Bachelor
2025/2026
Area Studies: Latin America
Type:
Elective course (International Programme 'International Relations and Global Studies')
Delivered by:
Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs
When:
2 year, 1, 2 module
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Fyodor Alekseev
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Course Syllabus
Abstract
What does politics look like under conditions of economic inequality? What sort of culture does colonialism produce? When does democracy survive, and when does it break down? When do revolutions produce real improvements for ordinary people? These all sound like questions that many have been asking in the world in the last few decades. In Latin America, they have been asked for decades. This course will give a broad overview of Latin American history from the pre-colonial era to the present day. Particular emphasis will be placed on the socioeconomic, cultural, and political structures and processes that shaped and continue to influence life in Latin America. Key issues such as colonialism, nationalism, democracy, and revolution will be examined critically in light of broad comparative themes in Latin American and world history. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach: using materials from multiple disciplines in order to provide insight into the complex and diverse history of the region. Among the topics to be explored in detail will be colonialism, the Mexican and Cuban revolutions, and the transition from dictatorship to democracy. We will examine present-day issues in Latin America, including violence and inequality, and how they fit into a changing global environment. Moreover, we will cover the most pending issues of regional foreign politics as integration, relations with extra-regional actors (Russia, EU, US, China), Inter-American system.
Learning Objectives
- 1. Provide an introduction to the historical context of the region and modern socio-political situation; 2. Examine the basic contours of Latin American history, culture, and society, 3. Explore key concepts relevant to Latin American history such as colonialism, imperialism, caudillismo, democracy, and inequality to comparative world history; 4. Develop critical skills necessary to examine and assess the modern political course of Latin American states.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- 1. Provide an introduction to the historical context of the region and modern socio-political situation; 2. Examine the basic contours of Latin American history, culture, and society, 3. Explore key concepts relevant to Latin American history such as colonialism, imperialism, caudillismo, democracy, and inequality to comparative world history; 4. Develop critical skills necessary to examine and assess the modern political course of Latin American states.
Course Contents
- Lecture 1 and Lecture 2. Creation and Genesis of Latin American States
- Lecture 3. The Nineteenth-Century
- Seminar 1. Cuba's Quest for Independence
- Lecture 4. Mexico and Its Revolution
- Seminar 2. Borders, Memory, and Nationhood: The War of the Pacific and Its Legacy
- Lecture 5. Latin America at the Beginning of the 20th Century
- Seminar 3. At Crossroads: Argentina in Search of Development Paths
- Lecture 6. Cuba and Its Revolution
- Seminar 4. Cuba-US Relations After 1959
- Lecture 7. Democratic Breakdown and Dictatorship in Power: Brazil, Chile, and Argentina
- Seminar 5. Breaking with the Past? Democratisation in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina
- Seminar 6. The Struggle for Memory in Latin America
- Seminar 7. Midterm Test
- Lecture 8. Pink Tide in Latin America
- Seminar 8. Crisis of Pink Tide Regimes (2015-2019)
- Lecture 9. Integration in Latin America
- Seminar 9. Making of Modern Venezuela
- Lecture 10. Inter-American System
- Seminar 10. US, EU, and China's Quest for Latin America in the 21st century
- Lecture 11. Migration in Latin America
- Seminar 11. New Political Course in Mexico under AMLO
- Lecture 12. Current Economic and Political Trends in Latin Ameirca
- Seminar 12. Colombian Conflict
- Lecture 13. US Sanctions in the Western Hemisphere
- Seminar 13. Russia's Foreign Policy in Latin America
- Lecture 14. Indigenous Population and its Position in Modern Latin America
- Seminar 14. Current Economic Trends in Latin America
Assessment Elements
- Active participation20%: Active participation in seminars is essential, as learning is enhanced through collective discussion and critical engagement. Students are expected to come prepared, contribute thoughtfully, and respond constructively to others.
- MemosMemos. Students are required to submit two Memos, each approximately 1000 words in length. Each Memo accounts for half of this 20% assessment component. Topics will be assigned and will focus on current regional issues in Latin America. Memos should demonstrate the student's independent analysis of the issue, grounded in the relevant assigned readings.
- Midterm testMidterm test. There will be an in-class midterm test taken on the last seminar of the 1st module covering a whole class block.
- Final examFinal exam. There will be an obligatory oral exam taken on the exam week in December. The list comprised of 25 questions will be sent by the instructor one month before the Final exam date. Each student will get two questions based on the course content, will have 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to answer. The instructor, if needed, may ask additional questions concerning other topics of the course.
Interim Assessment
- 2025/2026 2nd module0.2 * Active participation + 0.4 * Final exam + 0.2 * Memos + 0.2 * Midterm test
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Cuba : what everyone needs to know, Sweig, J. E., 2009
- The Cambridge history of Latin America. Vol.2: Colonial Latin America, , 1997
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Levitsky, S., & Helmke, G. (2006). Informal Institutions and Democracy : Lessons From Latin America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=215883