This course introduces students to patterns of continuity and change in Latin American politics. We will analyze the origins and consequences of military rule, the process of democratization, populism, and the politics of gender, sexuality, class, race, and ethnicity. The overarching goal is to deepen your understanding of the most urgent challenges of contemporary Latin American politics: strengthening democracy, protecting human rights, and striving toward economic development and social justice. Additionally, we will investigate some of the innovative policies that have been developed in the region and Latin Americans’ creative ways of “doing politics.” Although the course is organized thematically, we will explore each set of topics with reference to specific countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, and Venezuela. You will become familiar with conceptual and theoretical frameworks that scholars use to interpret political realities in the region; in addition, you will be exposed to the views of diverse Latin American actors.