POLS2110 An Introduction to Latin American Politics and Society

Later Year Course

Offered By	School of Politics and International Relations
Academic Career	Undergraduate
Course Subject	Political Science
Offered in	First Semester, 2011
Unit Value	6 units
Course Description	During the past decades Latin American countries have initiated a process of social, economic, cultural and political reform. Authoritarian regimes were transformed into democracies with elected and decentralized governments. State intervention was replaced by market oriented economic policies. Countries opened their doors to foreign capital and signed agreements of economic integration with northern and southern partners. This course will introduce students to the historical underpinning of the transformative changes taking place today in Latin America. Topics will include economic reform, democratic consolidation and reform, regional integration, competing models of social and political change, and the international insertion of the region.
Learning Outcomes	To: gain an understanding of the trajectory and continuities in Latin American development; gain an understanding of the interconnected nature of Latin America's varied political and economic challenges and successes; have an extended introduction to key issues and major country case studies; complete a research project on an issue related to the core course material using a regional country as a case study.
Indicative Assessment	A 2,500 word essay assignment (45%); Three ‘briefing memoranda' on the course content (3x15% = 45%) Tutorial attendance and work (10%). Attendance at a minimum of 8 out of 10 tutorials is a requirement for successful completion of this unit. Only students who have submitted the first assignment and attended the minimum number of tutorials will be permitted to submit the second assignment.
Workload	Two lectures and one tutorial per week.
Areas of Interest	Political Sciences
Requisite Statement	Pre-requisite: two first year courses in Political Science
Recommended Courses	.
Prescribed Texts	N/A
Majors/Specialisations	Political Science
Academic Contact	Dr Burges

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