POLITICAL SCIENCE 456 - LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS
FALL SEMESTER 2013
Mr. Myers 217 Hammond Bldg.
319 Pond Lab T. R. 9:45 11:00am
Phone: 8651973
SCOPE AND GOALS OF THE COURSE:
One of the great international confrontations that dominate the opening decade of the twenty-first century involves demands by the "Southern" world (Latin America, Africa and Asia) that the "North" (United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan) reduce the gap in living standards between the Northern and Southern regions. In the long run, the survival of the United States (Pennsylvania included) may depend on the ability of its citizens to understand what Southern peoples want, and to deal creatively with their demands.
The economic well-being of the United States is tied to the capacity of its service sector, farms and factories to export, and Latin America is a major export market. In Latin America, as throughout the “South,” demands to achieve an improved living standard create pressures to increase the price of goods and services produced in the “South,” and link the availability of raw materials used by the “North” to the purchase of "Southern" goods. The outcomes of domestic politics in Latin American states influence whether their leaders seek cooperation on confrontation with the "North." In turn, this choice shapes the international economic and security environments.
The goal of Pl Sc. 456 is to identify and examine the core political structures and processes shaping political systems in the Latin American region and to compare them at length in several of the region’s states.. The core political structures and processes to be examined are: political culture, political economy, urbanism, interest groups, political party systems, institutions of government and state organization. The countries which this course compares in depth are: Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. It goes without saying that the large number of countries in Latin America forecloses the option of examining in depth the specifics of politics in each. The three countries on which we focus are a representative crosssample; they include some of the most important and influential. All fall within the Iberian tradition. Thus, countries in the region with culturally and linguistically distinct traditions, such as Haiti and the English speaking Caribbean Commonwealth, are beyond the scope of Pl Sc. 456.
REQUIRED TEXTS
The following required texts can be purchased at one of the local bookstores:
Thomas Ponniah & Jonathan Eastwood. 2011. The Revolution in Venezuela. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press.
Riordan Roett. 2011. The New Brazil. Cambridge, Washington. D.C. Brookings
Howard J. Wiarda and Harvey F. Kline. 7d.ed.2006. Latin American Politics and Development. Boulder, CO.: Westview Press.
Optional Text
Jose Galvan. 2009. 4d.ed. Writing Literature Reviews. Glendale, CA.: Pyrczak Publishing
SUPPLEMENTAL
Other required materials are available for download from the course web site, which can be accessed either from Professor Myers’ home page, or directly from the electronic reserve at Pattee/Paterno Library. All electronic reserve materials for the Library are accessible through the online Cat. Go to http://cat.libraries.psu.edu/ and enter your PSU user ID, and your password. Click on the blue Course Reserves button. A search screen will appear, and students can search for reserves by instructor name, course number or course name. Since the list for Pl.Sci. 456 contains more than one item, click on the Detail Button to the right of the course title to display the link to an electronic reserve document. Click on the Help button at any time for more information. The syllabus specifies the times at which the materials to be downloaded come into play.
Students are expected to follow current events in Latin America as reported in the Miami Herald http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/ or Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ These newspaper accounts, along with the lectures and required readings, will orient the weekly class discussions. Students with a special interest in Brazil may follow reporting on that country in Brazil Watch. This publication is available in the Periodical Reading Room of Pattee/Paterno Library.
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CLASS SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
DATE TOPIC
I. THE LATIN AMERICAN TRADITION: STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES
Week 1 (August 26 – August 30 )
Session 1 – Introduction and Overview
Session 2- The Context and Historical Development of Latin American Politics
Required reading: Wiarda & Kline, cps. 1, 2;
Week 2 (September 2 – 6)
Session 1 - Political Heritage: Culture
Required reading: Glen Dealy, “Latin America’s Two Morality Paradigm.”
Pp. 11-15; “Homo Politicus.” Pp. 53-95. In Glen Dealy, 1992.
The Latin Americans: Spirit & Ethos. Boulder, CO.: Westview Press
(available from the electronic reserve)
Session 2 – Assignment of “class presentation” teams; distribution of the written assignment.
Week 3 (September 9 - 13)
Topics – Interest Groups & Political Parties
Required reading: Wiarda & Kline, cps. 3
Class discussion/presentation by team 1
Week 4 (September 16 – 20)
Topics – Institutions of Government
Required reading: Wiarda & Kline, cp. 4.
