Introduction to Latin American Studies

Calendar

LEC #	TOPICS	KEY DATES
Introduction
1	Introductions and Review of Syllabus Name Game Pop Quiz
Historical Inheritances and Current Realities
2	Finish Pop Quiz and Name Game Assign Class Presentation Dates Set Times for Movies / Precepts Latin America as a “Living Museum”
3	Class Discussion of “Big Mama’s Funeral”
The Legacies of Conquest and Slavery
4	Map Test The Conquest of Mexico
5	Class Discussion of Race Begin Discussion of Theories of Development
Development and Underdevelopment in Latin America
6	Theories of Development
7	Individual Presentations on Economic Development
Development and Underdevelopment
8	The Latin American Debt Crisis, Structural Adjustment, and Market-oriented Reform
9	Review of Mexican Development Strategies Extemporaneous Presentations of Steroid Hormone Industry and Mexican Development Strategies Today	First paper (4-5 pages) due one day after lecture 9
Development, Underdevelopment, and Politics in Chile
10	Class Discussion of The House of the Spirits Chilean Democracy and its Breakdown
Development, Democratic Breakdown, and Military Rule
11	The Breakdown of Chilean Democracy
12	Bureaucratic-authoritarianism in Latin America	First paper rewrite due one day after lecture 12
Re-democratization in Chile (and Elsewhere)
13	The Transition to Democracy in Chile and Elsewhere
14	Class Discussion: What is Democracy? Is Chile Democratic?
Civil-military Relations in Latin America and Accountability for Past Abuses
15	Brief Discussion on Day of the Dead in Mexico Establishing Civilian Control Over the Military
16	Transitional Justice Preparations for Class Debate	Second paper (4-5 pages) due one day after lecture 16
Accountability for Past Abuses and the Rule of Law
17	Class Debate: Prosecute and Punish or Forgive and Forget?
18	Class Debate (cont.)
Rule of Law in Latin America: Corruption and Criminal Justice in Mexico
19	The Rule of Law in Latin America: “Guilty until Proven Rich”
20	One-party Rule, Democratization, and Corruption in Mexico
21	Group Presentations on Fixing the Criminal Justice System in Mexico	Second paper rewrite due
The Rule of Law in Brazil
22	Class Discussion of de Soto’s Argument Preparation for Class Presentations
23	Group Class Presentations: How should Land Disputes in Brazil be Resolved?	Third paper (4-5 pages) due one day after lecture 23
Conclusion: Latin America After Big Mama
24	Class Discussion of “Big Mama’s Funeral” Latin America After Big Mama
25	Latin America After Big Mama (cont.) Class Evaluations	Third paper rewrite (optional) may be turned in with the final exam