3.0

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This course examines the development of political institutions in the American continent from a comparative and a historical perspective (19th and 20th century), addressing a series of questions, such as: why are some states in the Americas able to provide public goods while others are not? Why are some states democracies while others are dictatorships? The course seeks to situate national developments in a broader regional trajectory and identify long-term patterns of political development. Emphasis is placed on state structures, regimes, and social dynamics in the region and in particular countries within the region (Argentina, Chile, Mexico, United States). The course will also introduce students to research tools in comparative and American politics.