Elites, inequalities and domination in Latin America

Today, the economic, political, military, and social transformations taking place in the region are accompanied by concerns about the responsibility of elites. Economic growth has not solved the problems of social inequality and, in several countries, has been the catalyst for protest and social mobility. In this sense, it is worth asking: What role do elites play in maintaining inequalities? When do elites become concerned with reducing poverty? Furthermore, historical debates about the domination and political influence of elites over the state have been revived. What mechanisms and strategies do elites use to influence the state? What differences exist in terms of state capture in Latin America? The emergence of new media and the expansion of technological means of news dissemination have democratized access to information, but have the media elites changed? How are business elites and media elites related? In the demilitarization processes in some Latin American countries, what role do elites play? Are Latin American elites transforming from oligarchs into rulers? What will the future of Latin American societies look like in relation to their elites? In short, this seminar has a dual objective: to critically analyze different theoretical and methodological perspectives so that students can learn about the multiple approaches available for studying this phenomenon and, in turn, formulate novel questions grounded in specific sociohistorical processes. The course is structured around the major thematic axes concerning Latin American elites. Each of these topics has been extensively studied by researchers throughout the region, and the course aims to bring these voices together in a comparative perspective for a better understanding of the phenomenon of elites and inequalities in the 21st century.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE This seminar aims to offer a set of theoretical and conceptual tools for the analysis of elites, seeking to anchor these concepts in concrete socio-historical processes in Latin America in the 21st century.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES That students: 1. Acquire theoretical tools to reflect on the concepts of elites and inequalities in Latin America and gain experience in historicizing these issues. 2. Develop comparative analyses and acquire skills in formulating complex questions that integrate economic, social, political, cultural, and historical dimensions. 3. Identify problems related to power groups and the State, and recognize potential situations of conflict of interest or capture of state power, as an increasingly pressing phenomenon in the region. 4. Gain access to innovative questions and hypotheses that allow for the study of elites and inequalities.

• Elites and political domination and influence
• Elites and the new politicians of the 21st century
• Elites and social inequality in Latin America
• Elites and the media
• Elites and Peacebuilding in Latin America
• Elites, taxation and taxes
• Dominant classes, oligarchs or upper bourgeoisie
• Latin American elites and business groups
• Elites, technocrats, managers and think tanks
• How to study elites in Latin America?: analysis of elite data

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• Atria, J. (2014). Taxation and inequality in Chile: characteristics and perspectives. Taxation in society: taxes and redistribution in 21st-century Chile. Santiago: Uqbar. Central American Institute for Fiscal Studies (2015). "Fiscal Policy: expression of Central American elites." UCA, San Salvador. Costa Rica Chapter: 323-392.
• Bull, B., & Aguilar-Støen, M. (2019). Peace-building and business elites in Guatemala and El Salvador: explaining the discursive 'institutional turn'. Conflict, Security & Development, 19(1), 121-141.
• Bull, B., & Kasahara, Y. (2017). The transnationalization of diversified business groups and the changing face of Central American economic elites. Yearbook of Central American Studies, 43, 37-69.
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• OXFAM (2016) Privileges that deny rights. Extreme inequality and the hijacking of democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean, Chapters 1 and 2. Souza Jessé (2019) The elite of backwardness: from slavery to Bolsonaro (review and expanded edition), Estaçao Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, (pp. 117-128)
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• Robles Rivera, Francisco (2021). "Elites and media capture strategies in Central America." In press. Mexican Journal of Sociology 1/2021. Canelo P. (2019). Did we change? The cultural battle for the common sense of Argentinians. Buenos Aires: Siglo XXI editores.
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• Serna Miguel, Bottinelli Eduardo, (2018) The de facto power of business elites in Latin American politics: a comparative study of eight countries, Research Report program Economic elites, fiscal policies and privileges in Latin America and the Caribbean, CLACSOOXMAN.
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The basic requirements for taking a seminar are:

• Availability of at least 4 hours per week to dedicate to the seminar course.
• Internet access.
• Reasonable handling of communication and computer tools.
• Language proficiency in the language in which the course will be taught. The official languages ​​are Spanish and Portuguese.

The seminars last 10 weeks, plus the completion of a final project. 48 hours of work with the instructor and 90 hours of total dedication will be credited.

A course consists of 10 classes, each accompanied by required readings, supplementary readings, discussion forums, and learning activities proposed by the teaching team, as well as partial submissions and a final project. The course is delivered online and asynchronously. Some instructors may propose synchronous activities. In these cases, the time and date will be agreed upon in advance between the teaching team and the students to ensure everyone's participation. To pass the seminar, students must participate in at least 80% of the discussion forums and activities proposed by the instructors, complete all scheduled partial submissions, and pass the final project.

The possible payment methods are credit card, bank transfer and bank deposit.