It has been said that Latin America pre-figured every political trend of the twentieth century – liberalism, fascism, socialism, corporatism, democracy and military dictatorship. It also illustrates some of the extremes of economic policy – from heavily statist administrations to the most ruthless application of neo-liberalism. This course provides an overview of the transformation of four Latin American countries – Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile. It will not be just an economic history. It will investigate connections between culture, history, social and political structures and economic growth.

It is anticipated that students who successfully complete POLS2095 will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of basic questions associated with the political economy of development, epseically the role of the state, culture and social class in economic development
• demonstrate knowledge of major development theory including modernisation theory, dependency theory, culturalist approaches, neoliberal theory and statist and neo-statist theory
• demonstrate basic knowledge of the postwar political eocnomy of Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.
• demonstrate an ability to intervene in the major arguments surrounding the nature and foundations of development in this and other developing societies.
• construct sound arguments to justify their positions in relations to these arguments
• critically appraise the strengths and weaknesses of policy proposals about development in underdeveloped societies 
• communicate their understaing of the above through written analysis and/or verbal presentation

Assessment for this course will consist of  

either

a written essay of about 2,500 words (50% of the final mark) plus

a two-hour examination (50% of the final mark)

or

• a twenty minute presentation of development policy options, including an annotated bibliography and a Powerpoint presentation. The presentation will take the form of (a) a role play whereby you are giving a presentation suggesting a policy to a state-run development body, or (b) a general presentation related to essay questions The presentation will be videotaped. (50% of the final mark)

plus

a two-hour examination (50% of the final mark)

or

The development of a research proposal of about 2,500 words. The proposal should show that the research is worthwhile and viable, that the methods proposed to complete the research are appropriate, and the way in which the research question relates to the broader scholarly debate in the field. (50% of the final mark)

plus

a two-hour examination (50% of the final mark)

Expected - attendance and participation in a two hour lecture followed by a one-hour forum each week.

Voluntary - attendance and participation each in a three hour session which may include one of the following:

(i) a background lecture and discussion on matters related to but not essential to the course;

(ii) a film relevant to the course followed by discussion;

(iii) consultations to discuss essay topics.

Prerequisite: two first year courses in Political Science

N/A

Gilbert Rist, The History of Development: From Western Origins to Global Faith, London: Zed Boks, 1997

Linda Weiss and John Hobson, States and Economic Development, Cambridge: Polity Press, 1995

The Politics of Developmentalism, Houndsmills [U.K]: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006