Political and Social Change in Chile and Latin America
PIIE 421

Course Description

This course will examine Latin America?s political and social development during the 20th century, paying
particular attention to the Chilean case. Political and social projects were marked by the rise of popular
movements and by a deeply conflicting social context leading to dictatorships. The beginning of the 21st century
was marked, in many countries by a transition to democracy.

The course begins by examining the debate over development and modernity as it has evolved over the course
of the twentieth century in Latin America. It continues with a close look at revolutions and state socialism in Cuba
and Chile, before dealing with the issue of ?dirty wars?, dictatorships and human rights violations in the Southern
Cone. It will then turn to the new era of liberal governance in the 1980s and 1990s and will focus on how these
new developments have changed the nature of poverty, and brought about or deepened different forms of social
exclusion. Special attention will be paid to the indigenous world and to the changing role of women in Latin
America. In the concluding sessions students will become familiar with issues of transitional justice and memory
and will reflect upon Latin America´s most recent changes in the context of globalization.

Course Objectives

Students will have become familiar with historical events and processes of social and political history of Latin
America and Chile, giving them an understanding of the current social and political reality of Latin America. The
students will be able to recognize different ideological projects, allowing them to relate these to political and
social developments. They will have understood the main issues of post-dictatorship and reflect upon the
meaning of globalization for Latin American societies.

Course Outline

1. Development and Modernity
? Theoretical Debates in Latin America
2. Revolutions
? The Cuban Revolution
? The Chilean Road to Socialism
3. Latin America´s ?Dirty Wars?
? Human Rights violations in the Southern Cone
? Central America
4. Neoliberalism and new poverty and exclusion
? The indigenous World
? The changing role of women
5. Transition to Democracy
? Truth Commissions
? Memory and Justice in Post-dictatorship Chile
6. Globalization
? Effects of Globalization in Latin America

Required Readings

? Angell, Alan (2007), Democracy after Pinochet, London; University of London
? Burns, Bradford E. and Julie A.Charlip (2007), Latin America: An Interpretive History
? Chasteen, John Charles (2001), Born in Blood and Fire- A concise history of Latin America
? Collier, Simon and William Sater. A history of Chile 1808-2002.
? Corradi, Juan et al (1992), Fear at the Edge: State Terror and resistance in Latin America
? Dore, E. and Molyneux M. (eds), Hidden Histories of Gener and the State in Latin America
? Eckstein, Susan (ed.), Power and Popular Protest, Latin American Social Movements
? Galeano, Eduardo, The Open Veins of Latin America.
? Loveman, Brian (1988), The Legacy of Hispanic Capitalism, New York: Oxford University Press, 1988
? Mallon, Florencia, Courage tastes of blood: The Mapuche Community of Nicolas Ailío and the Chilean
State, 1906-2001
? Skidmore, Thomas and Peter Smith (1989), Modern Latin America
? Valenzuela, Arturo (1978), The Breakdown of Democratic Regimes: Chile
? Wilde, Alexander (1999), Irruptions of Memory: Expressive Politics in Chile´s Transition to Democracy.
Journal of Latin American Studies (1999), 31:473-500
? Winn, Peter, Victims of the Chilean Miracle: Workers and Neoliberalism in the Pinochet Era, 1973-2002

*Course content subject to change