BOSTONUNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
GRADUATE SEMINAR ON LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS
IR 767 LATIN AMERICAN COMPARATIVE POLITICS
PO 767 INTERPRETATIONS OF LATIN AMERICAN REALITIES
FALL 2009 SYLLABUS
TIME: W 9-12
ROOM: IRB 102 (154 BSR)
Professor David Scott Palmer
Office: 152 BSR, Room G1
Office Hours: M 10-12, W 1-2, and by appointment
Phone: 617-353-9388
E-Mail:
This seminar is designed to broaden and deepen our understanding of the comparative politics of Latin America. It focuses on two centralconcerns and four major subthemes that have attracted the interest of the scholarly community and policy makers alike.
One central concernis the importance of history in a region with almost three centuries of colonial domination and then some two centuries of independence. Such a long historical trajectory lends credence to the “weight of history” argument that is concerned with the impact of the Iberian Tradition and the extended colonial experience on post-independence politics, in which authoritarianism continued to dominate, if interspersed with democratic “waves” and even an interesting exception or two.
The second central concern is the rapid and historically unprecedented turnfrom authoritarian regimes in over 80 percent of the 20 Latin American nationsin 1976 to democratic governmentsless than 20 years later in all except Cuba. We need to focus much of our attention in the seminar on how to explain such a political transformation in so short a time and to assess its prospects for consolidation.
A major subtheme of this “Third Wave” of democracy has to do with the multiple challenges these elected governments have faced.Theseinclude corruption, crime, poverty and inequality, the weakness of judicial systems, and elected presidents who do not feel bound by institutional or legal constraints.
A second subtheme revolves around several controversial core issues that affect the ability of the new democracies to function effectively. Among the most important are the following:
1.Economic liberalization and market reform;
2. Unpredictable and sometimes irresponsible political leadership;
3.“Informal politics” that involve new forms of citizen organization;
4. Significant roles played by external actors, including the U.S. government, NGOs, and IFIs.
The third subtheme is concerned with the responses of citizens or their governments to the major issues and challenges they have been facing.These responses include the following:
1. Multiple electoral victories by the “New Left;”
2. Social welfare policies to alleviate poverty;
3. Decentralization as a vehicle to bring government closer to the people;
4. Security and judicial reform to deal with expanding criminal activities.
A fourth subtheme is the special case of Cuba, the only remaining non-democratic political system in Latin America, and its likely trajectories.
The final focus of the seminar is to bring together what we have learned from our study of Latin America’s political history and contemporary challenges, issues, and responses to assess democracy’s prospects in the region: Consolidation? Muddling along with “low intensity,” “interrupted,” or “populist” democracies? Return to authoritarian regimes?
While papers will comprise the major part of your work in the course, comments on the readings for our class discussions will also make a major contribution to the quality of the seminar. So every week each of you will prepare a short summary of one or two of the reading assignments to present in class for comment and discussion.With regard to the papers, the first will be a discussion and analysis of a topic drawn from some discrete aspect of the historical context of Latin American politics, the dynamics of “Third Wave” democracies, or a major challenge these democracies face. The second will focus on one core issue that affects the capacity for democratic governance in one or more countries, while the third will deal with one of the responses to the major challenges and issues by one or more of the Latin American governments. Each will be 10-15 pages in length (with footnotes or internal citations, not endnotes), plus tables, appendices, and bibliography.
Grading
Each of the three research papers counts for 25% of the seminar grade. A revise and resubmit option is available for papers submitted on time. The other 25% is based on the quality of participation in the seminar,especially comments on readings and presentations of your papers.
