Socio-political analysis of Latin America

Teacher(s)

Pleyers Geoffrey;

Language

French

Main themes

- Get an insight of Latin-American political problems through a global analysis of the contemporary stages of political processes in relation with socio-economic evolutions. - The course will be centered around the issue: Which democracies do we find in Latin America? It raises the issue of the existence and the nature of democracies in Latin America as well as the potential (of sur-vival, of deepening) of these democracies. Answering to this issue would mean to analyse the caracteristics and dynamics of the political regime, but also to take into account the main historical aspects of Latin-American societies.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	- Ability to understand the complexity and the diversity of Latin-American realities and political proc-esses.

Content

This teaching unit aims to introduce students to the political problems of Latin America, it revolves around the question: What is the scope of democracy, as a concept, project and practice in the Latin America? To answer this question is to examine political regimes in their characteristics and dynamism, but also to consider the main socio-historical aspects of Latin American societies.
The course is organized in three parts. The first one presents the Latin-American specificity in its multiple dimensions, approaching the discussion about the existence of one or more Latin America. The second analysis how state, political system and civil society articulated during oligarchic regimes, national-popular regimes and authoritarian regimes. The third approaches the return to democracies and the socio political issues of the 21st century. This aspect will be addressed in its more global and more in-depth aspects from three countries.

Teaching methods

Course and individual lectures with some interactive sessions where the students are led to deepen themes presented by the course owner.

Evaluation methods

Refer to french version.

Online resources

Available on MOODLE

Bibliography

• Le support du cours est composé d'un portefeuille de lectures et des présentations PowerPoint, disponibles sur MOODLE. It's composed of a portfolio of readings and PowerPoint presentations.

Disponible sur MOODLE.                                      Available on MOODLE

Teaching materials

• Le support du cours est composé d'un portefeuille de lectures et des présentations PowerPoint, disponibles sur MOODLE. It’s composed of a portfolio of readings and PowerPoint presentations.

Faculty or entity

PSAD