Seeks to strengthen students’ understanding of the factors that have shaped the Andean region as it is today and will continue to influence the future of the five countries within: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Discussions will examine each country up close in terms of history, demographics, leadership, economics, social currents, and security issues. The broader regional issues of governance, development trends, security challenges, energy needs, multilateral organizations, and foreign influences will provide part of the context. The other part will derive from an investigation of U.S. policies, how they evolved, and how they affect the region. The Independent Study course will meet a total of eight times, the first two Wednesdays of the semester and every other week after that. Prerequisite: Theory and Practice of Politics in Latin America [sa.810.700] or permission from the instructor to waive the requirement.