This course looks at both sides of the U.S.-Latin American relationship. Since independence, the United States has been a major player in the political and economic development of the Latin American region. Conversely, policies and events originating in Latin America shape politics and society in the United States. Course topics include U.S. foreign policy and policy impact on the Latin American region, Latin America's influence on hemispheric relations, and Latin America's diverse policy approaches to the United States and the world.
The course is organized to first provide students with a historical overview as a foundation for understanding contemporary U.S.-Latin American relations. The focus of the course then shifts to exploring the most critical contemporary policy issues. The course is divided into two parts. Part I outlines the history of U.S.-Latin American relations from Latin America's independence in the early 19th century, through the War on Terror that began in 2001. Part II focuses on five critical policy concerns that shape U.S.-Latin American relations in the 21st century: democracy, economic development, security, the environment, and migration. Students will engage in intense study of one of these policy issues to write an independent research paper, and work in groups to design and present a policy brief at the end of the term.