Cursos / 1º Ciclo / Faculty of Law :: International Relations

AMÉRICA LATINA (QUESTÕES POLÍTICAS, ECONÓMICAS E SOCIAIS) - 2013/2014

3º curricular year
Semestralidade: 1st semester
ECTS: 6

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutor Fernando Sousa
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutor Fernando Sousa

Class type and School hours

Orientação Tutorial : 1 Horas
Teórico-prática : 2 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

This course unit aims at endowing the students the basic knowledge on Latin America, in matters of political, economic and social issues after the Second World War, as well as the comprehension of its position and its international role in today’s globalized world, to define its identity, how it distinguishes itself among other regions and to understand the challenges that Latin America faces.

Specific Aims/Objectives

With these themes we provide students the training necessary to acquire the ability to identify the main political, economic and social characteristics of Latin America, in order to understand the problems and the challenges that this region is facing today, as well as develop the ability to conjecture about possible sceneries of the North American predominant influence, the European Union approach or the assertion of its position and identity, which has not yet been accomplished.

Skills to be acquired

The theoretical exposition of the issues followed of real and and current examples allows the students to recognize the importance of lessons. Being an essential curricular unit of any course on International Relations it is crucial that students confer its real importance in their study. The interrelation and interdependence between theoretical learning and its practical application still allow students to appreciate the Inter-American Relations.

Teaching Procedures

The learning methods will be based on the student’s presence, participation and personal intervention in classes, not only through oral and written exercises, but also through group debates and reflection on specific matters of Contemporary Latin America (Political, Economic and Social Issues), in order to develop the student’s capacity to critically analyse and comprehend the issues at stake, and also perform group projects to increase the student’s communication and persuasion skills. Texts and important documentation will be supplied on the Moodle.

Programme

1. Introduction
1.1. Nature, object and course unit methodology
1.2. Importance of the class for the degree
1.3. Basic bibliography presentation
2. Definition of Latin America
2.1. Geopolitical dimension
2.2. Historical dimension
2.3. Demographic dimension
2.4. Social dimension
2.5. Economic dimension
2.6. Cultural dimension
3. Latin America after the Second World War – from dictatorship to the difficult implementation of democracy
4. Latin America between the democratization and globalization
5. Latin America between democracy and populism
6. Latin America today
7. General balance of the class

Evaluation Type

The students will be evaluated according to the General Rules for the Evaluation of Knowledge established by Lusíada Universities. Therefore, it will be taken into consideration the continuous evaluation of the student, namely the presence, the participation, mini-tests and investigation essays.

Teaching Resources

Overhead Projector
Computer and datashow
Maps
Analysis of specific documentation

Sustainability Objectives

Keywords

Latin America
States
Democratization
Conflicts

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography