Syllabus for PO254Syllabus for PO254: Latin American Politics
Spring 2007
Dwight R. Hahn, Ph.D.
Contents:Office Hours / Description  / Text / Requirements /  Grading  / Attendance / Topics by Week 





Dwight R. Hahn, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science
John Carroll University
Office: B03, in the Political Science Department, located in the Administration 
Building Annex (just down corridor from the first floor of O’Malley Building)
Office Hours: MW: 12:15-3:15pm and by appointment
Phone: (216) 397-4305
E-mail: hahn@jcu.edu                  TOP
Description of the Course:
We  begin the course with a brief historical overview of colonial Latin America 
and the struggle for political independence in the early 19th Century.  This 
overview is followed with more detailed examinations of political, social, and 
economic issues intrinsic to Latin America of the 20th  and 21st Century.  These 
issues include nationalism, populism, ethnicity, class conflict,  revolution, 
civil war, democratization, economic liberalization, and U.S. intervention.  
Seven Latin American countries are discussed in some detail in light of these 
issues—Peru (1), Argentina (2), Brazil (3), Chile (4), Colombia (5), Venezuela 
(6), and Cuba (7).  Students will be divided into seven groups with each group 
focusing on one of these seven countries.  Students are to go beyond the 
required course reading to gain a deeper understanding of the particular 
country.  Each group is expected to develop a certain degree of expertise on its 
country and report to the class on the significant issues (from the list above) 
and the near-term political future of its country.  
This course carries an R designation and is a core course for Division III and 
the Latin American Studies Concentration.
 
Goals:  
To impart basic knowledge of concepts and facts related to an academic 
understanding of Latin American political development; To encourage the 
development of secondary research skills; To encourage the development of 
analytical skills required for the group project described below.   
          TOP
Required Text:     
  Blake, Charles H.  2005.  Politics in Latin America.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin 
  Co.    
 
Recommended Text and Web Sites:
  Skidmore, Thomas E. and Peter H. Smith.  2005 (Sixth Edition).  Modern Latin 
  America.  New York: Oxford University Press 
  http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook 
  http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/americas.html 
  See additional websites in the “External Links” section of our course 
  Blackboard site. 
 
Course Requirements:       TOP
In-class Writing.   Frequently students will be asked to write a paragraph or 
two in class as the basis for a discussion of a particular topic, or as an 
assessment of that session’s important points.   From time to time students will 
be asked to submit these papers to the professor. {four or five--possibly 
more—total of 15% of course grade}
Midterm. This is an in-class exam of one or two short essays and, possibly, some 
brief identification questions. {20%}
Final Exam. This is a take-home exam of one fairly significant essay or two 
shorter essays. {25%}
Group Work.   Presentation and Written Outline with clear introductory 
paragraph, citations to support outline content, and full bibliography on 
significant issue related to group’s country.  (E.g., Populism has led to the 
collapse of democracy in…)  Oral presentation should be NO MORE than TEN Minutes 
total per group {30%}
Oral Participation.    The class emphasizes student participation.  Students 
should demonstrate knowledge of the course material through regular class 
attendance, ability to respond to questions based on the reading, and thoughtful 
discussion. {10%}
    
Grading: TOP
A = 93% or better of total points possible, A- = 90% - 93%, B+ = 87% - 90%, B = 
83% - 87%, B- = 80% - 83%, 
C+ = 77% - 80%, C = 73% - 77%, C- = 70% - 73%, D+ = 67% - 70%, D = 60% - 67%, F 
= <60% 
 
Attendance:            TOP
Classroom attendance is mandatory.  Each student is expected to attend each 
session, take appropriate notes, and participate in discussion.  Students who 
miss more than one session will have one percentage point subtracted from their 
course grade for each session they are not in attendance.   Generally, "excused 
absences" or "make-ups" will only be allowed in the event of a major medical 
problem or family emergency. In any case, the student is responsible for course 
material presented during his or her absence.  Students who choose not to 
continue the course are responsible for fulfilling the administrative 
requirements of dropping a class.
An attendance sheet will be distributed at most class sessions.  Students are 
responsible for making sure that they have signed the attendance sheet on that 
day.  Students who are not on the attendance sheet for that day are considered 
to be absent whether or not they actually attended class.
 
