OCAM 1080 - The Political Economy of Latin America in the XXI century

Analysis of the politics and economics of Latin America in the XXI century, including it political and economic structural constraints and wild swings in policy making, as well as new development trends. Study of Latin America as a region and its sub-regions, including tensions between authoritarianism and democracy, large social inequalities and populism, dependency, macroeconomic instability and periodic crises, leading to a region stuck in the middle-income trap and prone to social protest. Assessment of LA regional integration and her relations with the world, in particular with the European Union. Is LA still the forgotten continent? Study of Argentina recent political, economic and social developments as a representative case study in Latin American political and policy failures. Her decline from prosperity to underdevelopment is analysed as an inverted mirror of the whole region. Analysis of Argentina's political structural conflict, economic instability, wide policy shifts and recurrent crises, as well as its social consequences and future prospects.

Learning Outcomes
1. Understanding of LA political and economic trends in the XXI century
2. Assessment of LA regional integration and her relations with the EU and the world
3. Understanding of Argentina's political, economic and social decline.
4. Assessment of Argentina's political, economic and social prospects and their relevance to the LA region.

Professional Skills
Knowledge of LA and Argentina's developments and its relations with the outside world, in particular the European Union.
Real-life experiences about policy-making in negotiations with LA
Ability to relate academic and insiders' approaches to LA
Capacity to produce policy briefings as required in international negotiations.
Gustavo MARTIN PRADA
Séminaire
English
- In Class Presence: 4 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 6 hours a semester
- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 20 hours a semester
Autumn and Spring 2023-2024
Students will be assessed and marked on the basis of their participation and engagement during lectures, their Group Oral Presentations and their Individual Policy Briefs. Group (3 students) will make Oral presentations (10 minutes maximum) in weeks 2, 3, 4 and 5. Individual Policy Briefs (2 pages maximum) will be submitted in week 5 and discussed during the final session in week 6.

Participation, oral presentation and take-home policy briefs to be presented and defended orally. Participation (20) - Policy Briefs (50) - Oral Presentation (30)
Continuous feedback during the course and specific feedback about the policy brief and Oral presentation.
Michael Reid (2017): Forgotten Continent. A History of the New Latin America. Yale University Press.
Javier Santiso (2006): Latin America's Political Economy of the Possible – Beyond Good Revolutionaries and Free Marketeers. MIT Press.
Sebastian Edwards (2012): Left Behind – Latin America and the False Promise of Populism. The University of Chicago Press.
Olivier Dabene (2022): L'Amerique Latine a l'Epoque Contemporaine. Armand Colin.
Will Grant (2021) Populista : The Rise of Latin America's 21st Century Strongmen. Head of Zeus Limited.
Francisco Panizza (2009): Contemporary Latin America: Development and Democracy beyond the Washington Consensus. Zed Books.
ECLAC/CEPAL (2022): Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2022 – Trends and challenges of investing for a sustainable and inclusive recovery.