International Relations in Latin America

Center for International Programs & Sustainability Studies
Course Name: International Relations in Latin America
Course Code: POL 3450 
Total Contact Hours: 48 
Pre-Requisites: None
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will review the International Relations in Latin America, highlighting the most 
important facts that mark the politics in the region for the current era, specifically analyze 
tensions between sovereign rule and foreign hegemony, first by Spain and Portugal, later 
with Great Britain and other European colonial powers, and currently with the United 
States. 
An elementary introduction to class struggle and oligarchical domination, the rise and fall 
of Imperialism, military interventions, corporate banking, the role of national and foreign 
investments. Examples of diverse phases of economic systems, conservative ethnic and 
cultural resistance to change, as well as totalitarian, liberal and socialist revolutionary 
change. 
Human settlements in the Western Hemisphere, Pre-Columbian Tribal and Imperial 
societies, formation of modern Nation-States, and the complex International World 
Organizations, up to contemporary Power Structures, New World Orders and regional the 
emergence of new strategic players such as BRICS, G-20, and the Shanghai Cooperation 
Group (Silk Road Project). 
The Cold War, current events, the military dictatorships, and other Latin American political 
phenomena, such as integration, migration, and their effects of the war on drugs, terror 
and US hemispheric and global politics. 
Finally, with an evaluation of popularity and ideological tendencies of governments in the
Region, present day relations with China and Russia, and the influence of globalization in 
the world, will be reflected in a final essay on a specific subject or case study from each 
student. 
 

