CULTURE AND POLITICS OF LATIN AMERICA

LATIN AMERICA

•Geographically – What to include?

•Ethnically diverse: Mestizos, Native Americans, Spanish, African and racially mixed groups.

•Settlements of people descended from German, Japanese, Indian, Syrian and Lebanese immigrants.

PEOPLES OF LATIN AMERICABelize Mestizo

Mayan Guatemalan

Mixed Race Brazilian

Native Peruvian

Native Colombian

Afro-Brazilian

LATIN AMERICAN FACTS

•Latin American population has doubled between the 1960’s and 1996, to 488 million

•Not religiously diverse, over 90% Catholic (Why?).

•West Indies name continues as a result of Columbus incorrect geography.

•History of Resource Depletion, colonization, slavery and ultimately genocide of millions of Native Americans and African slaves over a 300 year period

•Pizarro’s destruction of the Incan empire while in search for personal gains and riches for his native Spain

FACTS CONTINUED

•By the 19th century a large part of the Native American population of Latin America was wiped out by disease and warfare.

•African slaves perished from disease and maltreatment

•Poor conditions led Latin American countries to be the first to undertake wars of national liberation against European domination.

•Haiti Revolution (1810-1816) and (1816-1825)

•Improvement of the quality of life was short lived as a result of rising US hegemony

•Improvement in the 1990’s with economic and political rejuvenation and end of cold war and US supported dictatorial regimes (i.e Pinochet).

REGIONAL DIFFERENCES

The world's eighth largest economy; 6% GDP growth

Brazil

Bolivia

60% of people, many of whom are subsistence farmers, live in poverty.

87% Literacy Rate

87% Literacy Rate

26% Live below Poverty Line

Lowest GDP in South America; GDP growth of only 2.5%

NATIONALISM, COLONIALISM, AND INDEPENDENCE

NATIONALISM

A state of mind or feeling based on belonging to a nation.

Is there a difference between Patriotism and Nationalism?

Bonds of nationalismCommon TerritoryCommon LanguageCommon CultureCommon Enemies

EthnocentrismUs vs. Them/In-group vs. out-group - DehumanizationNo minimum criteriaThe root of many ethnic conflicts

SYMBOLS OF NATIONALISM

Flag National Anthem

Consequences of NationalismPopular Slogans Historical

SItes

Competition Ethnic ConflictWars of Liberation

COLONIALISM

By 1921 the British controlled more than 25% of the land and population of the earth.

Colonialism not necessarily introduced by Europeans

Europeans expanded colonialism to an unprecedented level

Motivations: Cheap Resources/Labor, Exploration, Evangelism

Does colonialism still exist?

CONSEQUENCES OF COLONIALISM

Permanent negative consequences: loss of resources, language, culture, religion, historical artifacts, dependent on Europe and North America

Positive Consequences?: Education, Health Care, Transportation, Infrastructure, Government

DEHUMANIZATION OF CULTURES AND MANIFEST DESTINY