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Introduction

Latin America A Regional Study

Dr Jan Mosedale

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

Geography
Amazonian Basin Brazilian Highlands

Well known natural and cultural landscapes

Amazon Rain Forest Macchu Pichu

Andes

Pampas

Andes Mountains

Latin America: A regional Study

Geography
Main Regions of Latin America

Geography
Central America
Guatemala Costa Rica Belize El Salvador Honduras Panama Nicaragua

Mexico

1 Country

Central America
7 Countries

700? Small Islands Territories & Countries

Caribbean

South America
12 Countries

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Geography
Caribbean
Three largest Island Nations Haiti Dominican Republic Cuba

Geography
A Complex Area:

The Caribbean have a diverse history because of its ownership to other countries and their contribution to the commonwealth, for example to the United 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 affairs but 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 America
Argentina Brazil Peru Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador Guyana Suriname Uruguay Paraguay Venezuela

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.

Latin America: Culture

Culture
Iberian invasion
Pizzarro overthrew the Inca empire 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.

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 and traditions

Viceroyalties of La Plana and New Grenada. Urbanization along the coast. Portugal took the eastern part of the Tordesillas line (Brazil).

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Latin America: A regional Study

Latin America: A regional Study

Culture
Latin America: Shared Cultural Characteristics Language Religion Ancestry

Culture
Food
Popular Foods: Pupusas Empanadas Seafood Ceviche Soups Sopa Mate tea drink

Latin America: A regional Study

Latin America: A regional Study

Culture
Dress

Culture
Festivals & Traditions
Carnival in Brazil

Dia de los Muertos

Latin America: A regional Study

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.

History
Independence from Spanish Conquest
Most of Latin America was under Spanish Rule for over 300 years from about 1500 to 1800. Haiti was the first country in Latin America to declare independence on January 1, 1804. Mexico's Independence: September 16, 1810 Simon Bolivar and helped with the independence of several South American countries

Gaining independence
Major independence movements:
South American War of Independence in the early 1800s. Led by Simon Bolivar (Bolivia).

Did not produce unity:

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Latin America: A regional Study

Latin America: A regional Study

History
Independence from Spanish Conquest Mexico Miguel Hidalgo (1810-1811) Jose De Morelos (1810-1815) South America Simon Bolivar (1810-1824) Jose San Martin (1811-1822) Revolutionary Movements Che Guevara (1955-1967) Fidel Castro (195os to the present)

History
Simon Bolivar
Influential heroic, revolutionary figure Known as the liberator and the George Washington of Latin America
Four Revolutionary Heroes
"Liberators" by painter Alfredo Zalce

Bolivar and Jose de San Martin worked to gain independence from Spanish rule in South America He stood for uniting all of Latin America Won independence in Countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, and Bolivia

Latin America: A regional Study

History
Che Guevara
Social Justice Equality Challenged Class Structure Sought an alternative style of government which was more socialistic Biographical Notes Born in Argentina Famous for travel and humanitarian efforts in Latin America He was a doctor who became a revolutionary leader Helped Fidel Castro in the Cuban Revolution Assassinated in Bolivia with the assistance of the CIA Remains 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:

Grassroots movement involving parish priests at the local

Latin America: A regional Study

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.

Political Evolution
Latin America is not a one dimensional political arena. Different Forms of Political Leadership Different forms of Government built on different economic theories/priorities.

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 (1989), and Paraguay (1989).

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Latin America: A regional Study

Political Evolution

An Overview Patriarchal<=>Elitist<=> Dictator<=> Populist/socialist The story of Latin American government and types of leadership is a story of change and transition.

Colonial History and the ties between European countries have had enduring impacts throughout Latin America. Modern vs Traditional There is a debate as to whether the modernization of Latin America will require the loss of traditional priorities and customs to become more modernized.

Latin America: A regional Study

Latin America: A regional Study

Economic Trends
Introduction
In many parts of Latin America, there are significant gaps between the rich and the poor, with drastically high percentages of poverty Economic Instability can occur in various parts in the region. A global economic crisis of varying impacts can affect a country and change their economic status With many distinct economic characteristics, specific countries can be extraordinarily unique; Not all service not all productrion; diversified economies in comparison to their neighbors and region

Economic Trends
Central America countries and percentage of population
below 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). Placed stress on South American cities.

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 elite.

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Shantytowns
Definition
Dwellings are built by the current or original occupant:
Rudimentary construction materials. Did not receive a construction permit. Do not follow norms in terms of housing and sanitation.

Latin America and Caribbean International Visitor Numbers

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.

Lack of urban services:

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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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
Chile Venezuela Rio de Janeiro

Beach tourism

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 glaciers Chile Costa Rica - rainforests

Inca civilization and Pre-Columbus archaeological sites (e.g., Machu Picchu in Peru) Spanish architecture - Concentrated principally in Mexico, Guatemala, Peru and Ecuador (Chant, 1992: 87) Buenos Aires (Argentina) known as the Paris of South America prior to WW2 Mayan culture (Mexico)

Cultural/heritage tourism

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)

Why then is the tourism potential of Latin America (excluding Mexico & The Caribbean to an extent) largely untapped?

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Social problems Promoted 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)

Lack of accessibility Particularly 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 hotels for the inclusive-tour market - poor hygiene in accommodation facilities and restaurants (Santana, 2001: 10) Tropical diseases such 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)

GRENADA