UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES DILIMAN

PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES IN THE ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT OF LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES

A TERM PAPER SUBMITTED TO

DR. MELITON B. JUANICO

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS OF

GEOGRAPHY 157
(GEOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICA)

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY

BY

BERNARDINO DELA CRUZ, JR.

MICHELLE DELOS SANTOS
JOSE MARI ESPARES
JEROME GUINTO
KIARRA ANGELI HURTADO
JIANNE MAE PAMITUAN
AUGUSTO SALVADOR

DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY

OCTOBER 2018
 ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this research is to identify the different physical and cultural
influences on Latin America and examine how these become hindrances or assets to the
economic development of the region. The researchers used primary data collected through
interviews with people from different disciplines, and secondary data collected from the
internet and printed books. The key findings of this paper state that (1) the region’s
location in the tropics provides a rich biodiversity which unfortunately is put at high risk
because of its proximity to the Pacific Ring of Fire and; (2) the region’s Spanish and
Portuguese roots play an important role in characterizing the culture of Latin America
which often undermines the prevailing indigenous groups in most South American
countries like Bolivia and Peru. Regardless, the region still possesses a great deal of
potential which when managed properly, can bring Latin America’s economy at its peak.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………ii

CHAPTER
1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………...1
2. PHYSICAL
INFLUENCES…………………………………………………………………...10
3. CULTURAL
INFLUENCES…………………………………………………………………...16
4. OVERCOMING PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL CONSTRAINTS TO
DEVELOPMENT………………………………………………………………..21
5. EMPLOYING PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL POTENTIALS TO
ACCELERATE
DEVELOPMENT………………………………………………………………..29
6. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS,
RECOMMENDATIONS………………………………………………………...34

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ANNEX
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Political Map of Latin America………………………………………………....2

Figure 2. 2019 GDP Growth for Latin America and Notable Countries……………….....8
Figure 3. Geographical Zones of Southern America…………………………………….12
Figure 4. Shifting Religious Identity in South America………………………………....18
Figure 5. Map of Eutrophic and Hypoxic Coastal Areas in South America…………….24

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Top 5 Most Populous Countries in Latin America………………………………4

Table 2. Top 5 Most Populous Cities in Latin America (as of July 2015)………………..4
Table 3. Population Growth rate in Latin America from 1990 to Present………………...5
Table 4. Top Countries in Latin America in terms of GDP per capita (as of 2018)............6
Table 5. Characteristics of Latin American Geographical Zones………………………..13
Table 6. Average Crop Yields in Tropical vs. Nontropical
Latin American Countries, 1998………………………………………………....14
Table 7. Total and Indigenous Population in South America in 2015……………….…..27
 1

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

Every time the region of Latin America is mentioned, an individual might think
about it as a place where rainforests are extremely widespread and abundant. The famous
Amazon River might come into mind too. Though there are truths to that, it is essential to
recognize that there are a lot more interesting things to discover in this region, as it is
characterized by an immense physical profile and a very rich culture brought about by its
history. Latin America was the home of remarkable civilizations that were established in
the early history of the world such as the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas. 1 Indeed, these
civilizations are noteworthy because of their capabilities for innovation and technology
despite the numerous challenges they faced. As a part of the “New World”, this region is
characterized by the influence of European colonizers as they conquered the areas of Latin
America during the period of exploration. Portugal and Spain were two of the countries
that extended their influence to majority of the region at the peak of mercantilism. 2
Because of this, a mixed cultural heritage can be observed in its people and their practices
today.

