COURSE SYLLABUS: LATIN AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Partner Institution: University of Belgrano

Course Title (English): Latin American Political Thought

Course Title (Spanish): Pensamiento político latinoamericano

Sessions Offered: Fall Semester, Spring Semester

Instructional in: Spanish

Classroom Contact Hours: 45 contact hours

College Credit (Semester Credit Hours): 3 credit hours

College Credit (Quarter Units): 4.5 quarter units

Prerequisites: Intermediate II Spanish Level if taught in Spanish

Local Department: Programa de estudios argentinos y latinoamericanos (PEAL)

Course Code: PEAL 346

Course Description

This course explores the different traditions of political thought in Latin America from the 19th century to the present day. It considers the foundational influence of European thought in Latin America in terms of inspiration, assimilation and re-creation. The course is organized around the following topics: Contractualism (Mariano Moreno) and Republicanism (Simón Bolívar), the task of nation building (Domingo F. Sarmiento, Juan Bautista Alberdi and José Martí); the parallel with the United States (José Martí), the development of Latin American socialism and its link with the problem of indigenous land (José Carlos Mariátegui and Victor Haya de la Torre) development and dependency theories (Raul Prebisch, Fernando Cardoso and Enzo Faletto), Latin American populist thinking (Jauretche Arturo and Ernesto Laclau), liberation theology (Gutiérrez) and late twentieth-century neo-liberal thinking (de Soto).

Course Objectives

Conceptual Content:

• Understand and explain the principal current thoughts on the history of Latin America from the last two hundred years, since the turbulent times of the independence until the 21st century.
• Recognize how the Latin American thinkers discuss and adapt the European schools of thought to particular condition of the sub-continent.

Oral & Written Content:

• Develop a critical understanding of the intellectual Latin American politicians and their relation with the history of their respective nations.
• Identify the principal factors that form the current ideologies of Latin America.
• Strengthen the analytical abilities through a permanent comparison between current Latin American and European intellectuals.

Attitude Content:

• Value the understanding of political thinking as a medium to understand some of the factors that form our present.
• Obtain alternative visions as a first step in the development of our comprehension and respect for different countries and their cultures.

Program Schedule

Class 1

Contractualismo (Mariano Moreno y José Artigas)

Review Course Reader

Class 2

Contractualismo (Mariano Moreno y José Artigas)

MORENO; 2007 – (pp. 35-94) 60 pages

Class 3

Contractualismo (Mariano Moreno y José Artigas)

PETIT MUÑOZ; 1956 - pp. 185-221) 37 pages

Class 4

Republicanismo (Simón Bolívar)

BOLIVAR; 2001

Class 5

Republicanismo (Simón Bolívar)

BOLIVAR; 2001

Class 6

The construction of nations (Sarmiento y Alberdi)

SARMIENTO; 1967 – (pp. 7-52- y 60-72) 59 pages

Class 7

Holiday

Class 8

The construction of nations (Sarmiento y Alberdi)

SARMIENTO; 1967 – (pp. 7-52- y 60-72) 59 pages

Class 9

The construction of nations (Sarmiento y Alberdi)

SARMIENTO; 1967 – (pp. 7-52- y 60-72) 59 pages

Class 10

The construction of nations (Sarmiento y Alberdi)

ALBERDI; 1995 – (pp. 117-128) 12 pages

Class 11

The construction of nations (Sarmiento y Alberdi)

ALBERDI; 1995 – (pp. 117-128) 12 pages

Class 12

The construction of nations (Sarmiento y Alberdi)

ALBERDI; 1995 – (pp. 117-128) 12 pages

Class 13

Parallels with the United States (José Martí)

MARTÍ, José. Selections.

Class 14

Latin American socialism and the problem of the Indian and land (José Carlos Mariátegui)

MARIÁTEGUI; 1979 – (pp. 35-93) 59 pages

Class 15

Latin American socialism and the problem of the Indian and land (José Carlos Mariátegui)

MARIÁTEGUI; 1979 – (pp. 35-93) 59 pages

Class 16

Midterm

Lecture over readings and class materials

Class 17

Latin American socialism and the problem of the Indian and land (Mariátegui y Haya de la Torre)

MARIÁTEGUI; 1979 – (pp. 35-93) 59 pages HAYA DE LA TORRE, Víctor Raúl. Selections.

Class 18

Latin American socialism and the problem of the Indian and land (Mariátegui y Haya de la Torre)

MARIÁTEGUI; 1979 – (pp. 35-93) 59 pages HAYA DE LA TORRE, Víctor Raúl. Selections.

Class 19

Theories of development and dependence (Prebisch)

PREBISCH; 1964 – (pp. 7-51) 45 pages

Class 20

Theories of development and dependence (Prebisch)

PREBISCH; 1964 – (pp. 7-51) 45 pages

Class 21

Theories of development and dependence (Cardoso y Faletto)

CARDOSO y FALETTO; 1975 – (pp. 3-38) 36 pages

Turn in research papers.

Class 22

Theories of development and dependence (Cardoso y Faletto)

CARDOSO y FALETTO; 1975 – (pp. 3-38) 36 pages

Turn in research papers.

