Where is Latin America, who lives there, where did they come from, and what are the issues that dominate their lives? This course addresses those questions, preparing the student for further study of Latin America through other courses offered in the College. Attention is given the history, geography, politics and economics of Latin America, setting the underlying trends in a contemporary context.

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Recall and explain the historical origins of contemporary Latin America;
2. identify and analyse the opportunities and challenges presented by the region’s geography;
3. Recognize and critique the dominant themes in the evolution of regional democracies;
4. Outline and research the fundamentals of domestic and regional political economy in Latin America;
5. Classify and evaluate the range of different political systems, ethnic compositions and social orderings in the region;
6. Research a project on an issue related to the core course material using a regional country as a case study.

1. A 1,500 word essay assignment (30%) – learning outcomes 6, 5, 4, 3, 1;
2. A 1,000 word book research essay (20%) – learning outcomes 1, 2, 4,;
3. A final exam (50%) – learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4.

Staff contact time -- Two one-hour lectures and one one-hour tutorial per week.

Outside class work -- four to five hours per week.

None

None

Skidmore and Smith, Modern Latin America

Burkholder and Johnson, Colonial Latin America

O'Toole, Politics Latin America

Access to the university computer system.