Intro Chapter
How many countries are in Latin America?
20
What economic system was established during colonialism in Latin America?
Mercantilism
Define state capacity.
The ability of governments to effectively implement public policy
What system of property ownership replaced the encomienda system?
The Latifundia system
Name 3 ecosystems that characterize Latin America's geography.
Rainforest, Mountains, Plains, Desert
Climate ranges from tropical to arid and frigid
Describe the colonial social structure.
Rigid social hierarchy:
Small, elite class of European landowners
Mass peasant class of indios and mestizos
Enslaved people from Africa
Inability to provide public goods
Kleptocracy
Corruption
Military coups
What is comparative advantage?
Producing only the most efficient products possible for export
What are the five racial groups that primarily comprise Latin America's population?
Indios, Europeans, Africans, Mulattos, Mestizos
Name 5 key institutions of colonial society in Latin America
Authoritarian political system
Hierarchical class structure
Mercantilist economy
Slavery
The Roman Catholic Church
The Encomienda System
Paternalism
What are three defining characteristics of Latin American presidents?
Continuismo: prolonging one’s term of office beyond its constitutional limits
Personalismo: emphasis on the person of the president rather than on the office
Machismo: strong, manly authority
Explain the political theory that inspired the development of Import-Substitution Industrialization
Dependency Theory: the idea that the idea that Latin America’s lack of development was the result of political and economic patterns established during the colonial era
Describe the stages of economic development from the late 19th century until the 21st century.
1890s-1920s: Liberalism
1930s: the Great Depression
1940s-1970s: Import-Substitution Industrialization
1980s-1990s: Neoliberalism
1990s-2000s: The Pink Tide
What were the main causal factors of independence throughout Latin America?
The spread of Enlightenment ideals
Conflict between creoles and peninsulares
Conflict in Spain
Desire for free trade
Why does the public tend to have low confidence in the legislature?
The legislature has a subservient role to the executive
Politicians use their power to reward themselves, their friends, and donors
The ruling party ensures that the opposition remains a minority
What happened in Latin America as a result of Import-Substitution-Industrialization?
Debt crisis, The Washington Consensus, Neoliberal economic policy
Traditional Values: elitism, authoritarianism,
corporatism, clientelism, patrimonialism
Liberal Values: Education, democracy, civil rights, civil liberties
Social-democratic / Marxist Values: Redistribution of
wealth, property rights
Describe 3 challenges that the new Latin American states faced after gaining independence.
Economic Decline
Viceroyalty fragmentation
Class inequality
Low degree of democracy
International isolation
What are three common features of autonomous agencies?
Agents of centralization
High degree of state control and ownership of government corporations
Vast implications of who controls the central government
Describe 3 weaknesses of Import-Substitution Industrialization.
Expensive to produce goods, yet poor quality
Economies dependent on exporting primary goods
Manufactured goods cannot compete in the international market
Growing unemployment
Growth of the informal sector
Rising prices of manufactured goods, unaffordable for domestic consumption