MPhil in Latin American Studies

MPhil Latin American Studies

This is a twenty-one-month programme which spans six academic terms, plus a field work project in Latin America (up to 3 months). 

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This programme allows students to develop an individual research project informed by interdisciplinary teaching at the LAC and a period of fieldwork in Latin America. The programme is ideally suited to those students considering an academic or research-focused career, and is an excellent training for a doctoral degree. Find out more about our current MPhil students and their experiences here.

In their first year, students on this programme will join classes in the various disciplines taught at the LAC (including History, Politics, Sociology, International Relations and Economics), and will be asked to submit two portfolios of essays on subjects of their choice. The classes taught may emphasise the specific features of individual countries, but there is also broad comparative coverage of major trends such as authoritarianism and democracy, the economic cycle, the effect of international factors, the evolution of the Left and Right, revolutionary movements, and the effects of neo-liberal economic models. Students will also take a Research Methods course in their first year.

Students will receive a number of tutorials to review their academic progress and preparations for their fieldwork research. Students must pass three courses (two of which must be disciplinary courses) in order to qualify for entry on to the second year of the programme. 

The five disciplinary courses are: 

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  • Latin America since Independence
  • Introduction to the Latin American Economies
  • Sociology of Latin America
  • The International Relations of Latin America
  • The Politics of Democracy in Latin America

The number of optional courses on offer vary from year to year. Those for 2023-24 are: 

  • Andean Politics 
  • The Politics of Brazil
  • Roman Catholicism in Latin America

In the second year, students complete a 30,000 word thesis. The thesis is an in-depth research project, and will train students to apply theory to empirical study of their selected topic. A list of past thesis titles is available here. Hear more from our MPhil students about their research projects. Students will take two further courses in their second year, or by agreement with the relevant department, take a methodology or other papers from an appropriate MPhil in another discipline at Oxford University. 

A lively programme of LAC seminars and conferences with visiting speakers complements the MPhil programme, and students are encouraged to make the most of these opportunities to meet with and learn from fellow Latin Americanists.

For any queries regarding the application process please contact enquiries@lac.ox.ac.uk

Watch our 'Why Study Latin American Studies at Oxford?' video to get a flavour of LAC student life.

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LAC Disciplinary Courses

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Course provider

Professor Eduardo Posada-Carbó

Email: eduardo.posada-carbo@lac.ox.ac.uk

Course aims and objectives

This course aims at providing students with a general understanding of the modern history of Latin America since independence; familiarizing them with some of the key debates in the academic literature; and enabling them to engage with their subject in a scholarly manner, both in their writings and in class discussion, and to relate the history of the region to other disciplines in the social sciences.

Course description

The course covers a selection of major themes, either generally applied to the whole region or to individual countries. The topics covered include: independence; problems of state and nation building; liberalism and state-church relations; the abolition of slavery in Brazil; the export economy and immigration in Argentina; the Porfirian regime and the Mexican revolution; elections and democratization; relations with the United States and the Cuban revolution.

Course structure

The course is taught in Michaelmas Term through a series of eight seminars. Students are expected to attend and actively participate in the seminars, to which they are required to contribute with at least one presentation. Covering at least the ‘core readings’ in advance is a requirement to attend the seminars.  Students are also required to write two essays, to be submitted by the end of weeks 3 and 6.

Students are also expected to attend the Latin American History Seminar (Thursdays, 5:00 p.m.), and other seminars organized by the LAC and the University, especially those on topics directly relevant to the course.

Course assessment

An online open-book examination in Trinity Term. Students will be given the exam paper two days before the due date for submission (Weeks 6-8 of Trinity Term). Candidates will answer three questions per paper out of a possible ten to twelve options.

 

Course provider

Dr Felipe Krause

Email: felipe.krause@lac.ox.ac.uk

Course aims and objectives

This course explores the economic trajectory of Latin America along with the main challenges faced by the region from a historical and comparative perspective. In doing so, we use concepts and theories from economics, political economy and development studies, to discuss how policy and economic models have changed over the last century. We look at how the political economy of the region has been modified by both external shocks and internal factors. We will pay attention to how the former have influenced the latter, but also to how and why domestic choices were made, and what their long-term effects have been. While the course is centred around the overall regional patterns and trends, we do consider the differences and commonalities between individual country-cases.

Our central goal is to understand why the region has struggled to achieve structural change and reduce inequalities, discussing how these and other challenges continue to hamper development across the region. To conduct our discussions, we will adopt a political economy framework, which emphasises the interplay between the state, political-economic actors and economic structure.

Course requirements

Unmarked assessments: Students taking this paper can expect to write at least two essays and undertake other individual and group activities. The essays will be around 2000 words and the questions should be agreed in advance. The essays will be discussed in group tutorials (times and days to be agreed). Essays form part of the overall assessment of the student’s progress but do not count towards the final mark for the course.

