POSC 350, section 2 – LATIN AMERICAN
POLITICS (Fall 2007)
Dr. Charles Blake
Maury 207 – 568-6344 – BLAKECH@JMU.EDU
OFFICE HOURS: M 2:30-4, Tu 2-4, W 2:30-4 and by appointment
BLACKBOARD WEBSITE: Click HERE to go to Blackboard for POSC 350
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BLACKBOARD WEBSITE: Click HERE to go to Blackboard for POSC 350
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TAKE-HOME ESSAY #2ESSAY TOPIC: Brian Walsh asserts that human rights violations committed under previous regimes present the leaders and citizens in the new political system with 4 major goals (deterrence, justice, legitimacy, and reconciliation). In turn, he identifies 5 major policy options (amnesty, truth commission, reparations, domestic criminal trials, and international criminal trials). As we have seen in the Chilean experience, all five of these policy options have been actively discussed and partially or fully implemented to deal with varied allegations stemming from the Pinochet era. Let’s focus on the option of future domestic criminal trials in Chile regarding torture charges against government officials during the years 1973-1978. Do you think that these trials would, on balance, be good or bad from the health of Chilean democracy? Focus your reasoning on how the goals of justice, legitimacy and reconciliation interact with the cause of democratic consolidation. In the first paragraph, begin by briefly defining the major characteristics of a consolidated democracy. Regardless of your position on this question, in building your argument you must include consideration of:
There is no single, "correct" answer to this question. I want you to build a concise yet detailed argument for your point of view. You must take a position on one side or the other of the question posed.
No matter which way you argue in your essay, be sure to include at least three major points in favor of your position and three GOOD counterarguments. Do not waste everyone's time by including the counterarguments that are the easiest to attack while avoiding more persuasive positions.
Your essay should make it clear via rebuttals why your reasons are more convincing than the counterarguments.
Use specific information from course materials on Chile (and on Argentina) to build your analysis. You are neither required nor encouraged to consult outside readings in preparing this essay. You are required to write a concise, yet comprehensive essay that reflects your thoughtful consideration of course readings and discussions. Please manage your schedule so that you have time to proofread and to revise your essay. Everyone wins when you revise... DUE DATE: 11:15am on Wednesday, November 28th**Submit a print copy AND submit an electronic version by the
deadline.**
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