Post on 05-Apr-2018
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Latin AmericaA Regional Study
Dr Jan Mosedale
Introduction
Latin America has 17 countries
Colonized by Spain & Portugal (Iberian countries)
Large, diverse populations
490 million people total Indian and African presence
75% of the people live in cities
Several megacities (more than 10 million people)
Industrialization & development grew since 1960s
Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) proposes to integrate
economies of Latin America, North America and the Caribbean
(except Cuba)
Natural resource extraction remains important
Amazonian Basin
Andes
Pampas
Brazilian
Highlands
Amazon Rain Forest
Geography
Macchu Pichu
Andes Mountains
Well known natural andcultural landscapes
Main Regions ofLatin America
Mexico1 Country
Central America7 Countries
Caribbean700? Small Islands
Territories & Countries
South America12 Countries
Geography
Central America
GuatemalaCosta RicaBelizeEl SalvadorHondurasPanamaNicaragua
Geography
Latin America: A regional Study
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Caribbean
Three largestIsland Nations Haiti Dominican
Republic Cuba
Geography
A Complex Area:
The Caribbean have a diverse history because of its ownership to othercountries and their contribution to the commonwealth, for example to theUnited States and United Kingdom.
Case Example: Puerto Rico and the U.S.U.S. Territory and Commonwealth to the US Can vote in regards to internal affairsbut cannot vote in the US presidential elections
Other Latin American countries had similar historic links with the Dutch, French,Spanish, and Portuguese. There historic relationships still impact the culture,forms of government, language, trade agreements, citizens etc in the region.
Geography
South AmericaArgentinaBrazilPeruBoliviaChileColombiaEcuadorGuyanaSuriname
UruguayParaguayVenezuela
Geography Defining the Realm
Inca Civilization
Culture hearth:
Intermontane basin around Cuzco (1200-1535 AD.)
Most of the population in the Andes mountains
(west).
Altiplanos were key to settlement patterns.
20 million subjects at its zenith
A highly centralized state.Transportation networks and integration efforts.
Collapsed in the early 16th century.
Iberian invasion
Pizzarro overthrew the Incaempire in 1533.
Process of land alienation and
forced labor.
Lima:
Coastal city.
Capital of the Viceroyalty of
Peru.
Became one of the richest
cities in the world.
Viceroyalties of La Plana and
New Grenada.
Urbanization along the coast.
Portugal took the eastern part
of the Tordesillas line (Brazil).
Culture
Latin America: Culture
Latin America has very diverse cultural background that can
vary from country and region.But there are shared cultural characteristics
The ethnic diversity of this region is very unique
There are many customs andtraditions
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Culture
Latin America: A regional Study
Latin America: Shared Cultural Characteristics
Language
Religion
Ancestry
Culture
Latin America: A regional Study
FoodPopular Foods:
PupusasEmpanadasSeafood CevicheSoups SopaMate tea drink
Culture
Latin America: A regional Study
Dress
Culture
Latin America: A regional Study
Festivals & TraditionsCarnival in Brazil
Dia de losMuertos
Defining the Realm
Independence
Restrictive colonial trading pattern:
Limiting the ability to trade with nations other than Spain.
Spain had been economically eclipsed by the development
of Britain, France, and the Netherlands.
Deprived the elite of the opportunity to have lucrative
trading relationships with other European powers.
Gaining independence
Major independence movements:
South American War of Independence in the early 1800s.
Led by Simon Bolivar (Bolivia).
History
Latin America: A regional Study
Independence from Spanish Conquest
Most of Latin America was under Spanish Rule for over 300 years fromabout 1500 to 1800.
Haiti was the first country in Latin America to declare independence onJanuary 1, 1804.
