PS 134AA: Comparative Politics of Latin America

Course Summary and

Study Guide

READING ASSIGNMENTS:

Smith, Democracy in Latin America, Installments 1 and 2 [ch. 9 not yet written]

Dominguez and Shifter, eds., Constructing Democratic Governance:

Ch. 1, “Tempering Expectations of Democracy”Ch. 2, “Presidentialism and Representative Institutions”Ch. 3, “The Military”Ch. 4, “Market Reforms”Ch. 5, “Latin American Labor”Ch. 6, “Women and Democracy”Ch. 7, “Public Opinion”Ch. 8, “Venezuela: Popular Sovereignty versus Liberal Democracy”Ch. 9, “Colombia: The Governability Crisis”Ch. 10, “Peru: The Vanishing of a Regime and the Challenge of Democratic Rebuilding”Ch. 11, “Argentina: From Crisis to Consolidation (and Back)”Ch. 12, “Brazil: An Assessment of the Cardoso Administration”Ch. 13, “Chile: Unfinished Transition and Increased Political Competition”Ch. 14, “Mexico: From PRI Dominance to Dvidied Democracy”Ch. 15, “Taking Stock of the 1990s”

FILMS AND VIDEOS:

“In Women’s Hands”

“Garden of the Forking Paths”

“A Hazy Transparency”

“Missing”

“The Kidnapping of Ingrid Betancourt”

FINAL EXAMINATION

7:00-10:00 p.m. Monday, June 7, WLH 2005

•Closed book exam

•Coverage: entire course, but with emphasis on second half

•Bring blue books and writing materials

STRUCTURE OF EXAM

PART I. DISCUSSION ITEMS

[approximately 10 out of 13]

PART II. SHORT ESSAYS

[some choice available]

PART III. LONG ESSAY

[one out of two or three]

ILLUSTRATIVE SHORT ESSAY TOPICS

1. Has the political condition of Latin American women improved under electoral democracy? In what ways? To what degree?

2. What do public opinion surveys suggest about popular commitment todemocracy in Latin America?

3. It has been said that democratic institutions have led to political paralysisin Latin America. Evaluate this statement with regard to two of the following three countries: Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

4. What (if anything) seems to be “unique” about the most recent phase of democratization in Latin America? What makes it different from previous periods?

ILLUSTRATIVE LONG ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. What (in your view) are the prospects for consolidation of democracyIn Latin America? Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Why? (Be sure to explain the concept of “consolidation” as you understand it.)

2. Is “illiberal democracy” the future of Latin American politics? Present arguments for and against this idea. Which side do you favor and why?

3. Describe and analyze processes of democratization in Latin America during the course of the twentieth century. What are its defining characteristics?