Foreign Policy of Latin American Countries 2104-GPIR-D3FPLA

List of topics:
1. Latin America as a region in International Relations. Substantive and technical introduction to the course.
Explanations of the basic terms: America, Latin America, Hispano-America, Lusoamerica etc. Course description and its main requirements.
2-3. International Relations in Latin America from the historical perspective.
From colonial times to the independent movements in Latin America. Evolution of the Monroe Doctrine. Latin America and international powers in XIX and XX century. Latin America and the World Wars. Pan-Americanism and Inter-American System. The Rio Treaty. Political culture in Latin America. Political changes from the Cold War to the Pink Tide and beyond.
4. Mexican Foreign Policy
From independence to the Mexican Revolution. Mexico-US relations. Mexican Foreign Policy after 1945. Evolution of the international agenda in XXI century.
5. Foreign Policy in Central America: Guatemala/Panama (to be chosen)
Geopolitics and regional integration. Revolution in Guatemala. The role of the Panama Canal. Central American wars. Migration crisis.
6. Cuba and its foreign policy. Main determinants of the Cuban foreign policy. Relations between Cuba and US and USRR/Russia. The influence od the Cuban revolution on the inter-American relations.
7. The Dominican Republic/Haiti (to be chosen)
Priorities and directions of the Caribbean foreign policy. Geopolitical challenges and limits of the global insertion. Regional integration in the Caribbean.
8. Venezuela
Democratic transition in Venezuela. Foreign policy of the puntofijismo system. Hugo Chavez and the revolutionary changes in Venezuela. Political and economic crisis. Venezuelan activism on the regional and global stage.
9. Colombia
Civil war in Colombia – origins, course and international and regional consequences. Peace proces. Colombia- US relations and their regional implications.
10. Brazil
Priorities of Brazilian foreign policy – current and historical perspective. An alliance with the United States. Brazil as a regional and global power?
11. Argentina and Chile
Foreign Policy in the Southern Cone. Peronismo and getulismo. Military dictatorships. S. Allende's Chilean socialism and Pinochet's coup. Economic crises. Mercosur. War of the Falkland Islands.
12. Andean countries: Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador
Origins, determinants and main characteristic of the foreign policy priorities in the Andean region. Revolution in Bolivia. Regional integrations. Main problems and challenges in the regional cooperation.
13. Paraguay and Uruguay
Domestic determinants of the foreign policy in Paraguay and Uruguay. Complicated relations with Argentina and Brazil. Mercosur and regional integration.
14. Contemporary challenges and problems of Latin America (analysis of the case studies): Narcobiseness in Latin America. Cultural relations. From "Pink" to the "Brown Wave". Territorial disputes in Latin America. Latin American relations with Europe, Africa and Asia, etc.
15. Final test

Credit hours: 75h/ 3 ECTS points, including:
a. Contact Hours:
Participation in classes in the classroom - 30h
Participation in the exam session and consultations (on office hours) - 5h
b. Student's own work:
studying literature and preparing for current classes - 15h
working in groups, preparing a speech in class (presentation/paper, etc.) - 10h
self-study and preparation for the final exam - 15 h

Course coordinators

Term 2026Z:

Michał Nadziak
Anita Oberda-Monkiewicz
Anna Wróbel

Term 2025Z:

Anita Oberda-Monkiewicz

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

The course explores main problems and challenge existing between Latin American countries – in historical and actual perspective. The agenda includes the political history of colonialism in Latin America, inter-American relations in XIX and XX centuries, as well as contemporary Latin American political culture. It analyses the political and economic changes in Latin American states in XXI century, its actual “intermestic” determinants, with special attention paid to the main directions and priorities in their foreign policy and international position. When starting the course, the student should have the ability to critically analyze scientific texts and create multimedia presentations, papers or other forms of synthetic presentation of conclusions drawn from them.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:
K_W03 knows the main trends and specifics of the foreign policy of Latin American countries;
K_W04 correctly identifies the roles of non-regional actors and position of the Latin American countries at the global level;
K_W05 integrate knowledge of the process of formulating foreign policies and their social and economic determinants;

Skills:
K_U01 conducts a critical analysis of the internal and external determinants of the foreign policies of the countries of the region;
K_U02 interprets the international activities of Latin American countries in a broader regional and global context;
K-U01 formulates research conclusions and prepares public speeches on contemporary foreign policy of Latin American countries