COURSE CONTENT
Unit 1. Basic Concepts “Western” Civilization
o Nation-state, cultural categories: population, territory, government, religion, 
nationality, ethnicity, patriotism, language. 
o The oneness of humanity with the environment, food sources, geography and 
cultural traditions. 
o Human origins, evolution and creationism, emotion and reason, idealism, realism, 
materialism, etc., criminality and violence. 
o Is there a future more peaceful world?
Unit 2. Aboriginals or “Original Nations” in the American Continent
o Pre-Columbian relations between Tribes, Nations and Empires in the region, social 
and cultural impact of the Spanish and Portuguese in the XVI century, Discovery 
Conquest Colonization, Genocide. 
o Influence of ethnic and cultural pluralities adjacent to the present day “nationstates”. 
o The XXI Century global Agenda takes inclusive steps via human rights.
Unit 3. Origin and independence in USA
o French and English colonial influence in the process toward Constitution, Bill of 
rights and first governments. 
o Democratic ideals of the Founding Fathers, international politics of “neutrality” in 
relation to Spain and Portugal. Farmer’s militias develop into a powerful army. 
o Expansion of capitalism in the colonization of North America through the railroads, 
telegraph, US mail and militias. 
o The contrast autonomous British, Dutch, German and French colonists, vs Spanish 
and Portuguese centralized absolute rulers: Territorial expansion under sole rule of 
the Crown.
Unit 4. Independence of Latin America against Spain and Portugal
o Independence in Haiti and the fights in South America, the case of Brazil, relations 
between the new countries, how Latin American faces the world, the Monroe 
doctrine as seen by the Bolivarian “amphictyonic” Panama meeting. 
o Colonial mercantilism developed into a peripheral capitalism.
Unit 5. Class struggle and social discrimination XIX century America
o Military expansion, ethnic genocide, “Indian Wars”, Slavery, US early industrial 
development vs. mercantilism is Latin American colonies, the “Manifest Destiny” 
role in core capitalist hegemony, competition, technological and industrial 
revolution, gold rush, railroads and cross-continental development. 
o Hegemony of the Northern States with a rising conflict in the Southern States.
Unit 6. English hegemony in Latin America (1800-1850)
o Focus on Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean countries.
o Disintegration of the Great Colombia, Ecuador and Spain, the new Congress in Peru 
and Chile, the confederation Peru-Bolivia, Uruguay, Rosas in Argentina, Brazil a Case 
Study on slavery.
Unit 7. American investments (1853-1883)
o Diplomatic intervention of the US in Europe as peace mediator. 
o Civil War in the USA, French intervention in Mexico, USA troops in Central America 
and the Caribbean islands, Spanish intervention in Dominican Republic and South 
America, war of the triple alliance, First and Second South American Wars on the 
Pacific.
Unit 8. US Imperial policy in the Roosevelt Corollary (1883-1933)
o Alliance and resistance in a Latin America. Nonintervention and self-determination.
o James Blaine’s Pan Americanism, US replaces English hegemony. 
o Spanish American War, Panama Canal, Big Stick policy and Dollar diplomacy, First 
World War, the League of Nations. 
o Anti-imperialism and Socialist International context. The Mexican revolution, the 
caudillo charisma.
Unit 9. The “Good Neighbor” Policy (1933-1940)
o Great Depression and Franklin Roosevelt, exceptions in the Caribbean and Mexico, 
Chaco war, South America in the inter-American meetings, sequels of the imperial 
presence with US troops between wars , the anti-Nazi diplomacy until 1940, USSR is 
allied with the West Popular Fronts against the Axis countries. 
o US Military interventions into Latin America.
Unit 10. The Americas in the wake of WWII (1941-1945)
o “Popular fronts” Stalinism in the USSR and the Spanish Civil War. 
o Anticommunist movements: McCarthyism, Anaconda, Standard Oil, United Fruit Co, 
transnational corporate empires, unionized movements, and popular resistance.
Unit 11. Cold War and the Defense of the Status Quo. (1946-1957)
o NATO and the world after war, nationalism movements and democracy in Latin 
American, O A S, cold war, Latin American Dictators, Bolivia revolution, Guatemala 
and the X Inter American Conference, the fall of Vargas and Peron. 
o Decolonization of the third world. East West Bipolarity, North South Conflicts, 
Movement of the Non-Aligned Countries 
o Bretton Woods, and the New World Order.
Unit 12. Hegemony Crisis and socialist threat (1958 -1980)
o Rebellions and fall of dictators, Nixon’s visit to Caracas. ´
o Cuban socialist revolution, Fidel Castro, and conflict with the democratic bloc in 
Latin America. OSPAAL - 3rd World and Non-Aligned Countries.
o Rockefeller Report. Kennedy and Alliance for Progress, OAS, Rio Military Pact, 
Falkland Islands.
Unit 13. Latin America (1980-2020)
o Non-violent conflict resolution.
o Dependency theory, domination, and social sectors, Economic and Political 
Integration. Unequal development and extreme poverty in the Americas. FREE 
TRADE Agreements as political instruments: Santa Fe, Trilateral Commission, CBI, 
FTAA, CAFTA, NAFTA, Reagan-Bush era. Alba, Bolivarian Movement, XXI Century 
Socialism.
Unit 14. International conflicts.
o External debt, the drug traffic, ecology, and the ethnic problems. 
o US Economic and Military interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
o Military intelligence, overt and covert activities. National Security Doctrine, (Condor, 
Plan Mérida, Southern Command) New alliances with China, Russian Federation, the 
“BRICS” and economic influence of the Shanghai “Belt and Road” initiative, Pacific 
Alliance, and OECD.
Unit 15. Development in Latin America.
o Neo liberal and Populist governments in Brazil, México, Venezuela Nicaragua and 
Bolivia, ALBA, PETROCARIBE AND CELAC. Is peace a valid utopia? 
o Evaluation on the effects of US policies in Latin America, comparing Republicans and 
Democratic platforms
Unit 16. The changing global scenario
o Threats posed by Climate Change, Trade wars, Free Trade Treaties, Commodities 
and future market wars, Transnational corporation interests in commodity markets, 
corporate protagonists in domestic politics. 
o Latin America in the last 15 years, Dependency, dominant social groups, economic 
and political integration ideals, and practical measures taken in the United Nations 
Millennium Program.
Unit 17. Transnational corporations and other private actors
o Global Warming and non-violent conflict resolution, International Governmental 
and Non-Governmental Organizations, world banking systems and financial 
institutions. Simulation of International negotiations a major current event or 
happening to be chosen by the class, with socio-drama techniques.

LEARNING EVALUATION
ASSIGNMENTS PERCENTAGE VALUE
1. Personal presentation and Syllabus analysis - 5
2. Round table: International Consequences of recent elections in 
Colombia, Chile, Honduras - 5
3. Research project: Electoral Observatory Costa Rica in contrast 
with Nicaragua -10
4. Class analysis: CELAC agreement with China workshop - 10
5. Weekly report: Current events and country descriptions - 10
6. Readings discussion: Wagner and Le Faber - 10
7. Outline and Bibliography for final Essay - 10
8. Case Study: International negotiations UN environmental 
agenda - 10
9. Final Argumentative Essay - 20
10. Final Essay Ppt presentation -10
Total 100%