Class discussion/presentation by team 2
Week 5 (September 23 – 27)
Topics – Political Change and the Struggle for Democracy
Required reading: Wiarda Kline cps. 5, 26; Weyland. The Threat from the Populist Left (Download from Professor Myers.
Class discussion/presentation by team 3
Written Team Conferences with the professor must be completed by 5pm on Tuesday September 24
II. Colombia
Week 6 (September 30 – October 4)
Topics – Introduction to Colombian Politics
Required Reading: Wiarda & Kline, pp. 220-223; Robert Steiner. “Hooked on
Drugs: Colombian – United States Relations.” Pp. 159-176
(available from electronic reserves”
Colombia: Political Parties & Elections after the National Front
Required reading: Archer in Mainwaring & Scully, cp. 6
(available from the electronic reserve)
`Class discussion/presentation by Team 4
Week 7 (October 7- 11)
Topics - Local Government: Center & Periphery
Required reading. R. Andrew Nixon.
“Colombia.” pp. 145-155; Gilbert in Myers & Dietz;
(available from the electronic reserve)
Alvaro Uribe, Juan Manuel Santos & the Transformation of Colombian Politics
Required reading: “Colombian Strategic Culture,” 2009. Victor Uribe Uran (available from electronic reserve)
Review for mid-term examination
Week 8 (October 14 -18)
Session 1 – First Midterm Examination
(25% OF TOTAL GRADE)
III. VENEZUELA: WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRACY?
Session 2 – Venezuela: The Environments of Politics
Required reading: Wiarda/Kline, pp. 268-285
Week 9 (October 21 – 25)
Topics – Genesis and Triumph of the Bolivarian Revolution
Required reading: Ponniah & Eastwood, “Introduction;” cp. 1
Policy Making & the Urban Poor
Required reading: Wiarda & Kline, pp. 294 – 99; Ponniah & Eastwood, cp. 3
Class discussion/presentation by Team 5
Week 10 (October 28 - November 1)
Topics – Political Parties & Elections
Required reading: Wiarda & Kline, pp. 285-89; Ponniah & Eastwood, cp. 4
Political Economy of Venezuela
Required reading: Wiarda & Kline, pp. 276 – 283; Ponniah & Eastwood, cp. 6
Class discussion/presentation Team 6
Week 11 (November 4 – 8)
Topics – Strategies to dismantle and transform democracy
Required reading: Ponniah & Eastwood, cp. 2
Toward what kind of democracy?
Required reading: Wiarda & Kline, pp. 302-03; Ponniah, “Conclusion”
Class discussion/presentation Team 7
Week 12 (November 11 - 15)
Topics – presentation of charts from Literature Review assignment
IV. BRAZIL: CAN LIBERAL DEMOCRACY BE CONSOLIDATED?
Week 13 ( November 18 -22)
Topics – Overview of Brazilian Politics: Prior to the Military Coup of 1964
Required reading: Wiarda & Kline, 133 - 142; Roett, cp. 2,3; “The Great Houses
and Plantations of Brazil,”
From Military Rule through Democratic Transition: Brazil 1964-89
Required reading: Roett, cps. 4,5.
(available from electronic reserves)
Class discussion/presentation by Team 8
Thanksgiving Holiday (November 25 -30)
Week 14 (December 1 - 6)
Topics – Democracy Normalized: Cardoso & Lula
Required Reading: Wiarda & Kline, pp. 152-57; Roett cps. 6,7
Written Assignment due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, December 3
Political Parties & Interest Groups
Required reading: Wiarda & Kline 165-66; Roett, cp. 9
Class discussion/presentation by Team 9.
Week 15 (December 9 - 13)
Topics – Government Structures & Policy Making/Implementation
Required reading: Wiarda & Kline, pp. 155-160; Roett, cp8
Prospects: Democracy Deepened or Political Decay
Required reading: Montero, Wiarda & Kline, pp. 157-63; Roett cps. 1
Discussion, review for the final examination
LECTURES: It should be emphasized that the lectures and the reading assignments, although interrelated, are by no means identical, nor are they tied together by the same titles and rigid lockstep schedule. Generally, the lectures tend to deal with more precise topics and to be more interpretive, but less descriptive than the reading materials. Accordingly, the readings should be completed on schedule, and NOT after the lectures have been directed.