Books for the Seminar
Larry Diamond, Developing Democracy: Toward Consolidation (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999)
John Peeler, Building Democracy in Latin America, 2nd edition (Boulder: Lynne Rienner Press, 2004)
Richard L. Millett, Jennifer S. Holmes, and Orlando J. Pérez, eds. Latin American Democracy: Emerging Reality or Endangered Species? (New York: Routledge, 2009)
Jorge I. Domínguez and Michael Shifter, eds. Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America, 2nd edition (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003)
Alfred P. Montero and David J. Samuels, eds. Decentralization and Democracy in Latin America(South Bend: Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, 2004)
Latin American Weekly Report, for current developments, available at a special student rate for a 13-week on-linesubscription. Sign up in class.
In addition to these texts and the LAWR, you will find a number of other assigned articles and book chapters on the 767 website, accessible at:
.
These additional readings, noted by an asterisk (*),are listed below.
Seminar Meetings, Topics, and Readings (Read in the order listed)
W Sep 2Introduction: Democracy and the L.A.Historical Context
Review of the syllabus, introductions, discussion of interests and possible paper topics
Democracy defined, L.A. colonialism and its authoritarian legacy, alternating patterns of post-independence politics
-Larry Diamond, Chap 1 “Defining and Developing Democracy”
-*Howard J. Wiarda, Dilemmas of Democracy in Latin America(2005), Chap 1 “Latin America in Comparative Perspective”
-*David Scott Palmer, “The Military in Latin America,” in Jack Hopkins, ed. Latin America: Perspectives on a Region (1998), 320-37
-John Peeler, Chap 2, “Democracy and the L.A. Tradition,”Chap 3 (49-62 only), “Foundations: Establishing Democracy.”
W Sep 9Democracy’s Third “Wave” in Latin America
Explanations and patterns of this historic development
-Peeler, Chap3 (62-94) Chap 4, “Maintenance: Stabilization and Consolidation”
-Richard Millett et al. Chap 1 “Democracy in L.A.: Promise and Perils” (Millett); Chap 2 “Democratic Consolidation in L.A.?” (Holmes); Chap 3“Measuring Democratic Political Culture in L.A.” (Pérez).
W Sep 16Core Challenges to Third Wave L.A. Democracies
Perspectives on problems that have impeded full consolidation of electoral democracy and democratic governance
Overviews: Peeler, Chap 5 “Destabilization, Deconsolidation, Decay”& Chap 6 “L.A. Democracy Today”
-Diamond, Chap 2 “Is the Third Wave of Democratization Over?”
-Millett et al. Chap 5 “L.A. Democracy: The View from the South” (Rojas)
Specificchallenges:
- Corruption: Millett et al. Chap 18 “Is L.A. Condemned by Corruption?” (Facetti)
- Crime: Millett et al. Chap 15 “Crime & Citizen Security” (Millett); *Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, “Crime & Impunity in L.A.(1996)” in Peter R. Kingstone, ed. Readings in L.A. Politics (2006), 42-50
- Poverty & Inequality: *Peter H. Smith, Democracy in L.A. (2005), 231-36 + Table 3.2 from Kingstone, 67; *Terry Lynn Karl, “The Vicious Cycle of Inequality in L.A.,” in Susan Eva Eckstein and Timothy P. Wickham-Crowley, eds. What Justice? Whose Justice? Fighting for Fairness in L.A. (2003), 133-57
- Weakness in the rule of law: Millett et al. Chap 6 “The Rule of Law in L.A.” (Nagle); *Smith, Democracy in L.A., 273-84
- Lack of constraints on elected presidents’ authority: *Guillermo O’Donnell, “Delegative Democracy,” Journal of Democracy 5:1 (Jan 1994), 55-69.
W Sep 23Core Issues I: Economic Liberalization & Market Reforms
Multiple effects of the simultaneous implementation of market economies with the new third wave elected civilian governments: economic growth with continued poverty and inequality
-Domínguez & Shifter, Chap 4 “Market Reforms” (Corrales)
-*Smith, Democracy in L.A., 214-24
-*John Williamson, “What Washington Means by Policy Reform (1990),” in Kingstone, 83-9
-*ECLAC, Social Panorama of L.A.2008 (2008), 9-21
-*Sidney Weintraub, “An Economic Storm Hits L.A.,” Current History 108:715 (Feb 2009), 58-64.