Physical Geography of Latin America

The region consists of 39 countries (see Fig.1). Mexico is located at the

northernmost part and Chile at the southernmost part.3 Aside from the mainland of South
America, the region is also comprised of the Central America and the Greater and Lesser
Antilles that encompasses the different island countries such as Cuba, Jamaica and the

1
"South America: Human Geography," National Geographic Society. Accessed October 15, 2018.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/south-america-human-geography/.
2
Ibid.
3
Joseph J. Hobbs, World Regional Geography. 6th ed. Belmont, CA: Brookes/Cole, 2009.
 2

islands of Barbados, U.S. Virgin Islands, etc.4 The region protrudes a vast extent of 85° in
latitude and 82° in longitude.5

Figure 1. Political Map of Latin America6

In terms of the geologic aspect, the plate tectonic features include the East Pacific
Ridge that subducts against the western coast of Latin America, and the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge that exerts tectonic pressure on its eastern side. The former is the reason for the
presence of colossal mountains of the Andes. The Andes is the region’s primary mountain

4
Ibid.
5
Ibid.
6
Ibid.
 3

range and it is the world’s longest which extends up to 8,850 km from the northernmost
coasts to the southern tip of South America.7

Bodies of Water

The region have the Pacific Ocean to its west and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. In
the northern part of the region, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea is located. The
Amazon Basin is one of the largest watershed in the world as its extent measures up to
7,000,000 km2 and this covers much of the northern South America. Its waters are sourced
from the tributaries of the Andes mountain range.8 This river basin is the source of life for
the Amazon rainforest which is considered as the “Lungs of the World”. The diversity and
resources of the Amazon rainforest is outstanding, and it provided much of the livelihood
for the people living there.

Another large river basin that exists in the region is the Paraná River Basin which
covers almost 2,800,000 km2 and some areas of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Northern
Argentina are included to it.9 This basin supplies water to the Pampas which grants
fertility to the soil for agricultural and cultivation purposes.

Demography of Latin America

The region’s total land area sums up to 20.5 million km2 and that expanse is home
to different highly urbanized cities in the region.10 Tables 1 and 2 show the top five most
populous countries and cities, respectively in Latin America and their corresponding
population.11

7
"South America: Physical Geography," National Geographic Society. October 09, 2012. Accessed
October 16, 2018. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/south-america-physical-geography/
8
Ibid.
9
Hobbs, World Regional Geography.
10
Ibid.
11
“Latin America Population 2018,” World Population Review. Accessed October 15, 2018.
http://worldpopulationreview.com/continents/latin-america-population/.
 4

Table 1. Top 5 Most Populous Countries in Latin America12

City Population

Mexico City, Mexico 20, 976, 700

Sau Paulo, Brazil 20, 847, 500

Buenos Aires, Argentina 13, 381, 800

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 12, 460, 200

Lima, Peru 10, 674, 100

Table 2. Top 5 Most Populous Cities in Latin America (as of July 2015) 13

City Population

Mexico City, Mexico 20, 976, 700

Sau Paulo, Brazil 20, 847, 500

Buenos Aires, Argentina 13, 381, 800

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 12, 460, 200

Lima, Peru 10, 674, 100

As seen in Table 1, Brazil has the highest population among all the countries in
Latin America. Meanwhile, Mexico City records the highest number of populations
among all the cities in the region. If the total land area of Brazil is considered, it can be
inferred that its massive land area contributed much to its population. The land area of
Brazil is 8,511,965 km2 , the largest in Latin America.14 That has much to say about it
being the most populous country in the region. Mexico ranks second in terms of

12
Ibid.
13
Ibid
14
"Brazil," National Geographic Kids. Accessed October 15, 2018.
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/brazil/#brazil-soccer.jpg.
 5

population despite the fact that it ranked only third in terms of land area, and Argentina
ranks fourth in terms of population despite it being the second country with the largest
land area.15 Given these figures, it is clear that the having a wide land area does not always
translate to having a high population because there are numerous other factors that must
be considered.

As of 2018, the population of Latin America is 652,012,001 and this comprises

8.69% of the total world population. Moreover, its population growth rate is 0.99% and it
has a population density of 33.96 person/square kilometer.16 Table 3 shows the declining
population growth rate of Latin America from the last few years.

