Social and Political Problems in Latin America I 3305-PSPAL1-1U

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with contemporary socio-cultural and political-economic transformations in Latin America, at both the regional and national levels, while taking historical context into account.
The course has a survey character and is intended to provide a foundation for identifying and conducting a preliminary analysis of the region’s most recent challenges. It is designed for students planning to pursue research on these issues as part of a master’s seminar.
The course is based on individual and group work involving:
1. searching for and processing information;
2. analyzing and interpreting primary and secondary sources, including academic texts and documentary films;
3. presenting the results of this work.
Classes take the form of a seminar, employing teaching methods such as lectures and debates, supplemented by multimedia presentations and brainstorming.
Course topics
Referring to current events in Latin America and the Caribbean, the following issues will be discussed:
● electoral calendars and potential election outcomes;
● political systems and parties;
● Latin America’s political relations with the EU, the United States, and China;
● environmental challenges;
● the problem of violence and organized crime;
● economic reforms;
● demographic challenges;
● cultural transformations.
Each student is required to prepare an oral presentation on a selected topic.
The semester concludes with a simulation exercise in which students will be tasked with solving a specific problem faced by a Latin American community, drawing on the knowledge acquired during the course.
The course requires both individual and group student workload in preparation for classes. Approximately 8 hours should be devoted to preparing the presentation (oral contribution), around 10 hours to reviewing materials provided during the semester (audio and texts), and approximately 8 hours to preparing for the debate.
Regular reading of the press from Spanish-speaking countries is required.

Term 2024Z:

El objetivo del curso es familiarizar a los estudiantes con los cambios socioculturales y político-económicos contemporáneos en América Latina, a escala regional y nacional, teniendo en cuenta el contexto histórico.
Las clases de forma panorámica abarcan los problemas contemporáneos que nos llevan a entender los fenomenos socio-politicos de America Latina del siglo XX.
El curso está diseñado y destinado a personas que decidieron tratar la contemporaneidad socio-política de América Latina en sus tesis de maestría.
Las clases se basarán en el trabajo individual y colectivo de los estudiantes que consistirá en:
1. la búsqueda y análisis de la información;
2. interpretación de fuentes incluyendo análisis de textos científicos y/o películas documentales
3. presentación del trabajo realizado.
Los principales metodos didacticos a implementar: conferencia y presentación multimedia, debate y lluvia de ideas.

Temario:
Teniendo como referente la actualidad de América Latina y el Caribe, se tratará lo siguiente:
- el calendario electoral y posibles resultados electorales;
- los sistemas políticos y partidos;
- las relaciones políticas de América Latina con la UE, EE.UU. y China;
- los retos ambientales;
- el problema de la violencia y el crimen organizado;
- reformas economicas;
- desafíos demográficos;
- transformaciones culturales.
Cada estudiante tendrá que prepar una presentación oral sobre un tema dado.
El semestre finaliza con un juego de simulación, durante el cual los estudiantes deberán resolver un problema específico de una determinada comunidad latinoamericana, utilizando los conocimientos adquiridos durante las clases.

El curso requiere un esfuerzo individual y colectivo de los / las estudiantes. Alrededor de 8 horas deben dedicarse a preparar una presentación, la cual se expondrá durante la clase. Cerca de 10 horas para la lectura de los materiales enviados durante el semestre, y 8 horas habrá que dedicar para prepararse al debate final en aula que finaliza el curso.
Es obligatorio estar pendiende de la actualidad latinoamericana, por lo tanto será necesaria una lectura regular de la prensa regional.

Term 2025Z:

Prerequisites (description)

Requisitos: - conocimiento del castellano - nivel C1 - conocimiento general de la historia de America Latina y el Caribe - conocimientos básicos de inglés (en términos de uso de fuentes)

Course coordinators

Term 2025Z:

Tomasz Rudowski

Term 2024Z:

Katarzyna Dembicz
Tomasz Rudowski

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

Classroom

Learning outcomes

Knowledge
The student knows and understands the subject-specific and methodological characteristics of Iberian Studies and understands its links with other disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. The student has in-depth knowledge of cultural phenomena in Latin America and understands the terminology and theories of relevant fields such as cultural and religious studies, history, and political science, as well as the achievements of research centers focusing on Latin American studies. The student also knows and understands the basic concepts and principles of intellectual property protection and copyright law, as well as the need to manage intellectual property resources (S2K_W01–S2K_W06).
Skills
The student is able to use acquired research skills, including critical analysis of socio-political phenomena in Latin American countries; selection of methods appropriate to the humanities and social sciences; and preparation and presentation of results enabling original problem-solving related to Latin American societies in the fields of cultural and religious studies, political science, and history. The student is capable of independent knowledge acquisition within Iberian Studies (Latin American specialization), expanding research skills, undertaking autonomous actions to develop competencies and manage their professional career, and using Spanish to comprehend and produce oral and written texts employing specialized terminology related to Latin American socio-political processes (S2K_U01–S2K_U03).
Social competences
The student is prepared to cooperate in a group and assume various roles within it (S2K_K01).

