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Political Science 322, Political Economy of Latin America |
Spring 1999 |
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Professor: Alfred P. Montero |
Office: Willis 407 |
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Phone: x4085 (Office) x5407 (Home) |
Email: amontero@carleton.edu |
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The recent history of Latin America has been consumed by one dominating paradox: the region is more developed economically, technologically, and more democratic now than ever; yet Latin American society is today more unequal and the region's economic crises are deeper than they have ever been in the past. This research seminar is designed to train students in the investigation of issues emerging from this persistent paradox in the political economy of Latin America.
The seminar begins with a thorough review of the developmentalist period of Latin America and its crisis during the 1980s and 1990s. Students will assess the political, economic, and social impact of the crisis while they review competing theories in the literature to explain the causes. In the second section, students will examine both official and popular responses to the crisis including neoliberal reform under authoritarian, semiauthoritarian (read: Mexico), and democratic governments. The third section explores the paradox that democratization was accompanied by greater inequality in the region. This section also assesses popular responses to the problems of poverty, indigenous rights, and gender inequality. The final section examines the trend toward regionalization of trade and investment and asks if this phenomenon is part of a larger "globalization" of the economy or if it is a defensive response to the growing importance of the transnational economy.
Students who complete this course successfully are encouraged to pursue further study of Latin America in independent studies and comps projects. This course will also serve to prepare students for a regional concentration in Latin American politics in any graduate school work they wish to pursue in the future.
Students will be expected to read, think, criticize, and form arguments. That means that students must keep up in their reading assignments and attend class regularly. Since the research seminar is organized around structured discussions, all students must be fully prepared at all times to discuss the readings and concepts in the course. The best students will be critical but balanced in their assessments, and will develop coherent arguments that they can defend in their writing and their in-class discussion.
The six required books for this course have been ordered and are presently on sale at the college bookstore. The texts are:
Peter Evans. 1979. Dependent Development: The Alliance of Multinational, State, and Local Capital in Brazil (Princeton).
Kurt Weyland. 1996. Democracy Without Equity: Failures of Reform in Brazil (Pittsburgh).
John Sheahan. 1987. Patterns of Development in Latin America: Poverty, Repression, and Economic Strategy (Princeton).
Eduardo Silva. 1996. The State and Capital in Chile: Business Elites, Technocrats, and Market Economics (Westview).
Carol Wise, ed. 1998. The Post-NAFTA Political Economy: Mexico and the Western Hemisphere (Penn State).
Philip D. Oxhorn and Graciela Ducatenzeiler, eds. 1998. What Kind of Democracy? What Kind of Market? Latin America in the Age of Neoliberalism (Penn State).
In addition to these texts, this course requires your study of a number of other readings from diverse sources. In order to facilitate your access to these materials, I have prepared a compendium of these readings. You are free to borrow this compendium for photocopying. It is available at my office during the day. Students are advised to make readable copies of these materials early during the course. Also, in order to reduce your costs, I have placed the required materials, including books and photocopied essays on closed reserve.
Some students may not be as familiar with Latin American political or economic history or theory as others might be in this seminar. To assist these students, I have placed three important reference works on reserve at the library. All students are free to consult these works if they need a primer on certain concepts or historical events and figures. The recommended works are:
Peter F. Klarén and Thomas J. Bossert. 1986. Promise of Development: Theories of Change in Latin America (Westview Press). A collection of essays from previously published sources covering the major theoretical approaches to Latin American political economy.
David Collier and Ruth Berins Collier. 1991. Shaping the Political Arena (Princeton). A massive tome covering the 20th century corporatist experience in several major Latin American countries.
Peter H. Smith. 1997. Modern Latin America 4th ed. (Oxford). A basic history of Latin America.
In addition to the readings, this course requires your use of select audio and video materials. These items include assorted National Public Radio reports on audio tapes, videos in the Annenberg/CPB "Americas" Collection, and a couple of feature-length films. Brief portions of these multimedia items will be presented during class as a part of the seminar discussions, but you will be required to view and listen to some of these materials in their entirety during off-class hours.
I will occasionally distribute handouts and clippings from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Economist, the Miami Herald, the Minneapolis/St. Paul newspapers, and the Internet at the beginning of class. Students are also invited to check out links to course relevant web pages on the professor's web page. Materials on the course's web page will be updated during the semester and will supplement rather than duplicate the substance of the discussions and the readings. Students will be invited to reference these resources during the course.
As a true research seminar the assessment of students' performance will focus on the composition and completion of a 20-25 page research paper due at the end of the course. The first draft of this paper will be graded. Additionally, students will complete an oral midterm exam. Most important, each student will be called upon during the course of the semester to present on the readings in structured critiques that will initiate all seminar discussions on the literature. The grade breakdown follows:
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Oral Midterm Exam |
15% |
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First Draft |
15% |
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Seminar Presentations (four total) |
5% each |
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Final Draft |
30% |
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Class Participation |
20% |
The oral exam will consist of a 30-minute meeting with me during the exam week. During the exam, I will ask the student questions based on the readings and the seminar discussions to that point. Students will be signed up for the oral exams no later than one week before the exams are held. A handout and a discussion in class regarding the oral exam requirement will outline additional aspects of this assignment.