Course structure

The course is taught in Michaelmas Term through a series of eight two-hour seminars. Students will prepare for each class through a combination of core readings and other suggested material. Each student will also be expected to attend a group tutorial.  

Course assessment

An online open-book examination in Trinity Term. Students will be given the exam paper two days before the due date for submission (Weeks 6-8 of Trinity Term). Candidates will answer three questions per paper out of a possible ten to twelve options.

 

Course provider

Professor Leigh A. Payne 

Course description

This course reviews the major sociological concepts and theories as applied to Latin America and the contribution of scholarship on Latin America to the field of sociology. The course covers issues including: sociology of the Latin American state; development; class, poverty and inequality; gender and sexuality; migration; social movements and counter-movements; religion; race and ethnicity; and crime and violence.

Course objectives

This course introduces students to advanced research on sociology in Latin America and prepares students for doctoral research in this area.

Course structure

This course consists of eight lectures and eight seminars and tutorials.

Course assessment

Unmarked assessments: The following will form part of the overall assessment of the student’s progress in the programme, but will not constitute part of the final mark for the course. 
•    Weekly attendance and participation in lectures and seminars.
•    Two essays of approximately 2500 words (excluding footnotes and bibliographies), one submitted during term and one before week 10. The essay questions should be selected based on past exam paper questions or in consultation with the course provider.
•    Short presentation of one essay in tutorial.
•    One critical written and orally delivered review of another student’s essay in tutorial.
•    Revisions sessions including a mock exam.
•    Critical review of another student’s mock exam question.

Marked assessment: An online open-book examination in Trinity Term. Students will be given the exam paper two days before the due date for submission (Weeks 6-8 of Trinity Term). Candidates will answer three questions per paper out of a possible ten to twelve options.

 

Course provider

Dr Laura Trajber Waisbich

Email: laura.trajberwaisbich@lac.ox.ac.uk

Course aims and objectives

The course provides students with a general understanding of the international politics of Latin America from 1945 onwards, and particularly since the end of the Cold War. Students will develop an understanding of the major theories of international relations and learn to use these theoretical frameworks to systematically analyze international politics and events across the region. Students will also become proficient in studying theoretical frameworks self-sufficiently together with the search and collection of empirical evidence underpinning their analysis and argumentation.

Course description

The course examines the international relations of Latin America. The first four weeks cover

an introduction to the international relations and foreign policy in Latin America, traditional international relations concerns, such as the evolution of the bilateral relations of the Latin American states with the United States and with other extra-regional powers (Europe, China); regional integration, coordination, and cooperation dynamics; and the participation of Latin American states at the United Nations. The last four weeks discuss thematic “intermestic”/cross-border issues in contemporary Latin American international relations, including human rights, democracy, and development; new wars, intrastate conflicts, and transnational organised crime; migration and environmental politics. Students will become familiar with the broad historical development of the international relations of the region, as well as the major theoretical perspectives and analytical approaches that are relevant to the field.

Course structure

The course is taught in Michaelmas Term. Students will attend 105-minute-long lectures on Mondays from 2pm-3.45pm. The first essay will be discussed in group tutorials (during Week 5).

Course requirements

Students who want to present themselves for examination in Trinity must write at least two 2,000-word essays. The first essay must be submitted by 9 am Monday of Week 5 and the second essay must be submitted by 9 am Monday of Week 9. The essays should be based on past exam paper questions or on a question set in consultation with the course provider. Students are free in the choice of the topic and should present a theoretically guided and empirically-sound systematic analysis. Essays form part of the overall assessment of the student’s progress but do not count towards the final mark for the course.

Course assessment

  • Regular attendance, preparation of the weekly readings, and active participation in seminar discussions;
  • Delivery of a 7-10 minute long presentation on a key-concept;
  • Submission of two written essays of no more than 2000 words;
  • Critical discussion of another student’s essay during tutorials;
  • Submission of a written review of the essay discussed during tutorials;

An online open-book examination in Trinity Term. Students will be given the exam paper two days before the due date for submission (Weeks 6-8 of Trinity Term). Candidates will answer three questions per paper out of a possible ten to twelve options.

Course provider

Professor Eduardo Posada-Carbó

Course aims and objectives

This course offers a historically grounded, area studies approach to the politics of Latin America. In particular, it aims at enabling students to understand the processes of democratization in the region from the late 1970s; to be acquainted with key themes in the academic debates and the related relevant literature; and to enable students to engage with their subject in a scholarly manner, both in their writings and their class discussions.

Course description

The course comprises a combination of the analysis of general themes with the examination of single aspects or problems of democratization in individual countries. The topics covered include: Democracy and Political Culture; Transitions to Democracy; the Rule of Law and Security; Presidentialism; Parties and Congresses; Elections; the Media and Public Opinion; Populism; Democratic Performance; and Attitudes Towards Democracy.