W Sep 30Core Issues II: Political Leadership
Difficulties faced by elected presidents and political parties as they try to pursue their agendas in a context of weak institutions, presidential-dominant traditions, and a lack of party discipline
-*Michael J. Kryzanek, Leaders, Leadership, and U.S. Policy in L. A. (1992), Chap 4 “The Politics of Civilian Leadership,” 89-106 & endnotes, 118-21
-*Aníbal Pérez-Liñán, “Presidential Crises and Democratic Accountability in L.A., 1990-1999,” in Eckstein and Wickham-Crowley, 98-129
-Millett et al. Chap 7 “Executive-Legislative Relations and Democracy in L.A.” (Slavelis).
First Research Paper Due
W Oct 7Core Issues III: New Forms of Citizen Organization
“Informal” politics at the local and regional levels, with increasingly organized citizens demanding redress and providing alternatives to traditional mechanisms
Overviews: Diamond, Chap 6 “Civil Society”
-*Douglas A. Chalmers, “Associative Networks: New Structures of Representation for the Popular Sectors?” in Chalmers et al. The New Politics of Inequality in L.A: Rethinking Participation and Representation (1997), 543-82
Cases: *Palmer, “Citizen Responses to Conflict and Political Crises: Informal Politics in Ayacucho,” in Eckstein and Wickham-Crowley, 233-54
*Donna Lee Van Cott, Indigenous Movements Lose Momentum,” Current History108:715 (February 2009), 83-9.
W Oct 14Core Issues IV: External Actors
Effects of the changes introduced by outside actors, especially U.S. government, NGO, and IFI policies, both intended and unintended
-*Kryzanek, “U.S. Policy and Civilian Presidents,” 107-18 & endnotes 121-22
-Millett et al. Chap 19, “U.S. Role in Democratization” (Bigler)
-*Alison Brysk, “Democratizing Civil Society in L.A.,” Journal of Democracy 11:3 (July 2000), 151-65
-*David S. Brown et al. “Promoting & Preventing Political Change through Internationally Funded NGO Activity,” Latin American Research Review (LARR) 42:1 (Feb 2007), 126-38.
W Oct 21Responses to Core Challenges & Issues I: The “New Left”
Where and why; internal, idiosyncratic issues or larger, more systematic ones; a problem, a healthy development, or both?
- Overviews (Read all):Peeler, Chap 7 “A New Vision of Democracy in a Globalized World;”*Jorge Casteñeda & Patricio Navia, “The Year of the Ballot,” Current History 106:697 (February 2007), 51-7; *Kenneth M. Roberts, “Repoliticizing L.A.: The Revival of Populist and Leftist Alternatives,” WoodrowWilsonCenter (November 2007)
- Left party victories(Select two):
- Chile: Domínguez & Shifter, Chap13(Agüero)
- Brazil: D & S, Chap 12(Lamonier)
- Argentina: D&S, Chap 11 (Levitsky); *Hector E. Shamis, “Argentina’s Troubled Transition,” Current History 107:706 (February 2008), 71-6.
3. Ex-guerrilla party victories (Select two):
a. Uruguay: *Daniel Chávez, “From the Frente Amplio to the Nueva Mayoría: The Uruguayan Left Faces the Prospect of Government,” Latin American Studies Association, Las Vegas, October 7, 2004
b. Nicaragua: *Shelly A.McConnell, “Nicaragua’s Turning Point,” Current History 106:697 (February 2007), 83-8; *Roger Burbach, “The Sandinista Revolution Betrayed,” NACLA Report on the Americas 42:2 (Mar-Apr 2009), 33-7
c. El Salvador: *Forrest D. Colburn, “The Turnover in El Salvador,” Journal of Democracy 20:3 (Jul 2009), 143-52.