Mexico's Independence: September 16, 1810
Simon Bolivar and helped with the independence of several SouthAmerican countries
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History
Latin America: A regional Study
Independence from Spanish Conquest
Mexico
Miguel Hidalgo (1810-1811)Jose De Morelos (1810-1815)
South AmericaSimon Bolivar (1810-1824)Jose San Martin (1811-1822)
Revolutionary MovementsChe Guevara (1955-1967)Fidel Castro (195os to the present)
Four Revolutionary Heroes"Liberators" by painter Alfredo Zalce
History
Latin America: A regional Study
Simon Bolivar
Influential heroic, revolutionary figure
Known as the liberator and theGeorge Washington of Latin America
Bolivar and Jose de San Martin worked to gainindependence from Spanish rule in South America
He stood for uniting all of Latin AmericaWon independence in Countries:Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, and Bolivia
History
Latin America: A regional Study
Che Guevara
Social Justice Equality Challenged Class Structure Sought an alternative style of government
which was more socialistic
Biographical NotesBorn in ArgentinaFamous for travel and humanitarian efforts in Latin America
He was a doctor who became a revolutionary leaderHelped Fidel Castro in the Cuban Revolution Assassinated in Bolivia with the assistance of the CIARemains a popular symbol of revolution
Pillars of Latin American Society
Church
Arrived with the conquistadores.
Spent the majority of the centuries since firmly
supporting the status quo.
One of the largest landholders and wealthiest entities.
Leadership:
Historically been conservative.
Derived its membership from the upper strata of society. Contributed to the social control of the masses.
Accepting their poverty and powerlessness.
Rise of Liberation Theology:
Pillars of Latin American Society
Military
Plays a vastly different role than in most democratic
societies:
Used to ensure internal control.
Serves to support the elites and is frequently led by them.
Serves as a social mobility vehicle.
Military dictatorships:
Characterized regional politics since shortly after
independence.
Authoritarian means of governance that has focused on
social control.
Demise of military dictators in Chile (1990), Panama
Political Evolution
Latin America: A regional Study
Latin America is not a one dimensional political arena.
Different Forms of Political Leadership
Different forms of Government built on differenteconomic theories/priorities.
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Political Evolution
Latin America: A regional Study
An OverviewPatriarchalElitist Dictator Populist/socialistThe story of Latin American government and types ofleadership is a story of change and transition.
Colonial History and the ties between European countries havehad enduring impacts throughout Latin America.
Modern vs TraditionalThere is a debate as to whether the modernization of LatinAmerica will require the loss of traditional priorities andcustoms to become more modernized.
Economic Trends
Latin America: A regional Study
IntroductionIn many parts of Latin America, there are significant gapsbetween the rich and the poor, with drastically highpercentages of poverty
Economic Instability can occur in various parts in the region. Aglobal economic crisis of varying impacts can affect a countryand change their economic status
With many distinct economic characteristics, specific countries
can be extraordinarily unique; Not all service not allproductrion; diversified economies in comparison to theirneighbors and region
Economic Trends
Latin America: A regional Study
Central America countries and percentage of populationbelow the poverty line:
*Guatemala 56.2% (2004 est.)El Salvador 30.7% (2006 est.)*Nicaragua 48% (2005)Belize 33.5% (2002 est.)*Honduras 50.7% (2004)Costa Rica 16% (2006 est.)Panama 37% (1999 est.)
CIA World Fact book
Regional Divisions
Urbanization
The movement to and clustering of people in towns
and cities.
The percentage of a countrys population living in
cities.
79% - continent-wide in South America.
South America's increase based on rate of natural
increase and internal migration.
Fast urbanization:
Resulted in the creation of vast shantytowns (barrios or
favelas).
Why People Move to Urban Areas?
Urbanization and economic survival
Decision to move to an urban area:
Part of a complex survival strategy.
Families minimize risk by placing members in different
labor markets.
Largest labor market maximizing the chances of
employment and survival.
Cities are the largest labor markets.
Favelas (squatter settlements) of Rio de Janeiro:
Cannot be understood without reference to the latifundia
land system in rural Brazil.
