Political Science 197D
Spring 2000
Professor Barbara Geddes
Office Hours: 2-4 Tuesday
3339 Bunche
This class focuses on the current period of democratic politics in Latin America. It is geared toward the student who already has some background in Latin American politics or history and who wants to understand the contemporary political situation better. Coursework will cover the role of the military, both as an influence on policy and as a potential threat to democratic stability; the effect of different kinds of political institutions on governability and the responsiveness of government to citizens; the effect of economic crisis and reform on parties and politics; and the challenges to democracy posed by populist strongmen.
The class is a small discussion seminar. Students will be expected to read the assigned material and discuss it in class. Two short (five page) papers will be assigned instead of a midterm. In addition, each student will be expected to write a research paper (5-10 pages) and to present a preliminary version of his or her research in class.
Students wishing to take this class need the permission of the instructor. To get permission, simply come to see me during office hours during the first week of spring quarter or email me for a appointment at another time if my office hours are not convenient.
Required reading: Scott Mainwaring and Matthew Shugart, eds., Presidentialism and Democracy in Latin America
A Reader of xeroxed articles, available at Westwood Copies, on Gayley near the corner of Weyburn.
Schedule of Reading Assignments
Week 1, April 6: Introduction: Prospects for Democratic Stability in Latin America
Week 2, April 13: Democratization and the Current Political Situation in Central America
Reading: Seligson and Booth, eds., Elections and Democracy in Central America, chapters on Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, in xeroxed reader
Week 3, April 20: The Changing Role of the Military in More-or-Less Democratic Latin America
Reading: Zaverucha, “The Degree of Military Political Autonomy during the Spanish, Argentine and Brazilian Transitions”; Pion-Berlin and Arceneaux, “Tipping the Civil-Military Balance: Institutions and Human Rights Policy in Democratic Argentina and Chile”; Hunter, “Politicians against Soldiers: Contesting the Military in Postauthoritarian Brazil”; Ruhl, “Honduras: Militarism and Democratization in Troubled Waters”; Holiday, “Guatemala’s Precarious Peace,” all in xeroxed reader
TUESDAY, APRIL 25: FIRST PAPER DUE
Week 4, April 27: Arguments about Presidentialism; Brazil
Reading: Mainwaring and Shugart, eds., Presidentialism and Democracy in Latin America, introduction and chapter on Brazil
Week 5, May 4: Variations in Presidential Power; Colombia, Venezuela, and Costa Rica
Reading: Mainwaring and Shugart, chapters on Colombia, Venezuela, and Costa Rica
Week 6, May 11: Presidents with Strong Parties: Mexico and Argentina
Reading: Mainwaring and Shugart, chapters on Mexico and Argentina
Week 7, May 18: Chile and Bolivia
Reading: Mainwaring and Shugart, chapters on Chile and Bolivia and conclusion
TUESDAY, MAY 23: SECOND PAPER DUE
Week 8, May 25: The Effects of Economic Crisis and Reform
Reading: Geddes, “Challenging the Conventional Wisdom”; Rodrik, “Understanding Economic Policy Reform”; Dornbusch, “The Case for Trade Liberalization in Developing Countries,” all in xeroxed reader
Week 9, June 1: Retrospective Voting: Outsiders and Populist Strongmen
Reading: Palmer, “Democracy and Its Discontents in Fujimori’s Peru”; McCoy and Trinkunas, “Venezuela’s Peaceful Revolution”; McCoy, “Demystifying Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez,” all in xeroxed reader
Week 10, June 8: Challenges to Latin American Party Systems, Demands for Institutional Change
FINAL PAPER DUE: LAST DAY OF FINALS WEEK