In this course, we will explore the relationships between governments and citizens in Latin America through several themes. We will examine key themes that shape political life across the region, such as state capacity, social movements and collective action, violence and security, technology's role in politics, identity-based representation, and democratic quality.

We will ask: How do weak states create opportunities for criminal governance? How are social movements surprisingly resilient in unstable democratic countries? Why has identity forged political participation in some countries and not others? Does technology affect state repression and popular mobilization in the region? Is the democratic backslide real? And if so, why?

I hope that through a comparative analysis of cases across Latin America, we will become familiar with the region's contemporary political challenges. The course will emphasize both theoretical approaches and empirical evidence, drawing on political science, sociology, and economics, while also touching on music and culture across Latin America.