24-105.26 Latin America: Democracy and Conflict in a Comparative Political Perspective [digital]

Instructors: Clara Eugenia Franco Yanez; Viviana Garcia Pinzon

Event type: Seminar

Displayed in timetable as: AM1: Latin Amerika

Hours per week: 2

Credits: 4,0

Language of instruction: English

Min. | Max. participants: 10 | 24

Comments/contents:
The seminar provides a general understanding of three crucial aspects of the recent decades' socio-political change in Latin America: democracy in its constantly changing forms, Human Rights regimes and systems, and the persistence of violent conflict. In the wake of the third wave of democratization that took place in the decades of the 80s and 90s; democracy has become the predominant form of governance in the region. However, these transformations coexist with persistent violence, human rights violations, and backward steps in various countries at certain times. In this regard, the course covers both the comparable general aspects connecting various countries and democracy performance in the region and the important particularities of relevant cases. In addition, we will briefly cover the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the already-fragile political setting of the region. The seminar is divided into six blocks:

1.       A general introduction to democracy in Latin America.
2.       Human Rights in Latin America.
3.       Conflict and violence in the region.
4.       Social movements and human rights.
5.       Consolidation, erosion, and paradoxes of Latin American democracies.
6.       Latin America facing the effects of COVID-19.

Learning objectives:
The main goal of the course is to outline the political transformation in Latin America over the last decades based on three crucial aspects: Democracy, Human Rights, and Conflict. Students will be invited to address and think critically about the process of democratization in the region, as well as its contemporary challenges and about how international and regional Human Rights regimes, as well as violent conflict, have contributed to shaping Latin American democracies.  

Didactic concept:
The seminar addresses undergraduate students in social sciences. The work in the seminar will be based on a-synchronic presentations (OpenOLAT), online sessions (via Zoom), written commentaries, forums, and readings. The scientific literature for the seminar will be available in Stine. All the material, videos, and space for forums are available on the Openolat platform.

The possibility to get credit points is based on the following conditions:
·         Regular participation in the activities;
·         Reading of the scientific literature for the seminar;
·         A final essay.

Additional examination information:
Additional examination information:
Assessment Requirements and Grading Criteria:
 
1. A brief analysis of the readings: Every second week the students will be responsible for writing a brief analysis of the assigned readings. The analysis consists of a text of no more than 500 words stating the arguments that the student considers most relevant and how they relate to concrete cases in Latin America. Finally, the analysis musts include three critical questions that the materials have raised which you would want to further discuss or research. Please send your document to us (Clara.Franco@giga-hamburg.de or Viviana.garciapinzon@giga-hamburg.de).

 2. Forum: Each section of the course includes multimedia material and readings. Every second week, the instructors will publish a set of questions related to these materials. Students are expected to 1. Reply to the questions. 2. Comment and provide informed feedback on the answer to one of their fellow students.

 3. Essay (3,500-4,000 words/ APA citation style): Students aiming at getting an approbatory numerical grade are expected to present one (or more) specific case(s) studies on any of the topics covered by the seminar. In this regard, the essay can be an extended version of the case study presentation or can include another case or set of cases with the aim of comparison. It is expected for students to analyze the case(s) with the use of the compulsory and/or suggested literature covered during the class. 
 
*Students aiming at getting a pass/fail note need to fulfill the requirements regarding participation in the forums and presentation of the brief analyses.

** Students aiming at getting a numerical grade must present the essay in addition to fulfilling of the other requirements.
** Participation in the virtual sessions is obligatory. Students are allowed to miss a maximum of one session in order to pass the course. Any other absence should be justified with a medical document, or proving any other exceptional circumstance.