Pols of Inclusion in Latin Am

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This seminar examines the politics of inclusion in Latin America. This course is divided into four parts. The first part introduces the course by discussing the concept of inclusion and the inclusionary dynamics of Latin American states in recent decades. The emphasis will be on analyzing the paths to inclusion in the region and its relationship with democracy and state institutions. The second part focuses on how the concept of inclusion has shaped social policy. Specifically, we will discuss the fundamentals of contemporary social policy and how it has been used to promote access of the traditionally disadvantaged social groups to public goods and services. The third part of the course examines the role of parties and the party system as facilitators of inclusive and exclusive dynamics in the political system. This section will also discuss the relationship between the left turn in Latin American governments since the beginning of the century and the inclusionary turn. We will debate whether they are the same phenomenon and, if not, what elements they share. We will also analyze the phenomenon of populism in Latin America (in its left- and right-wing versions) and the rhetoric of inclusion. The final part of the course will discuss contemporary inclusionary challenges that the region still faces in some critical areas: gender, ethnicity, and race. The emphasis will be on the trends that the region should overcome in these areas and the social movements that have pushed the political system to address these issues, such as indigenous movements, feminist movements, Afro-Latin American movements, and the growing intersectionality of these struggles. This seminar exposes students to the frontier of the academic literature on inclusion in Latin America. The course is designed for students who want to be practitioners in Latin American policy or to develop an academic career researching Latin American issues. Previous knowledge of the region is required; therefore, taking introductory courses in Latin American Politics is recommended. Students should complete this seminar with a clear understanding of the main contemporary challenges that the region is facing and the critical actors of their political systems. They also will develop their research, analytical, and writing skills through reading, discussing, and writing their assignments. Course will be taught by Jill Hopper Fellow Simón Ballesteros