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Course Outline
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Required Texts:
Peter H. Smith, Talons of the Eagle: Latin America, the United States, and the World (3rd edition, Oxford U. Press 2008).
Greg Grandin, Empire's Workshop: Latin America, the United States, and the Rise of the New Imperialism
Mario A. Murillo, Colombia and the United States: War, Unrest and Destabilization
Other Readings on electronic reserve in the library are indicated by an asterisk(*). As the professor finds interesting new pieces on U.S. relations with Latin America, the electronic links to these items will be posted on a class address book for all to read.
This course is an analysis of the relations between the United
States and Latin America divided into three major parts:
1. the historical efforts of the United States to establish dominance
in the western hemisphere;
2. the efforts of the United States to create an anticommunist
alliance during the Cold War ;
3. the post-Cold war policies of the United States towards Latin
America as the world's only true super power.
The main focus of the course is the Cold War in Latin America
and the transition to a post-Cold War era that is based less
on a perception of an identifiable global threat and more on discrete
policy issues such as debt; economic globalization and trade;
immigration; drugs; democracy; human rights; and the environment.
How has the end of the Cold War affected relations between the
United States and the nations of Latin America? What interests
do the political elites directing the foreign policies of Latin
American countries pursue? Is there a convergence between elite
and mass interests in Latin America that is reflected in the foreign policies of Latin
American states? To what extent are neoliberalism (market driven
economics) and economic globalization consistent with democracy
and human rights? What is the interplay between U.S. domestic
interests and U.S. policy towards Latin America?
Since the readings are explored in class, every student is required
to read the material as it is assigned and to be ready to discuss
it when called upon to do so. There will be a series of PBS videos of the
program "Frontline" that I will ask you to view at home prior to the
discussion of that topic in class. For each program, you
are to write a one page reaction piece that will be submitted the following
class after the assignment is given. I will provide a list of the online
programs, instructions on how to access them, and instructions on the one page
reaction paper. These viewing assignments are part of your participation grade
as is your attendance in class. The viewings are a prelude to discussions in
class and you will not be able to participate in a meaningful way if you have
not seen the videos.
I do not want a class of passive students especially in a 400 level course. In order to participate in the class, you have to arrange your personal affairs (e.g., work schedule, family obligations, etc.) so that you do not miss class. Attendance is part of class participation and will figure in your final grade. More than two absences is considered poor attendance. Should the class not stay abreast of the reading, I will institute weekly short quizzes that will be used to determine the "participation "part of your grade.
Class Decorum-
1. Please do not bring activated cell phones or beepers to class because
you are not supposed to conduct any other business in the class.
In addition, they are disruptive elements.
2. This class lasts 1 hr. and 50 minutes per session. You are expected in class
for the entire period.
3. Please do not perform any business not related to the class
(such as homework for other classes) while class is in session
or you will be marked absent. You are to have a physical and mental
presence in the class (no sleeping in class, no head on the desk, etc.). .
4. Plagiarism (copying or handing in someone else's intellectual
work as your own or using direct language from a source in your
term paper without crediting the source) will result in a grade
of F in the course.
The midterm will consist of essay responses to analytical
questions. The exam will cover all assigned materials and class
discussions over the first five weeks of the course. The final exam will employ
the same essay format except that the final exam is comprehensive and covers the
entire course. You will need Blue Books for both the
midterm and the final examination. You cannot get a grade above F in the class
without completing the midterm, the final, and the required research paper. In
other words, if you don't complete all of the work, you will get a grade of F.
The term paper will consist of research on the relations
between the U.S. and a Latin American country or a specific policy
issue involving the United States and Latin American countries. You will be
required to read at least analyses of U.S. policy from the website of the
Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) or the Washington Office on Latin America
(WOLA). COHA is located at http://www.coha.org
and WOLA is located at http//www.wola.org
1. If you decide to write a paper on the relations between the
U.S. and a specific Latin American country, you are to address
the following:
a. The most important issues or problems in the relationship between the two
countries.
b. How each country defines its interests regarding those issues;
c. What specific policy arrangements exist between the U.S. involving
those issues (treaties, agreements, negotiated understandings,
etc.);
d. Your own assessment of our policies regarding that country
(whether you agree with U.S. policies, what policies we should
be following, etc.);
e. Where you see our relationship with that country headed over
the next decade given present trends.
2. If you select to explore a specific policy issue or arena , you are expected to:
a. define the policy or issue problem;
b. delineate how the U.S. perceives its interests and how Latin
Americans view their interests on that issue;
c. What policy instruments (economic, political, diplomatic,
socio/cultural) and what courses of action have been taken by each country regarding
that issue? What U.S. government departments are in charge of this policy arena
and what internal problems are they confronting in carrying out U.S. policy?
d. What consequences have followed the actions of the U.S. and of the Latin
American country in this policy arena?
e. For the United States, what policy recommendations do you have regarding the issue.