Competencies:
K_K01 shows readiness for objective self-assessment of his/her own knowledge;
K-K02 optimize priorities for the implementation of various academic tasks;
K_K01 synthesizes knowledge from various sources, formulates correct arguments and cooperates in a group, maintaining reliability and academic ethics

Assessment criteria

Formal requirements necessary to pass the course
1. Attendance at classes - a maximum of two unexcused absences per semester. It is possible to justify the absence by sick leave
2. Passing the final test at the level of min. 51%
3. Preparation and presentation of a group presentation. The preparation of the project must be carried out in compliance with independence, ethical principles, intellectual property protection and the regulations in force at the University of Warsaw and the Faculty of Economics and Crafts concerning the use of AI tools (Resolution No. 14 of the University Council for Education of 13 July 2020 on guidelines for standards and procedures for the preparation of credit and diploma theses in violation of the law at the University of Warsaw, Resolution No. 14 of the University Council for Academic Studies). Educations of 13 July 2020; the rules set out in Resolution No. 98 of the University Council for Education of the University of Warsaw of 8 December 2023 on guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence tools in the education process and Resolution of the Didactic Council of the WNPiSM No. 29/2025 of 7 May 2025 on the detailed rules for the use of artificial intelligence tools in the education process apply)

The scale of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools
Level 2: IDEA GENERATION AND STRUCTURE BY AI
AI can be used to brainstorm, structure, and generate ideas to improve work. The final version of the work cannot include any AI-generated content.

Methods of verifying learning outcomes:
1. Final test (closed and open questions)
a. assigned learning outcomes: K_W03 (knows the features of foreign policy); K_W04 (identifies the main actors); K_W05 (knows the process of policy-making and its main determinants); K_U01 (critical analysis)
b. assigned weight and point value: 50% of the final grade (max. 50 points)
2. Group presentation/project (max. 3 people) (multimedia presentation and public speech)
a. assigned learning outcomes: K_U02 (formulating conclusions and preparing a speech); K_K01 (Group Cooperation and Ethics)
b. assigned weight and point value: 30% of the final grade (max. 30 points)
3. Assessment of current activity (participation in discussions, workshop tasks based on readings; preparation of additional exams)
a. assigned learning outcomes: K_W03 (identification of regularities); K_U01 (critical analysis); K_K01 (objective self-assessment)
b. assigned weight and point value: 20% of the final grade (max. 20 points)
Total: all effects: 100% / maximum points: 100

Rating scale:
0-50 points (points) - grade 2.0 (failed): failure to achieve the minimum learning outcomes for the subject
51-58 points - grade 3.0 (satisfactory); minimal, reproducible fulfilment of the criteria
59-65 points - grade 3.5 (satisfactory plus); Correctly defining most terms
66-74 points - grade 4.0 (good); independent analysis of the conditions, specificity and evolution of foreign policy
75-86 points - grade 4.5 (good plus); noticeable activity; fluent knowledge of literature
87-100 points - grade 5.0 (very good); outstanding knowledge and originality of the presentation/project.

Teaching methods:
1. Conversational lecture with multimedia presentation (K_W03, K_W04, K_W05)
2. moderated discussion in class (K_W03, K_W04, K_W05, K_U01)
3. Design method (K_U01, K_U02, K_K01)
4. Analysis of case studies (K_W03, K_W05, K_U01)

The list of topics for presentations/projects will be agreed and confirmed at the beginning of the class in agreement with the Lecturer

Practical placement

Not applicable

Bibliography

Obligatory literature:
Birle, P., & Zilla, C. (eds.) (2025). Trends in Latin American International Relations: Shifting Alliances in the New World (Dis)Order. Routledge.
Fortin, C., Heine, J., & Ominami, C. (eds.) (2024). Latin American Foreign Policies in the New World Order: The Active Non-Alignment Option
Gardini, G. L. (ed.) (2022). The Foreign Policy of Latin American Countries: Structures, Contexts, and Rationales. Routledge.
Mora Frank O., Hey Jeanne A. K. (eds.) (2003), Latin American and Caribbean Foreign Policy, Oxford
Schenoni, L. L., & Actis, E. (2023). Hyper-presidentialism and Foreign Policy in Latin America. Palgrave Macmillan.
Skidmore T. E., Smith P. H., Green J. N. (eds.) (2014), Modern Latin America, Oxford University Press, New York