This course explores the patterns of political and economic change in modern Latin America. It begins with the rise of industrialisation, state-led development (ISI) and the emergence of populism in the 1930s-40s, the wave of military coups of the 1960s-70s, the processes of democratisation and neoliberalism of the 1980s-90s, and the regional turn to the Left plus the emergence of a post-reform agenda in the 2000s. Covering five countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Venezuela), this course will investigate the causes and consequences of populism, revolution, military authoritarian and bureaucratic authoritarian rule, democratisation, and neoliberalism. It will also consider topics such as the 'weak democracy syndrome' plus critical issues for Latin American democracy and development such a violence and insecurity, inequality, social inclusion/exclusion, popular participation, social mobilisations, and the rise of indigenous politics. The course compares a variety of theoretical approaches (modernisation, cultural, institutionalist, personal-leadership, and post-structuralist interpretations) in order to explain both change and continuity, and the differences that exist across the countries that have been chosen for in-depth analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand the dominant patterns of political and economic change in Latin America
2. Explain the differences in politics across the countries under study and of the contexts within which they operate.
3. Apply and compare the concepts and theoretical approaches used to study the region and evaluate its progress.
4. Compare and analyse complex problems of politics and development in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela through written analysis.
5. Structure and write a policy brief or essay on a specific Latin American  development issue.

Required Resources

The following textbook will be helfpul and is available on 2-hour reserve at the CHIFLEY library and for purchase at the Co-op bookstore:

Kingstone, Peter. 2018.The Political Economy of Latin America: Reflections on Neoliberalism and Development. Routledge.

Key and suggested readings for each week will be available on Wattle. Additional links to relevant documentaries, news and online material will be placed from time to time. 

Recommended Resources

The suggested readings are given to you primarily for your essay and policy brief assessment, to be used as a resource for further research. Some students may not be as familiar with Latin American political or economic history as others. To assist these students, a useful reference work is available at Chifley Library for two day loan:

• Skidmore, T., Smith P.H. and J.N. Green. 2014. Modern Latin America (7th Edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press. - Chifley reserve.

Some Sources for Additional Research

In addition to the required readings, we encourage students to pursue their individual research interests and actively search for specific scholarship relevant to their topics of concern. Remember that what you gain from any course is also related to your inputs, so if you find a theme or a country that interests your intellectual pursuits, go for it! We can discuss any additional material during my office hours on Tuesdays.

Leading journals and news sources on Latin America 

• Latin American Perspectives
• Journal of Latin American Studies
• Journal of Iberian and Latin American Research
• America Latina Hoy
• Latin American Politics and Society
• Latin American Research Review (official journal of LASA)
• Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies
• Hispanic American Historical Review
• Tapuya: Latin American Science, Technology and Society
• Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies (journal)
• Comparative Political Studies (journal)
• NACLA [North American Congress on Latin America] Report on the Americas (bi-monthly semijournal, semi-news/analysis magazine)
• Latin American Weekly Report (weekly news brief)
• WOLA - Washington Office on Latin America, Advocacy for Human Rights in the Americas

Development (and Policy) Journals

• World Development
• Development and Change
• Development Policy Review
• Third WorldQuarterly
• Perspectives on Global Development and Technology 
• Global Social Policy

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Marks and comments on written work submitted on time.
• Discussions in the workshops.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

The information provided is a preliminary Class Outline. A finalised version will be available on Wattle and will be accessible after enrolling in this course. All updates, changes and further information will be uploaded on the course Wattle site and will not be updated on Programs and Courses throughout the semester. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the Course Convenor.

Please check Wattle for assessment due dates.

Additional referencing requirements:

Please use in-text citations. Formatting must be consistent throughout the text and in the bibliography at the end.

Special Consideration:

For special considerations you are responsible for applying directly via: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/specialassessment-consideration

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Interpreting politics with Latin America
2	Political challenges (or ‘democracy’ and ‘development’) in Latin America
3	From neocolonialism (1890-1920s) to the great transformation (1930-1960s)
4	From authoritarian governance to democracy, 1970s-1990s
5	The ‘post-Washington consensus' and the left turn, 2000-2010
6	Aftermaths of the left turn?	Essay plan (500) or policy brief plan (500) is due this week.
7	Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela or the politics of populism
8	Venezuela and Ecuador or the politics of the oil state
9	The politics of nature in Latin America
10	Central America and the politics of violence and displacement
11	Mexico, the Andean countries, and the politics of indigeneity
12	Political challenges in Latin America today	Research essay (3000) or policy brief (2500) is due this week.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Take-home exam	35 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1.2.3,5
Plan for essay or policy brief	15 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	3,5
Research essay or policy brief	40 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1,3,4,5
Class and workshop participation	10 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1,3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Take-home exam

Word limit: 1500 words

Value: 35% final grade

Submission through Turnitin is due in in the examination period.

The take-home exam will consist of a reflective essay addressing a question relating to the political challenges of democracy and development in Latin America.

Assessment Task 2

Plan for essay or policy brief

Word limit: 500 words

The essay plan or policy brief plan is worth 15% of the final grade.

Submission through Turnitin is due in week 6, on Friday 5 April by 23.59.

The essay plan or policy brief plan is an to organising ideas, readings and research for the major assignment. The piece should present a brief description of the theme or problem being discussed and a clear question or research statement - what is it that we are trying to understand or interpret in relation to which country or countries? It should also include a basic structure or outline for the essay either in point form or as a series of sentences and list 4 to 6 key references.

Assessment Task 3

Research essay or policy brief

Word limit: maximum 3000 words including references for the essay or maximum 2500 words including references for the policy brief.

The essay or policy brief is worth 40% of the final grade.

Submission through Turnitin is due in week 12, on Thursday 20 May by 23.59.

Research essay

The written essay or policy brief will be based on the topics covered in the course and should be based on one of the cases studied in the course. You may choose to write an essay around any one of the week’s themes, which are broad to begin with. The essay should cover at least one Latin American country or more within its analysis. You can present either an academic essay or a policy brief. While both should demonstrate engagement with and a critical review of the relevant literature, in an academic essay it is the understanding of concepts, theoretical debates and an ability to write and critically examine a topic that matter most.

Policy brief

For those who may be interested in working with policy and advocacy, the policy brief is a good option. This genre is mostly used by government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). As in an essay, you will need to come across as familiar with the relevant literature and present its ideas in a coherent manner. Nonetheless, a policy brief emphasises problem-solving, and the reader is for the most part interested in understanding the options that may be available to address a particular problem. 

Choose a specific policy instrument from a Latin American country, policy initiative or development program in any of the following areas: environment, development, human rights advocacy or social policy (education, health, labour, poverty and social inclusion). For the assignment, write a maximum 2500 words professional looking policy brief for a regional organisation such as CEPAL, OAS, UNASUR, CELAC, IADB, or a Latin American government, describing a real existing policy initiative, its implications, shortcomings, and its empirical outcomes (in countries, regions, provinces, or cities). Some questions to consider, should the policy be diffused to other countries, where has it worked? Should the organisation you are presenting the brief to back it technically or financially? See the guide for more detailed instructions.

How to write a policy brief: http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Resources/Tools_and_Training/Documents/how-to-write-apolicy-brief.pdf

Assessment Task 4

Class and workshop participation

Worth 10%

Participation is assessed throughout the course taking into account the lectures and in particular engagement with the workshops.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) as submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assignments will be usually returned within 15 working days on wattle. If a delay is expected, students will be informed in advance.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Online Submission: Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) a submission must be through Turnitin. Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students