The Role Of Capitalism In Latin America

The Vanguard of the Atlantic World by James Sanders seems to do little more than reiterate the concept that American republican modernity was debated by various countries located in Latin America in regards to their status as a united global political power. Not to say that these nations were united in terms of alliances, or treaties, but rather that some intellectuals adopted the concept of a “sisterhood” of republic democracies. The analysis of the political systems in Latin America after their independence from European nations is not where the disappointment lies, but rather the lack of context given to various components in his research that were supposed to show the transition of Latin America during its state of transformation from colonial territories to independent republican nations.

Latin America is a continent that is constantly struggling between governmental abuse and oppression of its citizens. In Latin America, it is very common for non –democratic systems to be enforced. During recent years, the continent has experienced a governmental shift from an absolute to a more democratic system. This era is called the democratic third wave, which brought about democratic like tendencies to Latin America. Many factors such as corruption, poverty, and inequality pushed the people to favor this new democratic system. The abuse of power is also very common, and the citizen’s unrest is highly noted. Most citizens are in favor of doing away with the old system of government, and establishing a new efficient political system.

Revolution started to take over the world. The French Revolution started to happen, and ideas of enlightens started to spread. Latin America’s Spanish King was just removed, and the Creole generals started to lead wars of independence. Now was the time to begin a Revolution. The uneven distribution of resources lead to conflict and Revolution in Latin America by geographic luck, advanced weapons, and unfair social class.

Revolutions hit Latin America, and the fight for independence would change history forever. In the early 1800’s the lower class known as Mulattos, Mestizos and mid-class creoles were in a battle for a new form of government, against the abundant and powerful peninsulares. Rebellions in Latin America were fueled by the unjust distribution of food, wealth, and power.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, revolutions began to occur in Latin American colonies. Several European countries, including Spain, Portugal, etc. established colonies of citizens in the New World and the rest of the Americas. They served as a means of expansion and source of beneficial resources. Over increasing periods of time, however, the population began to consist of more creoles and native-born citizens. As a result, people began to create thoughts of their own heritage, and their own independent nations. These thoughts eventually coalesced into what is known today as the Latin American Revolution. The Latin American Revolutions were caused by the desire of elites to resist the intrusion and interference of Spain and other mother

Models for post-revolutionary Latin American government are born of the complex economic and social realities of 17th and 18th century Europe. From the momentum of the Enlightenment came major political rebellions of the elite class against entrenched national monarchies and systems of power. Within this time period of elitist revolt and intensive political restructuring, the fundamental basis for both liberal and conservative ideology was driven deep into Latin American soil. However, as neither ideology sought to fulfill or even recognize the needs or rights of mestizo people under government rule, the initial liberal doctrine pervading Latin American nations perpetuated

Early 19th century marked the end of colonization in Latin America; the countries in the region began to form their own governments, while under threat from each other. Oligarchy was a common form of government in the Latin American region, and was led by the privileged. With the years that followed, the region was thrown into political chaos, and the government was often to blame.

Although Latin American nations achieved independence, they faced a tragic and frustrating century, that included political and economical instability. The first half of the century was full of decline and disappointment. The great liberators could not get control of the nations they freed. They couldn't do this because they were uneducated in this and could not make proper decisions for the nations. Progressive leaders were so infatuated with the idea of independence, they did not consider the risks and how they would economically support the newly independent nations. I would not want independence from a thriving dependent nation if I knew the potential problems that would occur

The type of development that was formed in Latin America was structural dualism because it is able to define the ways of life for the people. This kind of social infrastructure is in a way very similar to the community society, where all people will work collectively to benefit the whole. This is seen in more liberal forms of government. What I have also learned are the concepts of nationalism, patriotism, and that development is a social process. All of these concepts correlate in some way. Education has led to increases in nationalism and patriotism. This created a loyalty and love for the Latin American countries, and in turn increased the want to fight for their sovereignty and rights. Along with these fights for independence the formation of populism came about and the need to make numbers more predominant in political processes as well as to break the stronghold of the elite powers. With the elite powers, corruption was very prevalent during this time and it became one of the major reasons for the economic instability and dependence of the