Other Course Policies:
Academic Honesty:
Students are encouraged to study together for the course exams.  However, once 
an exam is distributed either as a take-home or as an in-class exam, students 
are honor bound not to look at each other’s papers or to copy from or aid each 
other on the exam in any way.   Students caught cheating during an exam or 
plagiarizing a written assignment will be given a zero on the exam or paper.  
Further, the incident will be reported to the Chair of the Department and to the 
Dean of Arts & Sciences who may take further disciplinary action.  
Students with Disabilities:
John Carroll University recognizes its responsibility for creating an 
institutional climate in which students with disabilities can succeed. In 
accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability, you may 
be eligible to request accommodations from the office of Services for Students 
with Disabilities. Students with disabilities are entitled to reasonable 
accommodations and should have equal access to learning. Please contact the 
office of Services for Students with Disabilities at (216) 397-4967 if you have 
any questions or to set up an appointment to meet with the coordinator, Allison 
West. After your eligibility for accommodations is determined, you will be given 
a letter which, when presented to instructors, will help us know best how to 
assist you. Please keep in mind that accommodations are not retroactive so it is 
best to register with Student Disability Services at your earliest convenience. 
    
Course Topics and Readings by Week:         TOP
(subject to modification)
      #WeekReading:Topics, tasks, and comments:
      1Jan 16-18T-R: Materials at BlackboardIntroduction to the course—overview 
      of region and countries; Blackboard; Select Groups
      2Jan 23-25T: Blake, Ch.1; Skid, Prologue
      R:  Blake, Ch. 2; Skid, Ch. 1General introduction to Latin American 
      society, brief overview of colonial history, independence, and economic 
      and political development 
      3Jan 30-Feb 1T:   Blake, Ch. 3
      R: Skid, Ch.2 (and Ch. 6 for G1 only)General concepts and Focus on Peru
      4Feb 6-8T:  Blake, Ch. 4
      R: Articles at BlackboardMore concepts and continue Focus on Peru
      5Feb 13-15T: Blake, Ch. 5
      R: Updates on Argentina at Blackboard; Skid, Ch. 3 (G2 only)Focus on 
      Argentina: Juan Peron, populist politics, reaction from the right; 
      Peronist neoliberalism in the post-military period, economic collapse, and 
      political reaction;  The dirty war and use of “national security” to 
      justify crimes against humanity.
      6Feb 20-22T: Blake, Ch. 6
      R: Updates on Brazil at Blackboard; Skid, Ch. 5 (G3 only)Focus on Brazil: 
      Getulio Vargas, state-led development, bureaucratic authoritarianism, and 
      return to democracy; Lula and neoliberal economics
      7Feb 27-Mar 1T: Review
      R: MidtermFinish Brazil, Review for Midterm; Midterm  SPRING BREAK Begins 
      after last scheduled class on  March 3
      8Mar 13-15T: Blake, Ch. 7  (Class visitor on civil liberties?)
      R: Updates on Chile at Blackboard; Skid, Ch. 4 (G4 only)Focus on Chile: 
      socialism by democracy, Pinochet dictatorship and neoliberal economic 
      policy by force.  Shift away from a multi-party system and development of 
      stable democracy in the post-Pinochet period
      9Mar 20-22T:  Skid, Ch. 7
      R:  articles at Blkbrd Focus on Colombia: the failed state;  [CLASS at 
      Celebration of Research for either T or R]
      10Mar 27-29T:  Blake, Ch. 11
      R:  articles at BlkbrdFocus on Venezuela: Hugo Chavez and populist 
      democracy
      11Apr 3T: Video: “Eyes…”Friday classes meet on Wed., April 4, and then 
      EASTER BREAK begins
      12Apr 12R:: Blake, Ch. 8; Skid, Ch. 9 (G7 only)Focus on Cuba: the 
      Revolutionary path; meet with professor about presentations and outlines;  
       Tuesday, April 10, is Monday schedule
      13Apr 17-19T: prepare presentations
      R: G1, G2, G3Meet with professor about presentations and outlines.  
      14Apr 24-26M: G4, G5, G6
      W: G7  
      15May 1-3)T: Review
      R: Release of Final ExamReview for Final Exam; 
      16Final Exam Final Exam is due Tuesday, May 8, at 3:00PM
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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