4. Populist left victories (Select two):
a. Venezuela: D&S, Chap 8 (Coppedge); *Javier Corrales, “For Chávez, Still More Discontent,” Current History 108:715 (February 2009), 77-82
b. Bolivia: *Fabrice Lehoucq, “Bolivia’s Constitutional Breakdown,” Journal of Democracy 19:4 (Oct 2008),110-24
c. Ecuador: *Catherine M. Conaghan, “Ecuador’s Gamble: Can Correa Govern?” Current History 106:697 (February 2007), 77-82
d. Paraguay: *Diego Abente-Brun, “Paraguay: The Unraveling of One-Party Rule,” Journal of Democracy 20:1 (Jan 09), 143-56.
5. Left strengthening(Select one):
a. Mexico: D&S, Chap 14(Dresser); *Francisco E. González, “Mexico’s Drug Wars Get Brutal,” Current History 108:715 (Feb 2009), 72-6
b. Peru: D&S, Chap 10(Degregori); *Cynthia McClintock,
“An Unlikely Comeback in Peru,” Journal of Democracy 17:4 (Oct 2006), 95-109.
W Oct 28Responses to Core Challenges & Issues II: Social Welfare Policies
Efforts by elected governments to overcome high levels of poverty through a variety of initiatives to respond to the needs and demands of the less privileged segments of their populations
-*Carlos M. Vilas, “Neoliberal Social Policy Managing Poverty(1997),” in Kingstone, 100-109
-*Smith, 227-230
-*Carmelo Mesa-Lago, “Social Security in L.A.: Pension and Health Care Reforms in the last Quarter Century,” Review Essay, LARR 42:2 (Jun 2007), 181-201.
Second Research Paper Due
W Nov 4Responses to Core Challenges & Issues III:Decentralization
Shifts in the historical concentration of political power in the center towards local and regional governments through elections and resource transfers, giving new alternatives and opportunities for access to citizens at the local level
Overview: Montero & Samuels, Chap 1 (Montero & Samuels)
Cases:
a. Bolivia, M&S, Chap 2 (O’Neill)
b. Mexico,M&S, Chap 7 (Beer)
c. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, M&S, Chap 5
(Eaton).
W Nov 11Veterans’ Day Holiday
W Nov 18Responses to Core Challenges & Issues IV: Security & Judicial Reform
Efforts through training, new resources, and reform to cope with the dramatic expansion of criminal activities that have overwhelmed police capacities and judiciaries and eroded popular support for democracy
Overview: *Hugo Früling and Joseph S. Tulchin, eds. Crime and Violence in Latin America: Citizen Security, Democracy, and the State (2003), Chap 1(Tulchin & Golding)
Police reform:*F&T, Chap 2 (Früling)
-*Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), “Protect and Serve: The Status of Police Reform in Central America,” WOLA Report (July 2009)
Consequences of violence:*F&T, Chap 5 (Morrison, Buvenic, & Shifter)
Judicial reform: *F&T, Chap 4 (Duce & Pérez); *Staats et al. “Measuring Judicial Performance in L.A.,” Latin American Politics and Society 47:4 (Winter 2005), 77-106.
W Nov 25-SU Nov 29 Thanksgiving Holiday
W Dec 2The Outlier: Cuba
The state of “Latin” totalitarianism in Cubaand alternative assessments of its future: retention of a Communist system, transition to a more democratic polity, or turbulence, violence, and chaos
*“Cuba in the Americas,” NACLA Report on the Americas, 39:4 (January-February 2006), 14-45
*“Was Fidel Good for Cuba?” Foreign Policy, (January-February 2007), 56-64.
Third Research Paper Due
W Dec 9Concluding Discussion
Bringing together the main themes of the seminar to analyze the current state of democracy in Latin America and assess its possibilities for full consolidation, continuation of “low intensity” or “interrupted” democracies, or slippage into what becomes a “Fourth Wave” of authoritarianism
D&S, Chap 15 (Domínguez)
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