(This is the analytical part and it is very important in showing how well you
understand the issue.)
Here are some policy arenas that you
might want to research. This is a suggested list and not a required list of
topics.
-The U.S. War on Drugs in Latin America
-Plan Colombia: A Critical Analysis
-U.S. Trade Policies and Their Consequences on U.S.-Latin America Relations
-U.S. Immigration/Migration Policies and Their Consequences for U.S. Relations
With Latin America. (This would cover more than Mexico and would compare the
differences in U.S. immigration policies for different countries.)
-U.S. Policy Towards Cuba: Domestic and Regional Influences.
-International Crime and U.S.-Latin American Relations (includes more than drugs
and covers issues such as gangs, money laundering, illicit trafficking in
weapons and human beings).
-The National Endowment for Democracy and U.S. Promotion of Democracy in Latin
America
-U.S. Policies and their Impact on the Environment in Latin America
-Energy Resources and U.S. Policy
-U.S. Policy and Populist (leftist) Movements and
Governments in Latin America. The governments can include Brazil, Venezuela,
Ecuador, Bolivia, and the marginal case of Nicaragua.
-Conflict and Cooperation on the U.S. Mexico Border and Their Impact on U.S.
Mexico- Relations (focus on border issues)
-The Global War on Terror and Its Effect on U.S.-Latin American Relations.
The country study or issue area that you will assess must be selected by January
16, 2008. The paper is to be of no less than
twelve pages in textual length (with normal margins and a font size no
larger than 12). The paper will be due on the
last class meeting before final exams and there will be no exceptions to this
deadline..
1. Introduction: Perspectives on Latin American-U. S. Relations
Peter Smith, Introduction, pages 1-12.
2. The Evolution of U.S.-Latin America Policy
a. From Monroe to Roosevelt (1823-1932)
Peter Smith, chapters 1 and 2
Greg Grandin, Introduction and chapter 1
b. Latin American Responses to Imperialism
Peter Smith, chapter 3
3. The Cold War (1945-1990)
a. Making Friends and Crushing Enemies
Peter Smith, chapters 4 and 5.
Greg Grandin, chapter 2
b. Cold War Interventions and Latin America's Response
Peter Smith, chapters 6,
Greg Grandin, chapters 3 and 4
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a. U.S. Economy
Policy Towards Latin America
Peter Smith, chapter 7
Greg Grandin, chapters 5 and 6
b. Policy Options for Latin America
Peter Smith, chapter 9
5. Selected Policy Issues in U.S.-Latin American Relations
a. U.S.-Cuba Policy
*William
LeoGrande, "From Havana to Miami: U.S.-Cuba Policy as a Two-Level
Game"
*Soraya Castro Mariño, "Cuba-U.S. Relations: Détente in the Third
Millenium?"
"The
U.S. and Post-Fidel Cuba"
"Ten
Reasons for Changing U.S. Cuba Policy"
b. U.S. -Mexico Relations
*Jorge I. Dominguez, The United States and Mexico, chapter 5 (The Content
and Conduct
of Foreign Policy)
*Jorge I. Dominguez, The United States and Mexico, chapter 6 (Transborder
Relations)
Maureen Meyer et al, "At
A Crossroads: Drug Trafficking, Violence, and the Mexican State"
"Mexico's
Drug War: A Society at Risk"
c. The U.S., the Andean Region, & the Circum-Caribbean: Drugs, Democracy, and Human Rights
Peter Smith, chapter 8
*Mónica Serrano, "Transnational Crime in the Western Hemisphere"
"The Captive State: Organized Crime and Human Rights in Latin
America"
1. Colombia
-Background to Conflict, Mario Murillo, Colombia and the United States, Part I,
pages 9-54
-The Groups at War, Mario Murillo, Colombia and the United States, Part II,
pages 57-118
-U.S. Policy, Mario Murillo, Colombia and the United States, Part III, pages
121-201
*Russell Crandall, "From Drugs to Security: A New U.S. Policy Toward Colombia"
d. Latin America Policy in the Administration of George W. Bush
Peter Smith, chapters 10 and 11
Greg Grandin, "Conclusion" and "Afterword"
"Forging
New Ties: A Fresh Approach to U.S. Policy in Latin America"
6. Policy Alternatives for Latin America
Peter Smith, chapter 12 and "Conclusion" (pgs. 395-414)
_______________________________________________________________________
Office hours: M,
W............................1-2 pm
T, Th..............................3-4 pm
Location: Bldg. 94-312
Telephone: 909-869-3881 ( I prefer e-mail)
E-mail: jmvadi@csupomona.edu
Website: http://www.intranet.csupomona.edu/~jmvadi