Capitalism, Communism and Socialism in Latin America
PROFESSOR: Sr. Claudio Riveros F.
Description
Both communism and socialism are born in Europe (nineteenth century) as a response to capitalism, but it was in Latin America where both left wing movements reached an unsuspected relevance, although a century later both arose product of the strong economic existing inequality and a strong ideologization of a group of intellectuals linked, in many cases, to the elite. Though both doctrines -until approximately the second quarter of the twentieth century- rejected the democratic system and prompted the seizure of power through arms, now claim the popular vote.
However, it should be noted that:
- left wing movements have specific characteristics according to the country in which we are.
- mostly leftist movements that reached the power were through violence with the exception of countries like Chile.
- there are organized movements of the extreme left in Latin America, that still vindicate the armed warfare, but that moved away from its doctrinal roots to be linked today to terrorism and drug trafficking.
Aims
In this sense, the course looks for finding out if Latin America societies are those that still decide on left movements or, otherwise, there are small groups highly ideologized, which believe that capitalism is the major cause of social and economic disasters in Latin America.
So then, the first objective to be achieved by the students is to understand the origin and the historical and theoretical development of capitalism, socialism and communism, and secondly, value and judge them critically.
The course is divided into three units:
The first one, which has a conceptual point, since it approaches theoretically the capitalism, socialism and communism notion, the second one, which is rather practical because the historical development of some leftist movements must be compared, emphasizing in some Latin American countries, and finally the third unit which has to be with Chile, since this country provided an exception in Latin America.
Methodology
The class will be lead as a seminar and therefore, requires the active participation of the students. This way, the students will have to read different thematic books, which will be discussed critically and creatively during the classes. Each session will begin with a brief oral presentation by the teacher and then the students will discuss the texts in question.
Evaluation
Grading for the course will be based on the following criteria:
Reading and participation (20%)
Written essay (50%)
Oral Test (30%)
The student will approve (s) with note 4.0 and must have at least a 75% attendance.
The university Code will be strictly followed. In other words the students must do their own work. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Contents
I) Unit: Theoretical Bases: Capitalism, Socialism and Comunism.
1. Liberalism and Democracy
2. European Industrial Revolution
3. Scientific Socialism- Utopian Socialism
II) Unit: Leftist movements in South America
1. World rural v/s Industrialization
2. Elites in power- leftist intellectuals
3. Ascent of the masses
4. Leftist movements: path democratic/ path armed
5. Social democracy
III) Unit: Leftist movements in Chile
1. Social problem ("Cuestión Social")
2. Socialist and communist parties
3. Path democracy: Salvador Allende/ Path armed
4. Social democracy
Essential reading
I) Unidad: Bases Teóricas. Capitalismo, Socialismo y Comunismo.
- Von Hayek, F., Road to serfdom, edit. Routledge, London, 1976.
- Russell, B., Roads to freedom: socialism, anarchism and syndicalism, edit. Unwin Books, U.K, 1970.
- Schumpeter, J., Capitalism, socialism and democracy, edit. Unwin University Books, U.K, 1952.
II) Unidad: Movimientos de izquierda en América Latina
- Kitching, G., Development and underdevelopment in historical perspective: populism, nationalism and industralization, edit. Methuen, New York, 1982.
- Giddens, A., The third way: the renewal of social democracy, edit. Polity Press, EEUU, 1999.
III) Unidad: Chile y los movimientos de Izquierda
- Ryan, P., Allende's Chile: 1000 bungled days, edit. American Chilean Council, New York, 1976.
- Orrego, F., Chile: the balance view: a recopilation of articles about the Allende years and after, edit. University of Chile, Santiago, 1975.
- Davis, N., The last two years of Salvador Allende, edit. Cornell University Press, EEUU, 1985.
General Bibliography
- Gruchy, A., Comparative economic systems: competing ways to stability and growth, edit. Houghton, Boston, 1960.
- Drake, P., Socialismo y populismo: Chile 1936-1973, edit. U.C.V., Valparaíso, 1992.
- Millas, H., Anatomía de un fracaso (la experiencia socialista chilena), edit., Zig-Zag, Santiago, 1973.
- Linz, J; Stepan, A., Problems of democratic transition and consolidation: southern Europe, South America and post-communist Europe, edit., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, GB, 1996.
- Zapata, F., Autonomia y subodinacion en el sindicalismo latinoamericano, edit., Fondo de Cultura Económica, México, 1993.
- Wallerstein, I., Después del liberalismo, edit. Siglo XXI, México, 1993.
- Arriagada, G., De la vía chilena a la vía insurreccional, edit. Del Pacífico, Santiago, 1974.
- O'Sullivan, N., Terrorismo, ideología y revolución, edit. Alianza, España, 1987.
- Villamarín, Luis., The FARC cartel, edit. El Faraón, 1996.
- Marx, K., Manifiesto comunista, edit. Alianza, 2001.
- Mariategui, J., Siete ensayos de interpretación de la realidad peruana, edit. Biblioteca Ayacucho, 1995.
- Mariategui, J., La escena contemporánea, edit. Biblioteca Amauta, 1964.
- Campero, G., El sindicalismo latinoamericano en los noventa, 4v. edit. Planeta, 1991.
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