An Introduction to Latin America

by Braidotti, Erminio

• ISBN13: 9780761820987
• ISBN10: 0761820981
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-12-12
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

This book's interdisciplinary approach offers a basic, yet comprehensive introduction to contemporary Latin America. Erminio Braidotti traces its development, explains how it works today, and points to where Latin America is headed. In a world of ever-increasing global economic agreements, political connections and cultural ties, it is both imperative and beneficial that we know and value our own neighbors more--and this book is a decisive step in that direction.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xiii
Acknowledgments	xvii
Geography	1	(16)
Variety	1	(1)
Natural Regions	2	(1)
Nature-Related Problems	3	(11)
Nature and the Economy	3	(4)
Nature and Politics	7	(2)
Nature and Socio-Cultural Problems	9	(5)
Ecology and the Rainforest	14	(1)
Other Projects and Activities	15	(2)
History	17	(32)
Beginning	17	(6)
Pre-Columbian Period	17	(1)
Conquest	18	(2)
Who Conquered What and When	20	(1)
Why Was It Relatively ``Easy'' for the Spaniards to Conquer Latin America?	21	(2)
Colonial Period (1500-1825)	23	(10)
Political Administration of the Colonies	23	(2)
Judicial Administration of the Colonies	25	(1)
Socio-Economic Conditions	25	(2)
Decline of the Native Population	27	(3)
Slavery	30	(3)
Independence	33	(4)
Causes of the Independence Movement	33	(1)
Some Important Dates in the Wars of Independence	34	(1)
The Case of Brazil	35	(2)
International Conflicts and Wars	37	(1)
U.S. Intervention in Central America (in the 20th Century)	38	(2)
Major Revolutions (of the 20th Century)	40	(7)
Who, What, When	40	(1)
Other Major Conflicts	41	(1)
Causes of the Revolutions	42	(5)
Additional Projects and Activities	47	(2)
Cultural Heritage	49	(90)
Amerindian Background	49	(15)
Aztec	49	(4)
Maya	53	(2)
Inca	55	(2)
Today	57	(5)
Projects and Activities	62	(2)
African Background	64	(5)
Beginning	64	(1)
Culture	65	(1)
Social Life	66	(1)
Other Observations	67	(1)
Projects and Activities	68	(1)
European Background	69	(70)
Idealism and Realism	70	(5)
Individualism	75	(18)
Personalism	93	(5)
Honor	98	(3)
Violence	101	(4)
Don Juan	105	(2)
Donjuanismo	107	(5)
Hembrismo / Marianismo	112	(2)
Time (and a Little Space)	114	(2)
Work	116	(8)
Mesianismo	124	(1)
Nationalism	125	(6)
Humor	131	(2)
Other Characteristics	133	(6)
Economy	139	(54)
Agriculture	139	(17)
Overview	139	(3)
Some Problems Related to Agriculture	142	(3)
Clearing of the Land and Destruction of the Rainforests	145	(11)
Fishing	156	(1)
Mining	157	(2)
Industry	159	(5)
General Observations	159	(2)
Industrialization	161	(1)
Problems	162	(2)
Trade and NAFTA	164	(10)
Trade in General	164	(1)
NAFTA	165	(9)
Energy	174	(1)
Inflation	175	(4)
Statistics	176	(1)
Results and Remedies	177	(1)
Causes	178	(1)
Solutions	179	(1)
Foreign Debt	179	(2)
The Informal Economy	181	(3)
What and Why	181	(2)
Case Study	183	(1)
Other Examples	183	(1)
Transport (and Communications)	184	(2)
Rivers	184	(1)
Roads and Railroad	185	(1)
Planes	185	(1)
Passenger Cars	186	(1)
Tourism	186	(7)
Points of Interest	186	(1)
Fairs, Feasts and Festivals	187	(2)
Some Problems	189	(4)
Politics and the Military	193	(52)
Effects of the Colonial Administration on the Modern History and Politics of Latin America	193	(3)
Constitutions	196	(1)
Political Movements and Parties	197	(4)
The Legacy of Independence	197	(1)
During the 19th and 20th Centuries	198	(1)
Today	199	(2)
Politics and the Military	201	(6)
General Observations	201	(2)
Types of Military Governments	203	(1)
The Role of the Army	204	(1)
Some Recent Developments	205	(2)
Politics and Violence	207	(12)
Types of Insurgency	210	(1)
Result / Consequence	211	(5)
Latest Developments	216	(2)
Solutions	218	(1)
Drugs and Violence	219	(4)
Democracy and Democratization	223	(22)
Democracy Latin American Style	224	(2)
Obstacles to Democracy	226	(19)
Sociology	245	(76)
Demographics	245	(6)
Terminology	245	(1)
Who is Who in Latin America	246	(1)
The Issue of Race	247	(4)
Population Trends (and Migratory Movements)	251	(6)
Population Growth	251	(1)
Immigration	252	(1)
Migration	252	(2)
Emigration	254	(3)
Rural Society	257	(17)
Importance of Nature	257	(2)
Provincialism	259	(5)
Primitivism	264	(2)
Machismo	266	(6)
Caudillismo (and Caciquismo)	272	(2)
Urban Society	274	(6)
The Physical Environment	274	(3)
The Social Environment	277	(3)
Social Classes	280	(24)
Preliminary Observations	280	(1)
The Upper Class	281	(2)
The Middle Class	283	(4)
The Lower Class	287	(3)
Comments on Class, Income, Poverty, Social Conditions	290	(14)
Women	304	(17)
Women and Work	306	(4)
Women and the Law	310	(4)
Women and Politics (and the Feminist Movement)	314	(7)
Institutions	321	(74)
Family	321	(23)
In General	321	(3)
Father	324	(4)
Mother	328	(4)
Children	332	(8)
Compadrazgo	340	(2)
Maid	342	(2)
Church	344	(28)
The Church as Religion (its Private or Personal Aspect)	344	(21)
The Church as an Institution (its Public or Official Aspect)	365	(7)
Education	372	(14)
General Comments	372	(7)
Level-by-Level Observations	379	(7)
Unions	386	(7)
Labor or Trade Unions	386	(4)
Rural Unions	390	(1)
Professional Unions	391	(1)
Other Organizations	392	(1)
Army or the Military (See Politics)	393	(2)
Popular Culture	395	(26)
Languages	395	(8)
Amerindian Languages	395	(4)
Indo-European Languages	399	(4)
Media (Press, Radio, TV and Cinema)	403	(9)
Press	403	(4)
Radio and TV	407	(4)
Cinema	411	(1)
The Arts	412	(4)
Music and Dance	412	(3)
Crafts, Painting, Sculpture, Architecture	415	(1)
Sports	416	(5)
Appendix	421	(48)
I. Maps of Latin America	423	(6)
II. Countries in Latin America	429	(4)
III. Some Basic Facts About Latin America	433	(4)
IV. Viewing Suggestions	437	(28)
A. TV Shows and Special Programs	437	(23)
B. Movies	460	(5)
V. Reading Suggestions	465	(4)
A. Books (See Bibliography)	465	(1)
B. Journals	465	(1)
C. Newspapers	466	(1)
D. Additional Sources	467	(2)
Bibliography	469	(24)
Index	493