Dokuz Eylül University Information Package / Courses Catalog

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code	Course Unit Title	Type Of Course	D	U	L	ECTS
UIR 4113	LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS	ELECTIVE	3	0	0	6

Offered By

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (UOLP-SUNY ALBANY)

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MÜGE AKNUR

Offered to

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (UOLP-SUNY ALBANY)

Course Objective

The aim of the course is to provide provide students with the theoretical and empirical background needed to understand and examine some of the main social, political, economic and cultural issues that includes colonial history, state formation, economic development, globalization and US-Latin America relations, military-authoritarian regimes, democratization, the rise of the left, political institutions and interest mediation, and civil
society in Latin American countries.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1	Gain an understanding of Latin American politics by examining some of the main social, political, economic and cultural issues.
2	Analyze the colonial history, state formation, economic development, relations with the US, military-authoritarian regimes, democratization, the rise of the left, political institutions and interest mediation, and civil society in Latin America.
3	Design and write a research paper in order to analyze a specific social, political, economic and cultural issue in a Latin American country.
4	Work effectively indivually or as a member of a team.
5	Demonstrate analytical skills in writing a term paper.
6	Demonstrate communication skills in presenting the paper.
7	Acquire the skills to use library and internet sources independently.

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

UIR 1201 - INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week	Subject	Description
1	Introduction to the Course: Location and Strategic Significance of Latin America
2	Historical Context: Colonization to Present
3	State Formation
4	Economic development: Dependency, export economies and oligarchic rule.
5	Economic development: Import-substitution industrialization and neoliberalism.
6	Globalization and US-Latin America relations
7	Military-authoritarian regimes
8	Democratic transition and democratic deepening
9	Political Institutions and interest mediation
10	Civil Society
11	Group Presentations
12	Group Presentations

Recomended or Required Reading

1. Thomas Skidmore, Peter H. Smith and James N. Green. Modern Latin America. 7th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.
2. Ronaldo Munck, Contemporary Latin America, Palgrave, MacMillan, 2007.
3. Peter R. Kingstone, Readings in Latin American Politics: Challenges to Democratization, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2006.
4. Philip Oxhorn, Oxhorn, Organizing Civil Society (University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1995.
5. Many more book chapters and articles.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1. Lecture
2. Individual or group work (writing and presenting a paper)
3. Exams

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER	SHORT CODE	LONG CODE	FORMULA
1	MT	Midterm
2	TP	TermProject
3	FN	Final
4	FCG	FINAL COURSE GRADE	MT * 0.30 + TP * 0.35 + FN * 0.35
5	RST	RESIT
6	FCGR	FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT)	MT * 0.30 +TP * 0.35 +BUT * 0.35

*** Resit Exam is Not Administered in Institutions Where Resit is not Applicable.

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

35 percent of the term project is divided as follows:
5 percent for the proposal
15 percent for the presentation
15 percent for the written paper

Assessment Criteria

1. Demonstrate understanding of the Latin American politics by examining some of the main social, political, economic and cultural issues.
2. Analyze the colonial history, state formation, economic development, relations with the US, military-authoritarian regimes, democratization, the rise of the left, political institutions and interest mediation and civil society.
3. Work individually or participate in a group work in analyzing a social, economic or cultural issue in a Latin American country.
4. Demonstrate high communication skills in writing and presenting a paper.
5. Acquire the skills to use library and internet sources independently.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. Attending at least 70 % of lectures is mandatory.
2. Plagiarism of any type will result in disciplinary action.
3. Students are supposed to come to class well-prepared.
4. Participation to class discussion is compulsory.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

muge.aknur@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

to be announced later.

Work Placement(s)