POLI2410 · Political Science

Latin American Politics

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

This course is restricted to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Why are Latin American countries comparatively less developed than other former colonies such as the US or Australia? How did formerly authoritarian Brazil or Mexico build vibrant democracies in the 2000s while Venezuela, the only South American country not to experience democratic breakdown in the 70s, fell into authoritarianism? How can Latin American countries promote inclusive economic growth and provide welfare and public safety to their growing population? Do the failures in the provision of these services fuel discontentment with democracy in the region? Thiscourseanswers these and other questions about politics, the economy, and the society of Latin America. It introduces the scholarly debate about the historical foundations, evolution, and legacies of Latin American states, political regimes, and welfare systems and studies some of the most pressing challenges faced by countries in the region today (democratic quality, inclusion, transitional justice, corruption, violence, sustainable development, poverty, and inequality).