This course explores recent trends to forge robust rule of law in Mexico and to combat various forms of political violence including electoral violence and political assassination, organized crime, police brutality, death squads, state-sanctioned violence against political opponents and other human rights abuses.  Examples of successes and failures from other Latin American nations in combating organized crime, reducing state-sanctioned violence and armed conflicts against the state are closely examined.

The inter-disciplinary readings for the course were selected to analyze the social and legal underpinnings of political violence in the transition from authoritarianism to electoral democracy.  We will pay particular attention to the transition in Mexico since 1988.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or higher.