Political Science 383 - Authoritarianism in Latin America: Context, Ideologies, & Cases

This course examines the topic of authoritarianism in Latin America, with an emphasis on current regional processes and cases. Drawing on the historical background of the phenomenon and the new socioeconomic realities and states that emerged after the independence movements and in the 20th century, the course addresses the institutional and ideological foundations of non-democratic forms of power. Finally, a select set of four current cases (Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico, Venezuela) are analyzed, covering a variety of specific regime forms and autocratic processes. To this end, the course combines, in an elective manner, perspectives and concepts from political science (comparative politics of autocratization), political history (studies of state building and modernization), the history of ideas (with special attention to the formation of ideologies and political mentalities), and international relations (analysis of regional and global networks and processes of autocratic cooperation).

Requisite: One political science course.

Limited to 25 students. Spring semester. Karl Loewenstein Fellow Armando Chaguaceda.

How to handle overenrollment: Preference given to Political Science majors.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: To compare social science theories about authoritarian politics and use these theories to understand the presence of authoritarianism in the political evolution of Latin America, specifically in the historical & current stages of four selected cases: Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico & Venezuela.