Assessment criteria

Teaching methods: expository (lecture-based), problem-based, activating, exploratory, demonstration-based, practical methods, discussion, debate.
Methods of learning outcomes assessment: Assessment is based on the quality of the presentation of the homework assignment (40%), class participation (20%), and the final assessment (40%) in the form of a written test.
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory; up to two unexcused absences are permitted.
Changes to the form and criteria of course completion:
“The form and criteria for course completion may be subject to change depending on the current epidemiological situation. Equivalent completion requirements will be established in accordance with the guidelines in force at the University of Warsaw, in consultation with course participants.”
Guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence tools:
https://dokumenty.uw.edu.pl/dziennik/DURK/Lists/Dziennik/Attachments/134/DURK.2023.98.UURK.98.pdf

Practical placement

Bibliography

Required reading:
1. Manuel Alcántara Sáez, Fátima García Díez (2008), Elecciones y política en América Latina, Mexico City: Porrúa.
2. Teresa Castro Escudero, Lucio Oliver Costilla (2005), Poder y política en América Latina, Mexico City: Siglo XXI Editores.
3. ECLAC (CEPAL), Panorama Social de América Latina. (new online version)
4. Walter Mignolo, La opción decolonial: desprendimiento y apertura. Un manifiesto y un caso, 2008. http://www.revistatabularasa.org/numero-8/mignolo1.pdf
5. Eduardo Gudynas, Extractivismos, 2015. http://gudynas.com/wp-content/uploads/GudynasExtractivismosEcologiaPoliticaBo15Anuncio.pdf
Additional literature in Polish:
Ewa Latoszek, Magdalena Proczek (2012), Teoretyczne koncepcje integracji regionalnej a efekty działalności ugrupowań integracyjnych w Ameryce Łacińskiej, Warsaw: Elipsa.
Websites:
● cepal.org
● www.onu.org
● flacso.org
● Boletín NODAL

Term 2024Z:

Bibliografia obligatoria:

1. Manuel Alcantara Saez, Fatima Garcia Diez (2008), Elecciones y política en América Latina, México DF.: Porrua. (lokalizacja: Biblioteka Instytutu Studiów Iberyjskich i Iberoamerykańskich – depozyt)
2. Teresa Castro Escudero, Lucio Oliver Costilla (2005) Poder y política en América Latina, México DF: Siglo XXI Editores. (lokalizacja: Biblioteka Instytutu Studiów Iberyjskich i Iberoamerykańskich – depozyt)
3. CEPAL: Panorama social de America Latina
4. Walter Mignolo, La opción de - coloniaL: desprendimiento y apertura . un manifiesto y un caso, 2008, http://www.revistatabularasa.org/numero-8/mignolo1.pdf
5. Eduardo Gudynas, Extractivismos, 2015, http://gudynas.com/wp-content/uploads/GudynasExtractivismosEcologiaPoliticaBo15Anuncio.pdf

Literatura adicional (optativa) en polaco:
Ewa Latoszek, Magdalena Proczek (2012) Conceptos teóricos de integración regional y los efectos de las actividades de los grupos de integración en América Latina, Varsovia: Elipsa.

Sitios web:
CEPAL.org
ONU www.onu.org
FLACSO.org
Boletin NODAL

Term 2025Z:

Bibliografia obligatoria:

Sitios web:
CEPAL.org
ONU www.onu.org
FLACSO.org
Boletin NODAL

Notes

Term 2024Z:

"La forma y los criterios para aprobar el curso pueden cambiar dependiendo de la situación actual de la epidemia. Las condiciones equivalentes para aprobar el curso se determinarán de acuerdo con las directrices vigentes en la Universidad de Varsovia, en consulta con los participantes del curso".

Term 2025Z:

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3305-PSPAL1-1U in USOSweb