Course Syllabus

Course Information U.S. MEXICO AND LATIN AMERICA - SEMINAR UNIV 4V99-HN1 Readings Independent Study Fall 2011 Tuesdays and Thursdays 2.30 -3.45 p.m.

Professor Contact Information Rodolfo Hernandez Guerrero Tel. 972-883 6401 rfo@utdallas.edu Green Center 2.210 Tuesdays, 1.00-2.00 p.m. or by appointment

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions N/A

Course Description The course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the development of the U.S.-Mexico relationship with special emphasis on the historical roles that both countries have played in Latin America. The course will offer a detailed backdrop to Latin Americas post-1980s economic, cultural and political transitions, and will evaluate the nature of Latin Americas recent democratic transition/consolidation process, with special emphasis on the impact of the Mexican democratization on the U.S. The course will explore the impact that the tempestuous debates and challenge mounted among Latin American political institutions have had in shaping a new suite of regional reforms. The course will also address how the new Latin American political and economic environments impact the United States and vice versa.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes Students would be able to: 1. Examine the relationship between U.S. and Mexico with special emphasis on the historical roles that both countries have played in Latin America. 2. Analyze the Latin American political and economic backdrop of the 20th century. 3. Study the intersection between economics and political opening, and the impact of Free Trade Agreement and globalization in Latin America. 4. Evaluate the profound changes that are underway in Latin Americas political and civic cultures. 5. Examine the Latin Americas changing cultures: the U.S. Mexico Latin America relationship post-September 11, 2001.

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6. Study the impact of drug traffic in the U.S.-Mexico relationship and its impact in Latin America.

Required Textbooks and Materials Camp, Roderic Ai. 2006 (5th Edition) Politics in Mexico: The Democratic Consolidation. Oxford University Press. Dominguez, Jorge I. and Fernandez de Castro, Rafael. 2009. The United States and Mexico, Routledge. Vanden, Harry E. and Prevost, Gary. 2011 Politics of Latin America. The Power Game, Oxford University Press.

Assignments & Academic Calendar 1) August 25th Introduction, Course Outline, UTD E-Mail, Required Readings, Grading 2) August 30th Comparing political cultures: o Political culture o System of political values o Political model determining economic performance o Economic model determining political characteristics o Institutions Required reading: Camp p. 1-24 3) September 1st Geography and historical roots of Mexico: o Mexican geography 101 o States and capitals o The Spanish heritage o XIX Century political heritage o The Revolutionary heritage Required reading: Camp p. 25-55 3) September 6th Geography and historical roots of Latin America: o Latin American geography 101 o Countries and capitals o The Conquest o Colony o Independence Required reading: Vanden p. 1-54 4) September 8th

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Instructions for presentations and final papers 5) September 13th Study Abroad Fair 6) September 15th United States and Mexico: o XIX Century and the Mexican Revolution o 1940 1980s o NAFTA o Fox Bush o Cultural interface Required readings: Dominguez p. 1-15; Camp p. 244-272 7) September 20th Discussing presentations and final papers 8) September 22nd Individual research 9) September 27th Presentation of proposals (presentations / final paper) Group feedback 10) September 29th United States and Latin America: o Cold War o U.S. Hegemony in Latin America o Post Cold War o Immigration to the United States Required reading: Vanden p. 65-78 11) October 4th Mexican Political System: decision making in Mexico: o The Executive Branch o The Legislative Branch. o The Judicial Branch. o Federalism. Required reading: Camp p. 176-201 11) October 6th Individual research 12) October 11th Guest speaker: Dr. Monica Brussolo Fifteen Years of Social Inequality in Mexico: A Sub-National Kuznets Analysis.

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13) October 13th Latin American Institutions: o The President o The Legislature o Courts o The military o Political parties o Unions Required reading: Vanden p. 185-235 14) October 18th Latin American Political Culture o Authoritarian tradition o Caudillo o Corporatism o Democracy o Individualism o Personalism Required reading: Vanden p. 182-201 15) October 20th Individual research 16) October 25th Political Economy of Latin America: o From agrarian production to dependency o Raul Prebisch o Debt crisis o Neoliberalism o Regional integration Required reading: Vanden p. 151-181 17) October 27th Politics, Conflict and Social Change in Mexico: o Media o Citizenship and civic culture o Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) o Social movements o Guerrillas Required reading: Camp: p. 136-169 18) November 1st

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Revolution and change in Latin America: o Cuba o Nicaragua o El Salvador o Guatemala o Colombia o Peru o Argentina o Ecuador o Bolivia Required reading: Vanden p. 245-276 19) November 3rd Presentation case study 20) November 8th US-Mexico International Security: o Historical legacies o 09/11 o Drug trafficking Required reading: Dominguez p. 35-52 21) November 10th Presentation: case study 22) November 15th US-Mexico Transborder relations: o U.S. border wall o Maquiladoras o Environment o People o Mexico US mobility Required reading: Dominguez p. 135-156 23) November 17th Presentation: case study 24) November 22nd The International System and the US Mexico relationship o The Cold War o Post Cold War o U.S. and Latin America o Globalization Required reading: Dominguez p. 17-34 25) November 24th Thanks giving

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26) November 29th Presentation: case study 27) December 1st Individual advising for final papers 28) December 6th Final papers are due

Grading Policy There will be FOUR principal forms of assessment: 25% class participation, 25% attendance, 25% for a final presentation, and 25% for a research paper.

Course & Instructor Policies There will be assigned readings for each session. These you will be expected to have read in advance of class. There will be no make-up exams or assessment. Cheating will not be tolerated. Any students suspected of academic dishonesty will be subject to the University of Texas Systems disciplinary proceedings. Syllabus Information about Policies and Procedures
http://coursebook.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies/

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

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