How do countries in Latin America interact with each other and the rest of the world? What institutional structures do they use to promote regional cooperation and participate in an increasingly interconnected world? This course engages students in debates about the key dynamics of Latin American international politics, with a special focus on the contemporary period. 

The course starts with a general introduction to the historical background of Latin America, and the development of international relations thinking and practice in the region. It then explores Latin America’s changing role, power, and position over time. The course focuses on identifying and assessing insertion strategies developed since the 1960s, including their successes and failures, consequences, and key reformulations. It also critically examines Latin America’s relations with third partners, such as the United States and the European Union, as well as the recent turn towards South-South relations and deeper cooperation initiatives with countries like China and India. 

The course will examine theoretical debates through empirical case studies to understand and account for Latin America’s regional and international politics. It will also explore the challenges and opportunities the region faces in a world characterised by shifting political and economic balances and the increasing fatigue of regional and multilateral governance mechanisms and structures.

Avaluació

Assessment criteria:

The final grade will be a weighted average of four different elements:

• Active participation in class 10%
• In-class presentation 25%
• Research paper proposal 25%
• Final research paper 40%

Competències, resultats d'aprenentatge i activitats formatives (PDF) (Castellà)