OFFICE HOURS: Professor Myers' scheduled office hours are on Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 to 3:00pm. For special problems, additional hours can be arranged, by special appointment in advance. Students are urged to make regular use of the scheduled office hours of the professor.
GRADES: For all students in this course, Political Science 456, the final course grade will be based approximately on these percentages:
Examination #1 25%
Examination #2 - 25%
Written Project
Project Conference - 05%
In Class Present - 05%
Finished Project 25%
Participation & Attendance 15%
TOTAL 100%
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES:
1. Attendance: It is expected that students will attend the lectures and class discussions, starting at 9:45am in 103 Osmond Lab. Absence from class in this course, or for that matter in virtually any course, places the student at a disadvantage. It is the student's responsibility to overcome that disadvantage by: a) obtaining the notes on classroom lectures, preferably from at least two fellow students; b) undertaking other remedial actions deemed appropriate. Attendance is required on the days when student teams are making their presentations to the class.
2. Dropping the Course: Students who drop the course will do so with the grade on record at this time.
3. Due Dates and Times: Scheduled tests are administered on the stated date, starting at 9:45am. Written work submitted after class Tuesday, December 3 will be subject to the same grade penalty that would be accorded if the paper had been turned in at the next meeting of the class.
4. Failure to meet ALL requirements: A student who fails to submit ALL written requirements for this course including the two scheduled tests and the written requirement has NOT met the requirements of this course. Failing to meet all requirements of this course will mean an "F" grade for the semester. The fundamental principle or ethic for this course is that the mature student accepts responsibility with accountability, as does the professor.
5. Makeups: None. There will be no makeup tests in this class. In a genuine hardship case, appropriately documented, an entirely new test will be given. Since students who miss a test will have had additional time in which to study and prepare, that new test will include all new material assigned up to the date on which the new test is given.
6. Pass/Fail: Students who take the course pass/fail should understand that this choice can not be revoked later on in the semester. This universitywide regulation has been a matter of some concern to students who earned "A" and "B" grades in this course in years gone by. As a matter of record, moreover, there have been very few "D" grades in this course over the years.
THE TESTS: There will be two scheduled tests, a mid-term and a final examination. Each will include a critical essay and multiple-choice questions. The student will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of BOTH the lectures and the assigned readings. Critical essay study questions will be handed out prior to the midterm and final examinations.
THE WRITTEN EXERCISE: This exercise, including the individual conference with the professor, is worth 35% of the total grade. Materials pertaining to the exercise will be distributed and discussed in class on Thursday, September 5.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY1
The Department of Political Science, along with the College of the Liberal Arts and the University, takes violations of academic dishonesty seriously. Observing basic honesty in one's work, words, ideas, and actions is a principle to which all members of the community are required to subscribe.
All course work by students is to be done on an individual basis unless an instructor clearly states that an alternative is acceptable. Any reference materials used in the preparation of any assignment must be explicitly cited. In an examination setting, unless the instructor gives explicit prior instructions to the contrary, whether the examination is inclass or takehome, violations of academic integrity shall consist of any attempt to receive assistance from written or printed aids, or from any person or papers or electronic devices, or of any attempt to give assistance, whether the one so doing has completed his or her own work or not.
Other violations include, but are not limited to, any attempt to gain an unfair advantage in regard to an examination, such as tampering with a graded exam or claiming another's work to be one's own. Violations shall also consist of obtaining or attempting to obtain, previous to any examinations, copies of the examination papers or the questions to appear thereon, or to obtain any illegal knowledge of these questions. Lying to the instructor or purposely misleading any Penn State administrator shall also constitute a violation of academic integrity.
In cases of a violation of academic integrity it is the policy of the Department of Political Science to impose appropriate penalties that are consistent with University guidelines.
1Much of the text above has been directly obtained from the sections of the Princeton University website http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pub/rrr/99/pages/Ol.htm concerning academic integrity (Rights, Rules, Responsibilities introductory text as well as pages 5569) as well as from the website of the Department of Economics at The Pennsylvania State University.
Disabilities
The Pennsylvania State University encourages qualified people with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities and is committed to the policy that all people shall have equal access to programs, facilities, and admissions without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation in this course or have questions about physical access, please tell the instructor as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodations will be made for all students with disabilities, but it is the student's responsibility to inform the instructor early in the term. Do not wait until just before an exam to decide you want to inform the instructor of a learning disability; any accommodations for disabilities must be arranged well in advance.