Galeano portrays this moment in Latin American history as the instant U.S investors took control over the industries. He details the dangers they went through when producing one item to export for the benefit of foreigners, and how they later imported the processed goods from those same foreign countries, injecting money only overseas. The fact that Latin America needed imports to survive initiated the imperial link the U.S has upon it. As stated by Galeano, “The growing dependence on foreign supplies produces the growing identification of the interest of U.S. capitalists operating in Latin America with U.S. national security”11, bluntly showing the relationship between the United States and Latin America. “With petroleum, as with coffee or meat, rich countries profit more from the work of consuming it than do poor countries from the work of producing it”12. Because profit was not being retained in the Latin American countries, nationalization of the industries became of importance. The United States offered intervention in order to protect everyone’s interests with the proposal of free trade, but this was no more than another manipulation to continue having power over Latin America and its resources: “Latin America’s big ports, through which the wealth of its soil and subsoil passed en route to distant centers of power, were being built as instruments of the conquest and domination of the countries to which they belonged, and as conduits

With the increase in industrialization, particularly rail roads and steam boats, Latin America could efficiently export more goods. The installation of railroads and increased trade stabilized the economy of many countries. As long as Europe and the United States required raw materials, the economy would continue to grow. With the economy growing, political stability followed. This is demonstrated in Chasteen’s essay “Governance did become more orderly. As the profits of the export boom rose, government revenues from import/export taxes rose too…Higher government revenues afforded middle-class people new employment opportunities…Greater stability and prosperity attracted further investment from aboard intensifying trade, and the cycle repeated itself” (Chasteen, 207). As more money flowed into the continent, the more the government improved. Using the available revenue from the export boom, local governments could afford better equipment and put down rebellions with less casualties. The government was better able to provide more individuals with employment opportunities, thus stabilizing the politics in the Spanish Americas.

Up until the 20th century, America had only attained a notable relationship between Cuba and Mexico, any other relationship between other Latin American countries was due to small levels of trade. The majority of Latin-American countries were colonies of the Spanish Empire except Brazil which was ruled by the Portuguese Empire. Between 1808 and 1826, all of the colonies; excluding Cuba and Puerto Rico, gained their independence from their European powers that had controlled them for the previous three centuries. The causes for many of the battles of Independence were due to long-term increase in tensions and radical reforms

Throughout United States history, there has not been a more prominent and long lasting threat like the one of communism. It has been a threat to the democratic and capitalist ideals of the U.S. since before World War I, throughout the Cold War and is still until this day. When one thinks about communism, you conjure up images of the Red Scare that the Soviet Union induced and of other dictatorships throughout the western hemisphere and one might overlook the Marxist ideals that were being spread throughout our neighboring countries. These western countries were allies that the U.S. could not afford to lose during the Cold War. Latin America, which has many ties to the U.S., both geographically and politically, could pose a very strategic threat to the U.S. in its battle against communism. To understand Latin America’s communist history is to understand how much influence and intervention the U.S. had in the region during the Cold War. This report will serve to explain how communism spread to the western hemisphere, why the U.S. government had to stop that spread, and how they were able to stop many communist revolutions in Latin America.

The Independence of Latin America was a process caused by years of injustices, discriminations, and abuse, from the Spanish Crown upon the inhabitants of Latin America. Since the beginning the Spanish Crown used the Americas as a way to gain riches and become greater in power internationally. Three of the distinct causes leading Latin America to seek independence from Spain, were that Spain was restricting Latin America from financial growth, (this included restrictions from the Spain on international trade, tax burden, and laws which only allowed the Americas to buy from Spain), The different social groups within Latin America, felt the pressure of the reforms being implicated on them

La tierra mas hermosa. The most beautiful land. Latin America and the Caribbean maintain the humble beauty of many indigenous regions. The rugged mountains of Bolivia are scattered across graded lands. The Quechua people can be seen wearing richly decorated ponchos as they plant seeds for forming. Weathered volcanic lavas are stretched over the lands of Guatemala, and the heavily wooded forest trees can also be seen in the eastern slopes of the Andes. The azure blue oceans of Havana sparkle as the golden sun illuminates the sky. These humble lands have always been here; streams of people have flowed through these lands for centuries. It is only the globalización that is relatively new, and along with that comes the life one lives in these lands--pobreza y viviendo en el infierno [poverty and living in hell]. The impact of globalization in Latin America has caused a ripple in the lives of many individuals living in Latin America and the Caribbean. Although globalization is not a new concept, the process of globalization has drastically expanded and involved into social, political, and economic changes that weakens the sovereignty and power that helps create policies and reform government institutions.