GOV 337M / LAS 337M: The Politics of Mexico
(Spring 2017)
Professor Kenneth Greene
Office: 4.112 Batts
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TA:
Office: Batts 1.118
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Class meets:
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232-7206; kgreene@austin.utexas.edu
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Email:
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Unique codes:
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http://kgreene.webhost.utexas.edu/
Office hours:
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Office hours:
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GOV 337M
LAS 337M
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This course analyzes Mexico’s 20th century political and economic development, with a peek at current events. Why did Mexico experience both political stability and economic growth until the 1970s while other Latin American countries endured brutal military regimes? What accounts for Mexico’s severe economic crises of 1982 and 1994? Why did the PRI lose in 2000 after 71 years in power? How “democratic” is Mexico’s new democracy? The first portion of the course examines Mexico’s post-Revolutionary politics, the characteristics of the national political regime during the classic period of stability with economic growth, and the tumultuous political and economic environment from the 1970s to the end of the century. This material will be presented chronologically, but rather than a descriptive history, we will focus on explaining political and economic outcomes. Subsequently, we will examine key themes in Mexico’s new fully competitive democracy.
You have two grading options for this course. Option 1 consists of three exams (two in-class midterms and one take-home final essay). Option 2 consists of two in-class midterm exams and one research paper.
Research Paper for Option 2. This will be an independent and largely self-directed 10-page research paper focused on a particular event in contemporary Mexican politics (i.e., after 1911). As a political science paper it should seek to explain why the event occurred. Answering a “why” question requires reviewing existing plausible arguments and making your own. The paper should include, but be more than, a simple description of the event. As a research paper, it should involve research using scholarly books and journal articles beyond those assigned on the syllabus. Completing the research paper will require more work than taking the final exam, but it should be more rewarding. Following the rules of citation and attribution is mandatory and plagiarism will earn a failing grade in the course and referral to the University for disciplinary action. Please review the university’s plagiarism guidelines at http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/scholdis_plagiarism.php.
Students who plan to write a research paper must submit a one-page statement of research intent by October 15. The statement should include a clear summary of the event to be explained and the actors involved. It should also include at least three citations of sources you have already read for your research. Researching and writing this one-pager will take real work, so budget about a week. If the research topic is determined to be infeasible, students will have one week to hand in a revised statement for which the same rules apply. Students who pursue this option should plan on meeting with me to discuss the topic and progress, starting before the one-pager is due. Students that do not hand in the statement by October 15 or whose proposal is not accepted after two rounds will follow Option 1.
This course will use +/- grading and will not be curved. The final grade for the course will be determined as follows:
Option 1: Option 2:
Midterm 1 30% Midterm 1 30%
Midterm 2 30% Midterm 2 30%
“Final” Essay 30% Research Paper 30%
Weekly write-ups 8% Weekly write-ups 8%
Participation in class 2% Participation in class 2%
Weekly write-ups. Submit a one-page (typed, normal margins, normal font) digest of the week’s readings, due by the end of class each Thursday, with no late assignments and no e-mail assignments accepted. You will earn up to 1% of your final course grade each week for a write-up and only one is allowed per week. You can earn a maximum of 8% toward your final grade, meaning that although you are encouraged to complete more than eight weekly write-ups, you need only complete eight for full credit. The write-ups should be brief synopses of the theme/issues dealt with in the required course readings, not a summary of each individual reading and not a commentary based on lecture only. Try to bring the ideas together, using the lecture titles as a guide. Partial credit may be given so you will have to put some thought into this; however, it should not require more than 30 minutes of work after you complete the readings. Completing these assignments will do wonders for reading comprehension and exam preparation. As such, I view them as a crucial element of the course.
Participation: 2% of the final grade is based on participation in class. Although the course is structured as a lecture, I try to involve students each day. If you are present and engaged, and speak up some, you will earn full credit.
Make-up exams. Early final exams will not be given. One midterm exam may be made-up if missed for medical reasons under the following conditions: 1) You must have a note signed by a doctor; 2) You must contact me before the exam by e-mail, telephone, or in-person unless you are unconscious; 3) The make-up exam must take place as soon as possible after the originally scheduled exam and before the graded exams are handed back to the class. Once the graded exams are handed back, a make-up exam will not be possible.
Extra credit. The course has plenty of regular credit options.
Academic Flags. This course fulfills the Cultural Diversity (CD) flag.
Spanish-language option for some readings: Students may substitute selected Spanish-language readings available for purchase in an optional packet for the English-language readings in the main packet. See me if you are interested in this option. All written assignments must be in English.
Class etiquette – my responsibilities. I will arrive on time, deliver lectures with enthusiasm and energy, encourage you to ask questions, think critically, and engage with the material. I will make myself available for questions and consultations during office hours and by appointment. I will be respectful of you and of the class.
Class etiquette – your responsibilities. I expect that you want to learn. Principally, this means that you engage the lectures and readings with enthusiasm and energy. I encourage you to wrestle with the material, criticize it and my lectures, and ask questions. In addition, I expect that you will arrive on time, complete assignments on time, and show respect for the teaching assistants, your fellow students, and the learning process. Please turn off your cell phones when you enter the classroom. If you use a computer during class either commit to keeping only a word processing program open or sit in the back row.
Economic hardship: No student should be unable to take this course due to economic hardship. If you cannot afford to purchase the required course materials and cannot utilize the reserve copies at PCL, please see me.
Students with disabilities: Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 471-6259, http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/
Religious holidays. Students who will miss an assignment due to recognized religious holidays should let me know as early as possible so that we can re-schedule that assignment.
Communication with the Instructor and TA: In addition to scheduled office hours, we will gladly make special appointments, when our schedules allow, if you have courses, a work schedule, or child/eldercare duties that conflict with our office hours. We can be reached by phone and by e-mail. Please be aware that we may not check e-mail in the evenings and on weekends. In addition, it is our policy not to respond to e-mail that does not use correct English (curmudgeonly, I know, but text messaging abbreviations have begun to show up in exams and papers).
Prior experience indicates that students cannot satisfactorily complete assignments without attending every lecture.
Required Readings:
- Kenneth F Greene, Why Dominant Parties Lose: Mexico’s Democratization in Comparative Perspective (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009), available for purchase at the Coop. I will donate 100% of profits I receive from Coop to the UT undergraduate scholarship fund.
- Other readings will be uploaded to Canvas.