Class 23

Bank holiday

Class 24

Populist thought (Arturo Jauretche)

JAURETCHE; 1959 – (pp. 24-49) 26 pages

Class 25

Theology of the Liberation (Leonardo Boff y Gustavo Gutiérrez)

BOFF; 1990 – (pp. 121-127) 7 pages GUTIÉRREZ; 1990 – (pp. 169-175) 7 pages

Class 26

Theology of the Liberation (Leonardo Boff y Gustavo Gutiérrez)

BOFF; 1990 – (pp. 121-127) 7 pages GUTIÉRREZ; 1990 – (pp. 169-175) 7 pages

Class 27

Neoliberal thought (Alvaro Vargas LLosa)

VARGAS LLOSA et al.; 2007 - (pp. 15-60; 109-132) 70 pages

Class 28

Presentation of final projects

Class 28

Presentation of final projects

Class 29

Final exam

Course Evaluation

In agreement with the policies of the University of Belgrano the student can only have a 25% absence rate. The percentage of attendance that is required in order to take the final exam is 75%. Any trip or excursion that is not planned in the calendar is part of the 25% absence.

• Class participation: 10%
• Midterm: 30%
• Research paper: 20%
• Presentation of research topic: 10%
• Final exam: 30%
• Class participation: 10%

Participation in class (10%)

The grade is calculated reflecting participation in the class discussions, the student’s capacity to introduce ideas and thoughts that reflect the reading of other texts, the ability to interpret different currents of thought and capacity to analyze in intellectual discussions. Active written and verbal contribution is the most important factor in the grading of class participation. Additionally it’s important to demonstrate a positive attitude in class and towards the class activities.

Relevant questions to permit the effective evaluation of class participation:

1. Is my comment relevant to the discussion? (Relevancy)
2. Is my comment backed by information obtained in class or in the readings? (Evidence)
3. Is my comment clear, complete and concise? (Form)
4. Is my comment original and reflexive? (Originality)
5. Does my comment open up the discussion with all of its implications? (Implications)

Practical Work (20%)

The student will complete a research paper focusing on some of the topics studied in class during the semester. The paper should be at least 6 pages typed in Time New Roman 12 point font with a space and half of paragraph spacing. The work should include bibliographic references. All written work will be presented in electronic form with a printed copy also.

Presentation (10%)

The student will present their research paper. They should be prepared to discuss critically their work with the class and professor. The presentation should be more than 10 minutes.

Midterm (30%)

The exam will consist of three topics that are covered in the bibliography.

Final Exam (20%)

The exam will consist of two questions over topics from readings in the bibliography and a short question about a specific text of a Latin American political thinker.

Bibliography (Text and Materials)

• Course Reader
• ALBERDI, Juan Bautista (1995) “La República Argentina, 37 años después de su Revolución de mayo”; en Halperín Donghi, Tulio; Proyecto y construcción de una Nación (1846-1880); Buenos Aires: Ariel (pp. 117-128)
• ALBERDI, Juan Bautista (1995) “Causas de la anarquía en la República Argentina”; en Halperín Donghi, Tulio; Proyecto y construcción de una Nación (1846-1880); Buenos Aires: Ariel (pp. 362-367) 6 pages
• BOFF, Leonardo (1990) “Marxismo en teología: La fe requiere eficacia”; en Tamayo Acosta, Juan José, La teología de la liberación; Madrid: Ediciones de Cultura Hispánica (pp. 121-127) 7 pages
• BOLIVAR, Simón (2001) Escritos políticos y sociales; Buenos Aires: Editorial Manchita
• CARDOSO, Fernando H. y FALETTO, Enzo (1975) Dependencia y desarrollo en América Latina, Buenos Aires: Siglo XXI (Caps. I y II, pp. 3-38) 36 pages
• GUTIÉRREZ, Gustavo (1990) “Fraternidad cristiana y lucha de clases”; en Tamayo Acosta, Juan José, La teología de la liberación; Madrid: Ediciones de Cultura Hispánica (pp. 169-175) 7 pages
• HAYA DE LA TORRE, Víctor Raúl. Escritos varios
• JAURETCHE, Arturo (1959) Política Nacional y Revisionismo Histórico; Buenos Aires: Arturo Peña Lillo (pp. 24-49) 26 pages
• MARIÁTEGUI, José Carlos (1979) Siete ensayos de interpretación de la realidad peruana; México, D.F.: Ediciones Era (Cap. 2, El problema del indio, pp. 35-45; Cap. 3, El problema de la tierra, pp. 46-93) 59 pages
• MARTÍ, José. Escritos varios. Page 9 of 9
• MORENO, Mariano (2007) Plan de Operaciones y otros escritos; La Plata: Terramar Ediciones (pp. 35-94)
• PETIT MUÑOZ, Eugenio (1956) Artigas y su ideario a través de seis series documentales, 1° Parte; Montevideo: Uruguay (Las Instrucciones del año XIII, pp. 185-221) 37 pages
• PREBISCH, Raúl (1964) Nueva política comercial para el desarrollo; México: Fondo de Cultura Económica (pp. 7- 51) 45 pages
• ROMERO, José Luis (1976) Latinoamérica: las ciudades y las ideas; Buenos Aires: Siglo XXI (Cap. 4, pp. 108-118; Cap. 5, pp. 205-217; Cap. 6, pp. 307-318) 36 pages
• SARMIENTO, Domingo (1967) Facundo; Buenos Aires: CEAL (Introducción, pp. 7-21; Capítulos 1, 2 - pp. 22-52- y 4 –pp. 60-72) 59 pages
• VARGAS LLOSA et al. (2007) El regreso del idiota; Buenos Aires: Sudamericana (pp. 15-60; 109-132)

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