Course structure

The course is taught in Hilary Term through a series of eight seminars. Students are expected to attend and actively participate in the seminars, to which they are required to contribute with at least one presentation. Covering at least the ‘core readings’ in advance is a requirement to attend the seminars. Students are also required to write two essays, to be submitted by the end of weeks 3 and 6 of Hilary Term.

Students are also expected to attend the general Latin American Seminar, and other seminars organized by the LAC and the University, especially those on topics directly relevant to the course.

Course assessment

An online open-book examination in Trinity Term. Students will be given the exam paper two days before the due date for submission (Weeks 6-8 of Trinity Term). Candidates will answer three questions per paper out of a possible ten to twelve options.

LAC Option Courses

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Course convener

Prof Eduardo Posada-Carbo

Course aims and objectives

This course examines the main public policy issues at stake in the contemporary Andes (such as democratic experimentation; populism and the backlash against it; institutional design and weak institutionality; extractivism; rule/unrule of law; indigenous politics and decoloniality, etc).  It takes Bolivia and Peru as the key reference points, but extending coverage to the neighbouring Andean republics where appropriate. The depth of historical background required will depend upon the issue, a comparative perspective on all topics will be encouraged. 

Course description

The course covers a selection of major issues that have defined the politics of both countries in the wider comparative perspective of the Andean region, in the case of Peru from the military government (1968-80) onwards, and in the case of Bolivia from the aftermath of the 1952 revolution. Topics will include democratisation, political violence, social movements, the activities of political parties, institutional weaknesses/reform, elites, the narcotics industry, the military, amongst others.

Course structure

The course will be taught in Hilary term. In principle, there will be eight classes, with students expected to write at least two essays of no more than 2,000 words, and to provide oral presentations on a topic of their choice. A general reading list will be supplied as well as reading lists on the essay topics that students choose to select.

Course assessment

A 5000-word extended essay assessment (excluding bibliography).

Course provider

Dr Laura Trajber Waisbich

Email: laura.trajberwaisbich@lac.ox.ac.uk

Course aims and objectives

This course explores politics and society in contemporary Brazil. With a population of over 200 million, in just over two decades the South American giant went from being hailed as an emerging power to a country plagued by democratic backsliding. Brazil’s singular importance justifies the attention it receives. In this course we focus on a sustained theoretical and empirical evaluation of different dimensions of Brazil’s recent trajectory in sustaining and deepening its democracy. 

Course description

While the broad theme of the course is the Brazilian democracy, we will focus on many of the issues, theoretical concepts, and literatures that have been brought to bear in the comparative study of Brazilian politics and society. The course will first explore Brazil’s democratic transition; Brazilian political system and policy-making dynamics; the unfulfilled deepening democracy promises regarding race and gender; and the nexus between foreign policy and domestic policy and politics in Brazil. It then explores old and new socioeconomic issues and their intersections with and impact on Brazilian democracy: the development question, the violence question, and the new forms of social and political authoritarianism.

Course structure

The course will be organised as a series of eight 105-minute-long sessions. There will be a mix of introductory remarks by the instructor and seminar-style discussion on selected readings. Students should complete two tutorial essays. Wherever possible, students will be paired for tutorials on allied topics.

Course assessment

A 5000-word extended essay assessment (excluding bibliography).

Course provider

Dr Daniel McDonald

Email: daniel.mcdonald@history.ox.ac.uk

Course aims and objectives

This course examines the history of Roman Catholicism in modern Latin America. It draws on a dynamic interdisciplinary literature that explores how conflicts within Catholicism interacted with regional, national, and sub-national developments across the twentieth century. This course asks students to explore the interplay between the transnational institutional Roman Catholic Church and an equally global faith tradition as well as political, social, and cultural developments in the region home to the most Catholics in the world.

Course description

This course combines an analysis of general themes within the history of modern Catholicism in Latin America with examination of specific issues or case studies grounded in individual countries. The topics covered include: Church-state relations, layperson and political movements from Catholic Action to the base communities (CEBs), Christian Democracy, Catholic developmentalism, Latin America’s role in the Second Vatican Council, the Council of Medellín, the Cold War, liberation theology, human rights, and inter-faith relations. 

Course structure

The course will be taught in Michaelmas Term as a series of eight 1.5 hour seminars.  Students are expected to attend and actively participate in the seminars having covered the assigned readings in advance of the session. Sessions will primarily consist of seminar-style discussions but will include regular lecture components. One of the sessions will reserve time for student presentations on one of their essays. Students must complete the two tutorial essays and a 15-minute class presentation.

Course assessment

A 5000-word extended essay assessment (excluding bibliography).