Examines dynamics of political and economic changes in modern Latin America, focusing on Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela. Topics include the rise of populism and import-substituting industrialization, revolutions and revolutionary movements, the causes and consequences of military rule, the politics of economic reform, democratic transitions, and democratic consolidation. The course analyzes these phenomena from a variety of different theoretical perspectives, including cultural, dependency, institutionalist, and leadership-centered approaches.