Module Identifier IP39120  
Module Title MILITARY AND DEMOCRACY IN LATIN AMERICA  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Dr Lucy F A Taylor  
Semester Intended for use in future years  
Next year offered N/A  
Next semester offered N/A  
Course delivery Lecture   8 Hours (8 x 1 hour)  
  Seminars / Tutorials   16 Hours (8 x 2 hour)  
Assessment Semester Exam   2 Hours pre-released   50%  
  Semester Assessment   Essay: 1 x 2,500 words   50%  
  Supplementary Exam   Students may, subject to Faculty approval, have the opportunity to resit this module, normally during the supplementary examination period. For further clarification please contact the Teaching Programme Administrator in the Department of International Politics.    

Learning outcomes

When the course is complete, students should have a good understanding of the following:

- the key legacies of Latin American politics in the nineteenth century
- the patterns of post-war political incorporation and exclusion in Latin America
- the nature of populism in the post-war era and its adaptation to the neo-liberal era of today
- the impact and viability of the revolutionary option for Latin America
- the role of civil society in contemporary political life   
- recent developments in political discourse and strategies
- the salient and pertinent features of certain periods in the history of Argentina, Central America, Chile, Mexico, Peru & Venezuela.

10 ECTS Credits

Brief description

The module will give students a thorough understanding of post war politics in Latin America, and to expose students to a wide range of case studies, political regimes and strategies.

Aims

The module aims to explore the strategies of political inclusion and exclusion adopted by both elite and non-elite political groupings in Latin America.

Content

The module seeks to trace the development of democracy in the region by examining struggles and strategies of political incorporation and participation. Alongside this, the module will explore authoritarian and elitist tactics which seek to exclude and control citizens. The course will examine contemporary trends in citizen participation and the configuration of democracies in the Latin America of today, as well as exploring new forms of authoritarianism and political options on both the 'left' and 'right' of the political spectrum. The module will take an historical and regional perspective, as well as engaging in more detailed case study work.

Transferable skills

Students will have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of transferable skills which will help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas. Throughout the course, students should practice and enhance their reading, comprehension and thinking skills, as well as basic numeracy skills and self management skills. In lectures students will develop listening and note taking skills, as well as analytical skills. In seminars students will enhance their analytical skills and will practice listening, explaining and debating skills, as well as team work and problem solving. Essay writing will encourage students to practice their independent research, writing and IT skills. The examination will test these skills under time constraint conditions, but giving students access to the examination questions a short time before the examination takes place, allows students to develop their thoughts on a given topic in a manner which better replicates experience in the workplace.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Geraldine Lievesley. Democracy in Latin America.
Gary Wynia. Politics of Latin American Development (4th Edition).