Political Science 221, Latin American Politics Winter Term 2005
Session 1: Breaking Stereotypes: In Search of the "Real" Latin America
I. Overview
A. Definition of Stereotypes (definition)
B. How Do Stereotypes Emerge? (origins)
II. What are America's stereotypes of Latin America and its people?
A. Stereotypes in the 20th Century (cartoons)B. How Ingrained are these Stereotypes? (lyrics) (photo) (photo) (photo)
III. What are the political sources of American stereotypes of Latin America?
A. Overview of US Political Perceptions of Latin America1) The Monroe Doctrine (quote)2) The Age of Empire: Materialism & National Security (quote)
3) Idealistic Paternalism (table)
4) Indifference (lyrics)
IV. Assessing Latin America from the U.S.: The Problem of Objectivity and Ethnocentrism
Small Group Discussions
Key Concepts: stereotypes; positive v. negative personas (identities); "Yankee exceptionalism"; mestizaje (Sp.); mulattoes; Creoles (criollos, Sp.); quilombos, mocambos (Port.) and palenques (Sp.); ethnocentrism; the Monroe Doctrine; "Manifest Destiny"; U. S. material interests in Latin America; electorialism; paternalism; the Good Neighbor.
Study Questions:
(January 5, Wednesday):
What are the “lessons” of the Omar Torrijos story? Why did Torrijos bring out the best in the U.S. while Daniel Ortega did not?
In what ways is the U.S.’s continuing obsession with the Cuban Revolution indicative of the North American view of Latin America as a whole? How does it reflect North Americans’ own identity?
(January 7, Friday):
If Lawrence Harrison is right in claiming that “there is no other satisfactory way to explain the sharply contrasting evolution of the North and the South in the Hemisphere than culture,” what should social scientists study? How should we measure/assess “culture”?
Do you agree with Harrison’s view that a value-based approach to understanding Latin America’s problems is the best approach? Be prepared to support your position with at least two reasons.
