Teaching
These are courses I have taught at the University of Hamburg, at the Faculty of Humanities, in the Latin American Studies program; at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, in the Institute of Political Science; and at the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy, in the Master of Peace and Security Studies program. I have also taught at Lüneburg Leuphana University’s USAC program.
Fall Semester 2017 – 2018
Taking Stock of a Region: Latin American Political Developments versus Economic Outcomes. Master of Peace and Security Studies program, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (MA level, in English and German).
Spring Semester 2017
Government and Politics in Germany and Europe, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Leuphana University (BA and MA levels, in English).
Fall Semester 2016
Taking Stock of a Region: Latin American Political Developments versus Economic Outcomes. Master of Peace and Security Studies program, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (MA level, in English and German).
The European Union: Processes, Dynamics and Structures, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Leuphana University Lüneburg (BA and MA levels, in English).
Summer Semester 2016
The European Union: Processes, Dynamics and Structures, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Leuphana University Lüneburg (BA and MA levels, in English).
Spring Semester 2016
Government and Politics in Germany and Europe, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Leuphana University (BA and MA levels, in English).
Fall Semester 2015
The European Union: Processes, Dynamics and Structures, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Leuphana University Lüneburg (BA and MA levels, in English).
Summer Semester 2015
Introduction to the Expanded Europe, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Leuphana University Lüneburg (BA and MA levels, in English).
Institutions of Government: Presidentialism and Parlamentarism in Comparative Perspective, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Political Science, University of Hamburg (BA level, in English and German).
Spring Semester 2015
Government and Politics in Germany and Europe, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Leuphana University (BA and MA levels, in English).
Winter Semester 2014/15
In Search of German Roots: Tracing your Family History, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Leuphana University (BA and MA levels, in English).
Ethnic Conflict and Diversity in Western Europe, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Leuphana University (BA and MA levels, in English).
International Affairs since 1945, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Leuphana University. Together with Dr. Sybille Reinke de Buitrago (BA and MA levels, in English).
Democracy, Conflict and Violence in Latin America: A Comparative Case Studies Approach, Master of Peace and Security Studies program, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (MA level, in English and German).
Summer Semester 2014
Parliamentarism vs. Presidentialism: Democracy and its Institutions, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Political Science, University of Hamburg (BA level, in English).
Winter Semester 2013/14
The Development of Democracy in Latin America in the Third Wave, Latin American Studies Department, University of Hamburg (BA level, in German).
Parliamentarism vs. Presidentialism: Democracy and its Institutions, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Political Science, University of Hamburg (BA level, in English).
Democracy and Conflict: A Case Study on Latin America, Master of Peace and Security Studies program, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (MA level, in English and German).
Winter Semester 2012-2013
Exploring the Relationship Between Democracy and Violence, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Political Science, University of Hamburg, Seminar blog (BA level, in German).
Winter Semester 2011-2012
Democracy and Conflict: A Case Study on Latin America, Master of Peace and Security Studies program, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (MA level, in English and German).
Summer Semester 2011
Problems of Democracy in Latin America, Latin American Studies Department, University of Hamburg. Together with Dr. Mariana Llanos (BA and MA levels, in Spanish).
Winter Semester 2010-2011
Democracy and Conflict: A Case Study on Latin America, Master of Peace and Security Studies program, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (MA level, in English).
Summer Semester 2010
Democratic Institutions and Conflict in Latin America, Latin American Studies, University of Hamburg. Together with Dr. Mariana Llanos (BA and MA levels, in Spanish).
Winter Semester 2009-2010
Democracy and Conflict: A Case Study on Latin America, Master of Peace and Security Studies program, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (MA level, in English).
Winter Semester 2007-2008
Politic Representation and Electoral Systems in Latin America, Latin American Studies, University of Hamburg. Together with Dr. Mariana Llanos (BA and MA levels, in Spanish).
Research
My current research focuses on contemporary democratic theory, democratization and democratic processes as well as the democratic institutions working within democracy. A basic inquiry that frames my interests is how do institutions, within the democratic process, interact with each other? In particular, how do democratic institutions shape, modify, affect, the behavior of other institutions and/or individuals within the democratic process? How do actors affect institutions and the process itself?
I mainly concentrate on Latin American politics (focus on the Andes) and Bolivian politics, yet I regularly take a look at Europe and the US.
Finally, my interests lie on the following disciplines and methods: institutionalism, neo-institutionalism, comparative area studies, area studies, mixed-methods analysis, case studies, data analysis with R, and qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Academic activities
Latin American Studies Association
LASA is by far the most important English-speaking academic association for Latin Americanists. I have participated in LASA’s annually organized congress since 2006. For example, I helped organize the LASA Bolivia section, where I was a founding member and was elected council member for two consecutive terms (2011 – 2013).
Other academic organizations
I have been active member (e.g. paper presentations, panel organizations, collaborations, etc.) in a variety of academic associations such as the Midwestern Political Science Association (MPSA), the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), the International Political Science Association (IPSA), the German Association of Political Science (DVPW), the European Political Science Association (EPSA), and the Asociación Latinoamericana de Ciencia Politica (ALACIP).
Other activities
I have given lectures, presentations and taken part in conversations about Bolivian politics, mostly, in and around the cities where I lived. I think the sharing and/or exchange of knowledge within society should be a central task for academics.
Dr. Miguel A. Buitrago 