Peucinian Room, Sills Hall, 12:30-3:30, Tuesdays

Office: 206 Rhodes Hall Office Hours: Monday, 10-12

Extension: x3728 Friday, 10-12

email: awells@polar

Purpose and Orientation: The first part of this seminar examines theories that historically have been advanced to explain the process of development (and underdevelopment) in Latin America. In the latter portion of the course, students test these theories by applying them to specific economic problems currently facing Latin America.

Texts:

Required

Heilbroner, Robert, The Worldly Philosophers

Stein, Stanley and Barbara, The Colonial Heritage of Latin America

Bulmer-Thomas, Victor, The Economic History of Latin America Since Independence

Drake, Paul, ed., Money Doctors, Foreign Debts and Economic Reforms in Latin America from 1890 to the Present

Roseberry, William, Lowell Gudmundson and Mario Samper Kutschbachs, eds., Coffee, Society and Power in Latin America

Recommended

Sheahan, John, Patterns of Development in Latin America

Course Schedule:

September 3 Introduction

September 10 Spanish Gentlemen Prefer Silver: Latin America's Colonial Legacy. Readings: Stein and Stein, Parts One and Two; Heilbroner, Chapter 2

September 17 The Invisible Hand and Free Trade: Adam Smith's World. Reserve Readings: excerpts from Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, Books IV and V; Heilbroner, Chapter 3.

TOPICS DUE FOR RESEARCH PAPER

September 24 Classical Corollaries: Malthus and Ricardo. Reserve Readings: excerpt from Malthus, An Essay on the Principle of Population; excerpt from Ricardo, Principles of Political Economy; Heilbroner, Chapter 4

October 1 Karl Marx Challenges Capitalism. Reserve Readings: excerpts from Marx, Capital, Vol 1; Heilbroner, Chapter 6.

October 8 Latin America's Turbulent Decades, 1810-1850. Readings: Bulmer- Thomas, Chapters 1-2; Stein and Stein, Part Three BIBILIOGRAPHIES DUE

October 11-15 Fall Break

October 22 The Latin American Export Boom, 1850-1930. Readings: Bulmer- Thomas, Chapters 3-6; Heilbroner, Chapters 7-8.

October 29 Commodities, Consumers and Markets: The Coffee Addiction.

Readings: Roseberry, Chapters 1-3, 5.

November 5 The Taste is Bitter: Labor on Coffee Estates. Readings: Roseberry, 7-10.

THESIS STATEMENT AND OUTLINE DUE FOR RESEARCH PAPER

November 12 Money Doctors and North American Financial Penetration Throughout Latin America. Readings: Drake, Introduction, Chapters 1, 4 -7.

November 19 Priming the Pump: Keynes and the State's Role in the Economy. Reserve Readings: excerpts from Keynes, Essays in Persuasion; Heilbroner, Chapter 9; and Bulmer-Thomas, Chapter 7.

November 26 Latin America Responds to Western Models: ECLA, Dependency and the Critique of Foreign Penetration. Reserve Readings: Albert O. Hirschman, excerpt from A Bias for Hope; and Bulmer-Thomas, Chapters 9-12.

November 28-December 1 Thanksgiving Break

December 3 Debts, Inflation and the Chicago Boys: Latin America Runs Aground in the 80s. Readings: Drake, Chapters 8-9 and 11-13.

ROUGH DRAFTS DISTRIBUTED FOR PEER REVIEW

December 8 Reading Period SECOND DRAFT SUBMITTED TO INSTRUCTOR

December 12 RESEARCH PAPERS DUE

Course Requirements

Research Paper: After reading an avalanche of economic theory, students will apply the theories discussed in class to a contemporary economic problem in Latin America. There will be several checkpoints along the way to make sure that this is truly a semester-long project, not a procrastinator's special. After selecting a topic after consultation with the instructor, students will put together a working bibliography, a thesis statement and outline, and a series of rough drafts. Regular consultations with the instructor are encouraged throughout the semester.

On December 3, students will submit a rought draft of their papers for peer review. Peer comments are an important source of criticism. An evaluation form will be handed out by the instructor and each paper will be given a careful review. These critiques will be graded. After receiving comments on their drafts from their classmates the next draft will be submitted to the instructor for comments on December 8. After I read and comment on the second drafts, a final version will be handed in on December 12.

Memos: Students must write memos on three (3) of the required books for the course. The memos should be brief (three page maximum). Half of the paper should discuss one of the book's principal themes and the second half should critique the work. The memo is due-without exception--on the following dates: Stein and Stein, October 8; Heilbroner, October 22; Roseberry, Nov. 5; Bulmer-Thomas, Nov. 26; and Drake, December 3.

Class Participation and Attendance: For a seminar to succeed, students must come to class prepared to discuss the readings.

Extra Credit: Students wishing to improve their grade can write a memo on the recommended text. The memo is due the last day of reading period.

Grading:

Research Paper: 50%

Memos: 10% each, 30% total.

Class Participation and Attendance, 20%