-L.A. Current Issues II *Sonja Wolf, Chronicles of Everyday Lawlessness, Current History 116:787 February 2017, 77-9; *Michael Shifter, The U.S.-Cuba Thaw and Hemispheric Relations, Current History 115:778 February 2016, 75-6; Review websites (pp. 4-5, plus your own research) for the most recent analyses of other issues (e.g., drug trafficking, immigration, NAFTA, military & economic aid, investment) W 6 Dec TBA Conclusions: What have we learned? Final Exam 1/2 History & Countries; 1/2 U.S.-L.A. Relations 8