U.S.-LATIN AMERICAN RELATIONS

Political Science 146A

Peter H. Smith

TAs: Kathryn Dove, Jeff Kaplow

CONTACT INFO

• phsmith@dss.ucsd.edu

• Office hours: Thursday 11-1, SSB 364

• Website:– Polisci.ucsd.edu/faculty/smith/html– Dss/ucsd.edu/~phsmith/teaching/htm

• kdove@gmail.com

• jkaplow@ucsd.edu

Why This Course?

• Convenience or program requirements

• Economic opportunities, emerging markets

• Presence in southern California (plus!)

• Insights on American society

• Perspectives on U.S. foreign policy:

How do strong countries treat weaker ones?

Key Questions

• What is the current state of U.S. relations with Latin America?

• What (if anything) is unique or “new” about the present situation? How much have we seen before?

• Where is the relationship headed? What might the future hold?

Basic Assumptions• International system based on tacit codes

of conduct or “regimes”

• Regimes change according to distributions of power

• U.S. relations with Latin America thus take place within changing contexts (“regimes”)

• Latin American policy is key part of dialectic

• Latin America is more important to U.S. than is generally recognized

Design of the Course

• Course Structure and Conceptual Approaches

• Historical Stages1. Imperialism in the Americas2. Cold War in the Americas3. After the Cold War: From Geopolitics to

Geoeconomics

• The Contemporary Scene: 9/11-present

1. The War on Terror and Global Realities

2. Neglect and Opportunity for Latin America

3. The Political Economy of Drug Trafficking

4.Migration and Latino Communities

5. Barack Obama and the Politics of Hope (?)

6. Conclusion and Review

POINTS OF ENTRY

• Readings:– Smith, Talons of the Eagle– Domínguez and Fernández de Castro,

Contemporary U.S.-Latin American Relations– POLI 146A Course Reader

• Videos (as shown)

TO PURCHASE COURSE READER

University Readers

– http://www.universityreaders.com– “STUDENTS BUY HERE” in “Student Store”– Create an account or login– Follow instructions– Call 800.200.3908

ASSIGNMENTS AND DATES

• March 2: 10-12 page analytical papers (50% of course grade)

• TBA: Closed-book final exam (50% of course grade)

• February 9: “mock” midterm; if completed by February 23, can account for 20% of grade—with paper and final 40% each

A CAST OF CHARACTERS

PARTING THOUGHTS

• Have fun in this course!

• Q: If ignorance is bliss, knowledge must be…. ?