Skip to main content
Unit outline_

GOVT3655: Latin American Politics

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit addresses the comparative politics of Latin America. It explores the dynamics of political and economic change in the region during the 20th and 21st centuries, examining topics such as military rule, democratisation, political parties, institutional design, social movements, and strategies for development. Drawing on diverse theoretical perspectives, it considers broad regional patterns and sources of variation among countries.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in International Relations or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Politics or 12 senior credit points from Government and International Relations
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
GOVT2013
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator James Loxton, james.loxton@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final exam
Final exam
35% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Essay 1
Short essay
25% Week 07
Due date: 22 Sep 2023 at 23:59
1500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Essay 2
Short essay
25% Week 12
Due date: 03 Nov 2023 at 23:59
1500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Participation Participation
Tutorial attendance + discussion board
15% Weekly Weekly
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Essay 1

  • Students will be assessed on argumentation, use of evidence from the readings, and quality of composition

Essay 2

  • Students will be assessed on argumentation, use of evidence from the readings, and quality of composition

Participation

  • Half of this mark is based on tutorial attendance, and half is based on active participation in tutorial discussion based on the readings

Final exam

  • Exam assesses students’ comprehensive knowledge of course material from Week 1 to Week 13

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Historical foundations: colonialism and the oligarchic period Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Industrialisation and the rise of populism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 From populism to revolution Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 Democratic breakdown Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 The politics of military rule Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Transitions from authoritarian rule Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 The debt crisis and the politics of economic liberalisation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 The left turn Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 The challenge of violent crime Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Anti-incumbency and the crisis of democracy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 13 The future of Latin America Lecture and tutorial (13 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance 

According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

If a unit of study has a participation mark, your attendance may influence this mark.

For more information on attendance, see http://sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2014/345&RendNum=0.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

See Canvas site for detailed schedule of readings and lectures

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate knowledge of major political and economic developments in Latin America in the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as the particularities of individual countries
  • LO2. critically evaluate major theories that have been used to explain political outcomes in Latin America, such as democratic breakdown and democratisation
  • LO3. think like a “comparativist” by marshalling empirical evidence to explain variation across countries and change within countries over time.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit of study outline has been updated slightly due to political developments in Latin America over the past three years, and in response to strong feedback to the use of a discussion board during the pandemic.

Additional costs

There is a course reader for this unit

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.