The oral exam has been designed to not only test the students' knowledge of the literature, but also their ability to make clear oral arguments during an interview-like process. Students should study comprehensively for the oral exam and practice their interview skills in small groups. If you cannot attend the oral exam, you must notify me no later than two days before your exam is scheduled.
As a research seminar, the in-class discussions play a pivotal role in this class. Prior to each meeting, a selected number of students will be assigned the task of preparing "talking points" on the readings. These talking points should form the basis for both descriptive and critical points about the readings. Each student will present these arguments to lead off general discussion in the seminar. Each student will present twice before the midterm break and twice after the midterm break.
Typically, I will begin each class session by offering a general overview of the issues to be discussed. I will also present you with a set of critical questions to structure discussion. For certain sessions, I will lead off with a video or audio presentation. After the overview portion, the seminar will proceed to student presentations, and then general discussion. I will conclude each class session with a brief review of the authors and readings for the next meeting. The seminar will include a brief break of about 5-10 minutes in the middle of each class session. Whenever feasible, refreshments will be served.
The culmination of student work in this seminar will be the composition of a seminar paper of 20-25 pages of text (typed, double-spaced, 12cpi, one-inch margins) and a research bibliography of a minimum of three pages. The composition of the seminar paper will be broken down into the following steps:
(1) By April 13, students will have decided upon a research topic in consultation with me.
(2) By April 22, students will hand in a copy of a research bibliography of no less than 3 pages. A handout will define the proper citation and reference format for the paper.
(3) By May 13, students will hand in a first draft of the argumentative section of their paper. This assignment will be graded.
(4) On May 27, 29 or June 1, each student will orally present their research for no less than 15 minutes in the research seminar. All colleagues will offer their input. If possible, we will schedule a couple of early presentations to free up the schedule at the end of the course.
(5) On June 9, the final draft of the seminar paper will be due.
Consultation with me during each of these steps is crucial. We will also discuss the format and direction of paper topics and issues as part of the normal discussion of the research seminar. One of the most important lessons of the seminar is that good research depends upon the input and support of colleagues. Each student will be expected to contribute their share to this effort.
Communicating your insight into the subjects analyzed in this course is an integral part of the learning experience. In no way do I consider class participation a residual category for subjectively determining the final grade. In this course, I will evaluate your performance in both formal, scheduled presentations and informal seminar discussion. All oral arguments and presentations will be assessed on structure, relevance, insight, and style.
I will be using the following grading scale in this course:
98-100 A+ 94-97 A 91-93 A- 88-90 B+ 83-87 B 79-82 B- 76-78 C+ 72-75 C 68-71 C- 67/below D/FGiven the fact that academe relies upon the ethical conduct of scholars, students are held to the same standards in their own work. Any act of academic dishonesty or misconduct will be referred to the Office of the Dean. For further information, see Carleton College's Academic Honesty in the Writing of Essays and Other Papers and the section on "academic honesty" in Academic Regulations and Procedures, 1998-99. Both are available in Laird 140.
Students requiring access to learning tools/special schedules approved by Student Support Services should contact me at the beginning of the course.
NOTE: Readings must be completed for the dates assigned below. Readings marked with an (*) are required, all others are recommended.
Introduction (March 30 Tuesday)
Sheahan, Chapter 4 (highly recommended).
From Domestic Production to Global "Dependency" (April 1 Thursday)
*Peter Evans, Dependent Development, Chapters 2 & 3.
The State and Capital in the Developmentalist Experience (April 6 Tuesday)
*Peter Evans, Dependent Development, Chapters 4 & 5.
Labor and Inequality (April 8 Thursday)
*John Sheahan, Patterns of Development in Latin America, Chapters 2 & 3 (6 & 7, highly recommended).
National Patterns and Responses (April 13 Tuesday)
*John Sheahan, Patterns of Development in Latin America, Chapters (choose 3 of the 4): 8-11.
The Fiscal Crisis of the State and its Social Costs (April 15 Thursday)
*Luiz Carlos Bresser Pereira. 1993. "Economic Reforms and Economic Growth: Efficiency and Politics in Latin America." In Economic Reforms in New Democracies: A Social-Democratic Approach, eds. Luiz Carlos Bresser Pereira, José María Maravall and Adam Przeworski. New York: Cambridge University Press.
*Manuel Pastor and Carol Wise. 1998. "Mexican-Style Neoliberalism: State Policy and Distributional Stress." In Wise.
John Sheahan. 1997. "Effects of Liberalization Programs on Poverty and Inequality: Chile, Mexico, and Peru." Latin American Research Review 32:3: 7-37.
Neoliberal Adjustment Under Military Rule (April 20 Tuesday)
*Silva, The State and Capital in Chile, Chapters 1, 4, 5, & 6.
