PLSC
28710. Democracy and the Politics of Wealth
Redistribution (Fall 2012)
How do political institutions affect the
redistribution of wealth among members of a
society? In most democracies, the distribution of
wealth among citizens is unequal but the right to
vote is universal. Why then have so many newly
democratic states transitioned under conditions of
high inequality yet failed to redistribute? This
course explores this puzzle by analyzing the
mechanisms through which individual and group
preferences can be translated into pro-poor
policies, and the role elites play in influencing
a government's capacity or incentives to
redistribute wealth. Topics include economic
inequality and the demand for redistribution, the
difference in redistribution between democracy and
dictatorship, the role of globalization in
policymaking, and the effects of redistribution on
political stability and change.
SOSC 24502: Latin
American Civilizations in Oaxaca III
Latin America is the
most economically unequal region of the world.
Social inequality compounds poverty: indigenous
groups, immigrant communities, and women have long
faced discrimination and varying degrees of social
exclusion. Persistent inequality despite widespread
procedural democracy in the region would confound
thinkers such as Aristotle and Tocqueville, who
argued that because democracy is the "rule of the
poor," it should deliver policies that favor the
poor and disadvantaged over the rich. Why does this
fail to hold in Latin America? How have these
countries transitioned to democracy yet failed to
set policies that systematically favor the poor?
With the recent rise of leftist governments in many
Latin American countries, do we see the balance
shifting?This course explores the
origins and dynamics of inequality in Latin America,
with a special emphasis on Mexico. It begins by
examining the historical foundations and development
of contemporary inequality in the region, followed
by redistributive conflict that has influenced
political and economic responses to inequality. It
concludes by investigating the contemporary struggle
for equality and inclusion in arenas where elite
dominance persists.
Graduate:
PLSC
41101. The Politics of Wealth Redistribution (Fall
2012)
How
do political institutions affect the structure and
scope of wealth redistribution initiatives? This
graduate seminar will introduce students to the
scholarly literature on redistribution, focusing
primarily on recent work. We will study the causes
and consequences of redistribution, focusing both
on the institutions that shape incentives for
governments to implement redistribution, as well
as the mechanisms, actors, and international
conditions that can erode government incentives or
capabilities to redistribute. The emphasis of the
course will be twofold: rigorously examining the
inferences we can draw from existing work, and
designing research that can contribute to a better
understanding of the fundamental questions
regarding redistributive policies.