Characterized by large landholdings owned by a limited
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Shantytowns
Definition
Dwellings are built by the current or originaloccupant:
Rudimentary construction materials.
Did not receive a construction permit.
Do not follow norms in terms of housing and sanitation.
Inhabitants have no legal title to the land:
Most are located in areas being declared inhabitable.
Own by the municipality.
Abandoned private land.
Exploiting a legal vacuum of land ownership.
v
Latin America and Caribbean
International Visitor Numbers
International tourists to Latin
American Countries (2005)
Mexico is, and for a long time has been, the
unparalleled giant of the international tourist
industry in Latin America (Chant, 1992: 85)
in South America generally, most foreign
tourists are Latin Americans (Chant, 1992: 86)
The USA provides the majority of tourists from
outside the region to Mexico, Central America
and the Caribbean.
Why is it the case that so few tourists
appear to visit Latin America (especially
excluding Mexico and the Caribbean)?
Certainly not a lack of potential attractions
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Beach tourism Five countries, namely Brazil, Cuba, the
Dominican Republic, Mexico and Venezuela, are
noted for beach tourism (Lumsdon & Swift, 2001:
85)
Also, there are beach resorts in Chile, Uruguay,
Argentina, Peru, and Colombia
Rio de
JaneiroVenezuelaChile
Mountain & ski tourism
Ski tourism = La Paz in Bolivia (upper
slopes reach an altitude of 5500 metres);
Las Lenas in Argentina; Termas de
Chillan, Valle Nevado, and Portillo in
Chile
Chile - with its numerous ski resorts - is
an adventurous alternative to the typical
summer holiday. Andean skiing offers an
unforgettable combination of beach-style
weather, great snow and exotic travel
Here on the fringes of the Andes, skiers
will find few lift queues, tickets 50%
cheaper than France and unique scenery,
(www.guardian.co.uk, 2005)
Nature-based/eco-tourism
About 97 per cent of the Galapagos is designated
as a national park, and stringent regulations are in
force to protect the wildlife from the impact of
tourists (Boniface & Cooper, 2005: 470)
Brazilian rainforest and associated wildlife
Iguacu Falls
Penguins and glaciersChile
Costa Rica - rainforests
Cultural/heritage tourism Inca civilization and Pre-Columbus archaeological
sites (e.g., Machu Picchu in Peru)
Spanish architecture - Concentrated principally inMexico, Guatemala, Peru and Ecuador (Chant, 1992:87)
Buenos Aires (Argentina)known as the Paris ofSouth America prior to WW2
Mayan culture (Mexico)
Why then is the tourism potential of LatinAmerica (excluding Mexico & The
Caribbean to an extent) largely untapped?
Lack of investment
Economic & political instability - Long-term planning and
investment in the tourism industry have been discouraged by
political instability and inflation (Boniface & Cooper, 2005: 461) Safety and security problems
South American countries have a reputation of political
instability, even though many countries have returned to
democracy the reputation for violence in these countries is hard
to overcome, particularly as these events are often given negative
media coverage in the United States, one of the major markets for
South American tourism (Costa & Bauer, 2001: 28)
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Social problemsPromoted as a palm-studded paradise,
Jamaicas image is tempered by the realities of poverty, drugs
and racial tension. (www.guardian.co.uk, 2005)
Natural disasters (e.g., Hurricanes; Earthquakes)
GRENADA
Lack of accessibilityParticularly for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay,
and Paraguay distance from the main [tourist] generating countries
in both Europe and North America has been a major disadvantage
for the development of international tourism (Boniface & Cooper,
2005: 471)
Relatively high cost of air fares
Shortage of suitable hotelsfor the inclusive-tour market - poor
hygiene in accommodation facilities and restaurants (Santana,
2001: 10)
Tropical diseasessuch as cholera and malaria
Poor marketing- Latin America has not been successful in
promoting itself as a relevant destination for the major tourism
generating markets (Costa & Bauer, 2001: 25)