Dual Transitions: Democratization and Neoliberal Adjustment (April 22 Thursday)
*Silva, The State and Capital in Chile, Chapters 7 & 8.
Philip Oxhorn and Graciela Ducatenzeiler. 1999. "The Problematic Relationship Between Economic and Political Liberalization: Some Theoretical Considerations." In Markets and Democracy in Latin America: Conflict or Convergence? eds. Philip Oxhorn and Pamela K. Starr. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.
Organizing Coalitions for Reform (April 27 Tuesday)
*Hector E. Schamis. 1999. "Distributional Coalitions and the Politics of Economic Reform in Latin America." World Politics 51:2 (January): 236-268.
*Jorge Schvarzer. 1998. "Economic Reform in Argentina: Which Social Forces for What Aims?" In Oxhorn and Ducatenzeiler.
*Barbara Geddes. 1995. "The Politics of Economic Liberalization." Latin American Research Review 30:2: 195-214.
Neopluralism and Neodevelopmentalism: New Paradigms? (April 29 Thursday)
*Philip Oxhorn. 1998. "Is the Century of Corporatism Over? Neoliberalism and the Rise of Neopluralism." In Oxhorn and Ducatenzeiler.
*Francisco Zapata. 1998. "Trade Unions and the Corporatist System in Mexico." In Oxhorn and Ducatenzeiler.
*Luiz Carlos Bresser Pereira and Yoshiaki Nakano. 1998. "The Missing Social Contract: Governability and Reform in Latin America." In Oxhorn and Ducatenzeiler.
Alfred P. Montero. 1998. "State Interests and the New Industrial Policy in Brazil: The Privatization of Steel, 1990-1994." Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs 40:3 (Fall): 27-62.
The Response of the Popular Sectors? The Informal Market and the Left (May 4 Tuesday)
*Manuel Barrera. 1998. "Macroeconomic Adjustment in Chile and the Politics of the Popular Sectors." In Oxhorn and Ducatenzeiler.
*Kenneth M. Roberts. 1996. "Economic Crisis and the Demise of the Legal Left in Peru." Comparative Politics 29:1 (October): 69-92.
Judith Adler Hellman. 1995. "The Riddle of New Social Movements: Who They Are and What They Do." In Capital, Power, and Inequality in Latin America, eds. Sandor Halebsky and Richard L. Harris. Boulder: Westview.
Philip Oxhorn and Graciela Ducatenzeiler. 1998. "Economic Reform and Democratization in Latin America." In Oxhorn and Ducatenzeiler.
MIDTERM (Oral Exams, May 4-7)
The Failures of the State and Social Reform (May 6 Thursday)
*Weyland, Democracy Without Equity, Chapters 1-4.
Case Studies: Taxation, Social Insurance, and Health Care (May 11 Tuesday)
*Weyland, Democracy Without Equity, Chapters 5-7.
New Forms of Action from Below and Abroad (May 13 Thursday)
Choose two of the following four:
Francesca Miller. 1995. "Latin American Women and the Search for Social, Political, and Economic Transformation." In Capital, Power, and Inequality in Latin America, eds. Sandor Halebsky and Richard L. Harris. Boulder: Westview.
Tanya Korovkin. 1997. "Taming Capitalism: The Evolution of the Indigenous Peasant Economy in Northern Ecuador." Latin American Research Review 32:3: 89-110.
Margaret E. Keck. 1995. "Social Equity and Environmental Politics in Brazil: Lessons from the Rubber Tappers of Acre." Comparative Politics 27:4 (July): 409-424.
Ronald Waterbury. 1999. "'Lo Que Dice el Mercado': Development Without Developers in a Oaxacan Peasant Community." In Globalization and the Rural Poor in Latin America, ed. William M. Loker. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.
The Structure of Regionalization (May 18 Tuesday)
*Juan Alberto Fuentes. 1998. "The Prospects for Open Regionalism in Latin America." In Oxhorn and Ducatenzeiler.
*Carol Wise. 1998. "NAFTA, Mexico, and the Western Hemisphere." In Wise.
Sylvia Maxfield and Adam Shapiro. 1998. "Assessing the NAFTA Negotiations: U.S.-Mexican Debate and Compromise on Tariff and Nontariff Issues." In Wise.
*Carol Wise. 1998. "The Trade Scenario for Other Latin Reformers in the NAFTA Era." In Wise.
Stepahn Haggard. 1998. "The Political Economy of Regionalism in the Western Hemisphere." In Wise.
Issues in Regionalization (May 20 Thursday)
*Jonathan Heath. 1998. "The Impact of Mexico's Trade Liberalization: Jobs, Productivity, and Structural Change." In Wise.
Peter Andreas. 1998. "The Paradox of Integration: Liberalizing and Criminalizing Flows Across the U.S.-Mexican Border." In Wise.
*Denise Dresser. 1998. "Post-NAFTA Politics in Mexico: Uneasy, Uncertain, Unpredictable." In Wise.
Manuel Pastor. 1998. "Pesos, Policies, and Predictions: Why the Crisis, Why the Surprise, and Why the Recovery?" In Wise.