UF Center for Latin American Studies
Days/times: Tuesdays, 10:40 - 11:30 am, Thursdays, 10:40 am - 12:35 pm
Location: TBA
Course description
This course delves into the political transformations that have shaped Latin America from the late 20th century to the present. We begin by examining the autocratic rule of military dictatorships that seized power in the 1960s and 1970s, exploring the mechanisms of their control and the societal fissures they exploited. The course then pivots to the painstaking, often fraught, journey towards democracy. In this process we analyze the role of political elites and mobilized citizens in constructing new democratic institutions. The course then focuses on the adoption of neoliberal economic policies and how these reforms exacerbated existing inequalities, fueling social unrest and increasing crime. Subsequent modules investigate the "left turn" in the region, dissecting its origins, development, and its varied impacts on democratic consolidation and the struggle against inequality. In the final module we analyze the rise of populist illiberal governments and movements, as well as the way different groups - including women, indigenous, and Afrolatinx - have resisted autocratization. This course combines theoretical frameworks with case studies, integrating current events and documentaries to illuminate the enduring legacies of authoritarianism and the ongoing challenges to achieving equitable and democratic societies.
Juliana Restrepo Sanín
Assistant Professor
Political Science
Center for Latin American Studies
Office: 212 Anderson Hall
P.O. Box 117325
Gainesville, FL 32611-7325
E-mail: jsanin@ufl.edu
Research Interest: Gender and politics in Latin America | Violence against women in politics | Access to justice
Geographic Expertise: Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Chile
