Admission requirements
To be registered as a student in a (Research) Master programme.
Description
This course focuses on the main developmental strategies and policies which are currently deployed by several Latin American governments to deal with major problems such as poverty, inequality and exclusion, public security, education and gender. After an introduction to the theoretical and historical tenets of the state-society relation in Latin America, a selection of specific policies are analyzed in detail, looking at their formulation and implementation, achievements, and limitations. Also attention is given to the reactions and alternative proposals from civil society to these state policies, including social movements and non-governmental organizations.
Course objectives
At the end of the course:
The student has knowledge of various historical, political, social, cultural and technical aspects, which are determining factors in the formulation and implementation of public policies in Latin America.
The student is able to analyze a specific historical, social and/or cultural definend problem, from the perspective of the formulation and implementation of public policies and in the context of the relationship between state and civil society.
The student has been able to develop an individual research proposal on an example of public policy from the region, and to present this proposal in written and oral manner.
The student has demonstrated the capacity to reflect on the own work on the basis of feedback, and to process this to the improvement of the final research product.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Lectures and seminars
Assessment method
Assessment
1) Paper (50%)
2) Brief presentation of paper (10%)
3) Weekly homework assignments (30%)
4) Paper proposal (10%)
The papers for students taking this course as part of their LAS Research Master are expected to formulate a research question that is strongly theoretically embedded and related in their case study to a key debate on Latin American Modernities (discussed in the ResMA core courses). To this end, ResMA students can request one extra individual meeting focused on helping them develop their theoretical framework accordingly.
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.
Resit
The resit is (in principle) only possible in case of an insufficient final grade.
The resit for the final paper entails a revised version of the paper (50%).
The resit for the weekly assignments is a revised version of those assignments (30%)
The resist for the paper proposal and/or the presentation of the paper is a revised version of the paper proposal (20%). This new grade will replace both the previous grades obtained for the paper presentation and the paper proposal
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized. After publication of the final results, the student may request an appointment for an individual review of the results.
Reading list
A list of specialized articles on public policies to be announced before the start of the course in Brightspace.
Registration
Enrolment through My Studymap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats
Remarks
Class attendance is mandatory. Students may miss a maximum of three meetings. Depending on the number of sessions missed, the lecturer may impose complementary assignments in order to meet the requirements of the course.
Please notice that this course finishes mid-november, as the students of the MA Latin American Studies need to leave around this time for fieldwork for the thesis project.