Political Science 221, Latin American Politics Winter Term 2005

Session 2: Colonial History and the Cultural Foundations of Latin American Politics

I. Are Latin American politics shaped by a path dependent legacy from the colonial past?

A. Path Dependencies and Critical Junctures (graphic)

B. Patterns of State-Building and Nation-Building

C. Patterns of Development

II. What are the cultural (ascriptive) foundations of Latin American politics?

A. Dual Societies: From The Traditional Path to the Modern Path

B. Modernization Theory (graphic)

C. Critiques of Modernization Theory (graphic)

D. The Persistence of Tradition

1) Wiarda's "Corporatism"

2) Putnam's "Social Capital" (graphic)

E. Race and Gender as Part of the Persistence of "Tradition"

III. How strong are historical and cultural path dependencies? Can they be broken?

A. Brazilian jeitinho and the Meaning of “the law.”

B. General Discussion of Guevara's Motorcycle Diaries

Key Concepts: path dependency; critical junctures; structural constraints; the "stickiness" of institutions; caudillos (Sp.); "colonies of exploitation" versus "colonies of settlement"; dualism theory; feudalism; tradition v. modernity; haciendas (latifundia) (Sp.) or fazenda (Port.); differentiated v. bifurcated hierarchies; political culture; "stages of growth" theory; modernization; achievement values; universalism v. particularism; political culture; Wiarda's "corporatism"; social capital (trust); jeito or jogo de cintura (Port.).

Key Individuals: Paul David; Max Weber; Talcott Parsons; W. W. Rostow; Seymour Martin Lipset; Howard Wiarda; Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba; Robert Putnam; Simón Bolívar; José de San Martín; Emperor Dom Pedro II.

Study Questions:

(January 10, Monday):

What are the major, persisting historical circumstances that have served to weaken democracy and the state in Latin America? Be ready to identify at least three and to explain why these circumstances have weakened democracy and the state.

What is “political culture?” Describe Latin America’s dominant political culture.

(January 12, Wednesday):

According to Wiarda, what are the main elements of Latin America’s political culture? Be prepared to list the two major ones and to discuss (a) their origins and (b) their effects on the political development of the region.

(January 14, Friday):

Does jeitinho enhance the function of Brazilian democracy or does it, even if only in some small way, weaken institutions you consider to be important to any democracy?

What are Che’s motivations during his motorcycle sojourn? Is he looking for anything or is he running away from something?

What are Che’s attitudes toward indigenous peoples? How would you reconcile his views with those of the revolutionary Che with which you are more familiar?

Does Che give any clues to his development of revolutionary ideas? If so, be prepared to specify with references to particular events/pages.