Table 3. Population Growth rate in Latin America From 1990 to Present 17

Year Population Growth Rate

1990 1.87%

1995 1.69%

2000 1.45%

2005 1.28%

2010 1.21%

2015 1.08%

2018 0.99%

It is evident that the population growth rate is decreasing for almost three decades.
The population of Latin America is increasing through the years but in a declining rate.
This trend in the population of the region is seen as something greatly connected to the
policies and economic situation in the countries involved. The people of Latin America

15
World Population Review, “Latin America Population 2018.”
16
Ibid.
17
Ibid.
 6

have begun to leave their countries for a number of reasons and one of these are the recent
economic crises that happened.18 Poverty and unemployment are some of the aspects that
are looked at regarding this matter and different policies have been used to address the
problem and alleviate the situation of the people. Thus, estimates for the population
growth rate for the next years have also declined although it is yet to be proven and
confirmed as the time comes.

Economy of Latin America

Given the fact that urbanization is also existent in Latin America, it is expected to
have conditions that can boost the economy of its countries. These conditions involve the
use of natural resources such as agriculture, fisheries, and mining. The countries in the
region are also known to have trade agreements with other developed countries such as the
United States and Canada. There are some countries in Latin America that are considered
as exemplary in terms of economic performance. Since the 1990’s, countries started to
adopt the free-market system that allowed for the increase in the overall performance of
their respective economies.19 Table 4 shows the top 11 richest countries in Latin America
in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita.20

Table 4. Top Countries in Latin America in terms of GDP per capita (as of 2018)21

Rank Country GDP per capita

1 Chile $24. 588

2 Uruguay $22, 445

3 Argentina $19, 486

18
Ibid.
19
Oishimaya Sen Nag, "The Richest Countries In South America." Word Atlas, June 29, 2018.
Accessed October 15, 2018. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-richest-countries-in-south-
america.html.
20
Ibid
21
Ibid.
 7

4 Brazil $15, 164

5 Colombia $13, 579

6 Suriname $13, 403

7 Peru $12, 994

8 Venezuela $12, 035

9 Ecuador $9, 882

10 Paraguay $9, 088

11 Guyana $8, 173

Notably, Chile is the leading country in terms of the GDP per capita. According to
the Word Atlas, the largest economic production sectors in the country are primarily
mining, business and services, wholesale, retail trade, and manufacturing.22 Situated along
the Andes Mountains, it is to be expected that its mining sector will greatly contribute to
the country’s overall economic performance. In addition, their location which makes the
resources of the Pacific Ocean easily accessible, provides more economic opportunities.

The Inter-American Development Bank proposes that the economies of the

countries in Latin America will grow 2.2% in GDP this year and up to 2.6% growth for
the period of 2018-2020.23 There will be growth except for Venezuela because its
economy is currently struggling with very high general price levels. Despite this, it is
believed that the aggregate condition of the Latin American economies during this year
until the next year is going to experience growth. Figure 2 illustrates the GDP growth for
Latin America and certain countries.

22
Ibid.
23
Mimi Whitefield, "Economies in the Americas Are Poised to Expand but Plenty of Uncertainties
Could Still Slow Growth." Miami Herald, May 14, 2018. Accessed October 15, 2018.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/international-business/article209818599.html.
 8

Figure 2. 2019 GDP Growth for Latin America and Notable Countries24

Despite the outlier trend set by the economy of Venezuela, the growth rate of the
Latin American economies is still positive. The countries in the region is expected to face
some economic challenges as NAFTA and the economic war between USA and China
will affect the trades and exchange between economies.

24
"Economic Snapshot for Latin America." Focus Economics. October 10, 2018. Accessed
October 15, 2018.
 9

Objectives and Assumptions

Given the background study provided in this section, this paper aims to identify the
physical and cultural influences in Latin America. It will also examine how the region
overcomes the physical and cultural constraints to development. Lastly, it will investigate
how Latin America employs its physical and cultural potentials to accelerate development
in the region.

