Geopolitics Industrializatn LA

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Industrial policy is making a comeback as governments worldwide increasingly adopt policies to favor specific sectors of the economy. Industrial policy aims to achieve goals – such as energy transition and/or rebuilding a particular manufacturing sector – that the private sector alone would likely not achieve. This course covers Latin America's past and present experiences with industrial policy, contrasting them with those of other countries. No prior knowledge of industrial policy and its economic and political components is necessary. The course will take a deeper dive into the cases of Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico, addressing their respective histories with industrial policy and current trends. An example of a contemporary issue to be covered is: while Brazil and Argentina have amplified their agribusiness-led development model, creating several internal political tensions, Mexico is gaining ground as the region's industrialized nation, particularly with ongoing US-China tensions. Mexico's industrial gains from the US-China trade war are impacting South America: nearshoring in Mexico's automotive industry has catalyzed the Chinese automaker boom in Brazil and Argentina, with implications for regional supply chains. The course will thereby explore several contemporary issues associated with industrial policy, providing students with the tools to understand the interconnections between development, climate change, geopolitics, and international trade. The course is open to undergraduate students, provided they have permission from their department supervisors.