POLITICAL SCIENCE 381: THE U.S. AND LATIN AMERICA

SPRING 2005

DuSable 252; Tuesday, Thursday 9:30-10:45 a.m.

 

 

 

David M Goldberg

Office: Zulauf 308

Phone: 630.942.3722

Email: goldberg@cdnet.cod.edu

Office hours: 9:00-9:30 and by appointment

 

 

  1. Course Overview: This class provides an overview of almost two hundred years of interaction between the United States and other sovereign states in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).  We  begin with some background on LAC, an overview of this history, and some tools for analysis.  We will then examine the territorial expansion of the young North American republic, the emergence of the U.S. as a colonial power at the end of the nineteenth century, U.S. intervention in the Caribbean Basin during the first third of the twentieth century, and the Good Neighbor policy of the 1930s and 1940s.  Although the U.S. has largely defined inter-American relations, we will also be sensitive to the concerns and strategies of the less powerful states in the hemisphere.  After the midterm and Spring Break, our attention will shift to inter-American relations during the Cold War and post-Cold War periods.  Thus, we will conclude the course with a discussion of contemporary issues, such as free trade, illicit drugs, immigration, and democratization.

 

 

  1. Miscellaneous: If you have a disability and would like to speak with

      someone regarding accommodations please visit the Student Affairs. This

      should be done as early in the semester as possible.

 

-        Academic dishonesty will be treated with the utmost seriousness (course failure at a minimum). Make certain that all work is appropriately cited. See the student handbook and catalog for additional information.

 

  1. The Learning Environment: Please respect the students and teacher by contributing to a climate conducive to learning. Specifically this includes but is not limited to the following:

A.    Arrive in class on time prepared.

B.    Stay for the entire class unless there is an emergency situation.

C.    Turn off all electronic devices that may prove a distraction in advance.

D.    Avoid all unnecessary conversation unrelated to the class. If there is a comment please direct at the class.

E.    It is rude and distracting to read the newspaper or anything else in class.

F.    Don’t sleep or give the appearance of doing so during class.

 

 

  1. Assigned Readings:

Peter H. Smith, Talons of the Eagle: Dynamics of U.S.-Latin American Relations,           2nd Edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000).

Robert H. Holden and Eric Zolov, eds., Latin America and the United States: A               Documentary History (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000).

Most of the readings come from these two sources. The Huntington article is available at no charge at: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=2495

Additional material may be assigned. It is the student’s responsibility to keep current on all readings.

5.     Quizzes, study guides: I reserve the right to assign quizzes at anytime. Study guides can be made available if there is sufficient demand.

 

6.      Graded Requirements:

           Two exams: Exams are tentatively scheduled for March 8, May 12. Each exam is worth 30% of the total course grade. Exams consist of a combination of identification and essay questions.

 

          Analytical Research Paper: Students are expected to write a 10 page paper on a subject of relevance to the class themes. Additional details will be distributed during the course of the semester. Topics must receive prior approval. An abstract of 150 words on the subject is due in class February 3, 2005. The paper is due in class on April 21 and account for 30% of the total grade. Additional information on the paper will be distributed in class.

 

     Participation/attendance: Arriving in class having already completed the assigned materials is necessary to succeed. Although there will be a fair amount of lecture, there will also be extensive periods of the class designed for student contributions. To that extent, participation will be worth 10% of the total grade. The emphasis should be on quality not quantity.

-        Attendance is critical and if excessive absences present a problem I reserve the right to fail any student. Students are given three excused absences. Please use them only when necessary.

 

Makeup exams will be given only in the rarest of circumstances. Students must contact the professor in advance with an acceptable explanation. Please take this into consideration. Extensions for written work will only be granted with the rarest of circumstances.

 

 

Tentative Course Outline

Week 2, January 25,27: Continue discussion of stereotypes, framework for analysis. U.S., Europe and Imperialism in the Hemisphere. Smith, pp. 1-8, 19-20, 351-63. Holden and Zolov pp. 267-9, 5-14, 21-3

Week 3, February 1,3: Manifest Destiny and the U.S.-Mexican War. Smith pp. 20-2, 38-50, 104-5. Holden and Zolov pp.24-6, 31-3, 42-4, 84-7. Abstract due

Week 4, February 8, 10: The Spanish-American War. Smith pp.22-32, 32-4, 107-8. Holden and Zolov pp.12-14, 16-21, 26-7, 44-51, 59-60, 61-7, 70-2.

Week 5, February 15,17: Spanish-American War continued. Smith pp. 34-7, 50-4, 105-7. Holden and Zolov pp. 55-9, 74-7, 81-4, 88-94, 97-104, 107-112, 115-6, 117-21, 121-2, 125-7.

Week 6, February 22, 24: Dollar Diplomacy in the Caribbean and the Good Neighbor Policy. Smith pp.54-67, 108-11. Holden and Zolov pp.104-6, 113-4, 130-7.

Week 7, March 1, 3: Latin American Responses: Engagement and Resistance. Smith pp.87-113. Holden and Zolov 15-18, 28-30, 68-9, 78-80, 88-90, 95-96, 123-5, 128-9. Catch up, review for exam.

Week 8: March 8,10: Midterm Exam.

March 15,17: No class. Spring Break

Week 10 March 22,24: The New Economic Realities of Latin America. Smith pp. 115-42, 197-210. Holden and Zolov pp. 208-11, 214-9, 235-7.   

Week 11, March 29, 31: The Cuban Revolution. Smith pp. 143-5, 155-72, 193-7, 201-5. Holden and Zolov pp. 211-3, 220-5, 229-31, 239-41; 244-255, 260-1,262-6, 270-2.

Week 12, April 5, 7: Allende, Carter and human rights, Grenada invasion . Smith, pp.172-82, 205-248. Holden and Zolov pp. 276-82, 286-91

Week 13, April 12,14: Reagan and Central America, debt crisis and response. Smith 182-8, 213-6, 249-56, 320-21. Holden and Zolov pp. 292-313, 316-8, 347-50.

Week 14: April 19,21: Options for Latin America. Smith pp. 257-93, 318-20. Holden and Zolov pp. 324-33, 337-46.Paper due in class.

Week 15: April 26, 28: U.S. Intervention in Panama and Haiti and immigration: Smith pp. 293-317. Holden and Zolov pp. 321-4, 333-6.  Huntington, Samuel, The Hispanic Challenge,” Foreign Policy (March/April 2004), pp. 30-46

Week 16: May 3, 5: Democracy in the Caribbean and the Andes. Smith pp. 321-5, 353-70.

May 12 Final Exam 10-11:50 a.m.