In doing this study, the researchers have in mind the following assumptions; 1) the
region has an inherent capability to attain economic development despite the various
physical and cultural limitations and; 2) in achieving this development, different strategies
are implemented by the countries in Latin America owing to the fact that each has a
distinct cultural and physical attribute. These assumptions are yet to be accepted or
rejected as this paper will synthesize other related literature and critically analyze the data
collected.
 10

CHAPTER 2
PHYSICAL INFLUENCES

Latin America has a climate ranging from hot and humid (in the Amazon River
Basin) to dry and arid-like conditions in some parts of Mexico and Chile. The region’s
prevalent vegetation types are tropical rainforest and grasslands, which covers a large area
of Latin America. Climatic conditions or “climatic energy,” according to Huntington is
deterministic of human accomplishments. He noted that civilizations thrive in ideal
environments as determined by the climatic conditions, preferably a temperate one. The
ideal condition for humans to live in is in a region free from experiencing extreme cold or
heat with rainfall not heavily concentrated on certain months but rather spread throughout
the year.25

This approach was called environmental determinism; the theory that physical
factors of the environment solely determines patterns of human culture of development.
However, this theory in geography was used to justify ideas of Social Darwinism,
culminating with the Holocaust of World War II. The implications of environmental
determinism were criticized and discarded as the central theory of geography. Paul Vidal
de la Blanche proposed a new theory of environmental possibilism which states that the
environment sets limitations for cultural development but does not completely define
culture.26 Location, climate, and terrain do make a difference in economic development
but it is now recognized that these are not the only significant factors affecting
development and that these factors are non-binding.27 Understanding the effects of

25
Maeryck Justinne Bernardo (GIS Analyst, RASA Surveying and Realty), interviewed by Kiarra
Hurtado and Michelle Delos Santos, Quezon City, September 2018.
26
Amanda Britney, "Environmental Determinism." ThoughtCo. Accessed October 15, 2018.
https://www.thoughtco.com/environmental-determinism-and-geography-1434499
27
John Gallup, Alejandro Gaviria, and Eduardo Lora. Is Geography Destiny? Lessons from Latin
America, August 2003. New York: Inter-American Development Bank, 1-4.
 11

geography will help the nations of Latin America develop better economic policies, suited
to their own respective geographic predicaments.28

Geographical Regions of Latin America

Latin America is mostly located in the tropics. However, it is a huge region and
there are various differences in the geography and climate of the region itself. This
variation also produces different outcomes of economic development and settlement. Latin
America is divided into four ecozones: tropical, dry, temperate, and high elevations. Other
geographic factors also have strong impacts on the region’s economic activities. Coastal
regions are different from the inland regions; northern Mexico is different due to its
proximity to the US, and its access to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The overlap of
these creates the basis for seven geographical zones for the region (see fig.3): border;
highlands; lowland Pacific; lowland Atlantic; Amazon; highland and dry Southern Cone;
and temperate Southern Cone.29

28
Ibid., 7-8
29
Ibid., 8-12
 12

Figure 3. Geographical Zones of Southern America 30

The border zone to the north is dry and arid and relatively sparsely populated. It’s
GDP per capita however, is one of the largest (see Table 5). This is due to its close
proximity to the US market. The two regions of the Southern Cone are also sparsely
populated but have a high GDP per capita. This is due to its location in the temperate
zones of Latin America, where agricultural product is higher. The tropical highlights are
where most of the population resides despite different access to the coast. 31

30
Ibid.
31
Gallup et al., Is Geography Destiny? 8-12
 13

Table 5. Characteristics of Latin American Geographical Zones32

Geographical Zone GDP per Population GDP density Area Population

capita Density ($1,000/km2) (millions within
(1995$) (persons/km2) of km2 100km of
coast (%)

Tropical Highlands 4, 343 52 226 1.9 11

Lowland Pacific 4, 950 61 302 0.8 95

Coast

Lowland Atlantic 5, 216 46 240 2.2 83

Coast

Amazon Temperate 5, 246 6 31 9 1

Southern Cone 7, 552 35 264 3.2 31

Mexican-US border 7, 861 17 134 1.1 30

Highlands and dry 9, 712 7 68 2.2 16

Southern Cone

Agricultural yields in the tropics and in temperate zones vary considerably. Not
only is the climate different but also the soil types. The tremendous differences in the
natural plant and animal communities of the tropics and the temperate zones suggest that
the productivity of the narrow range of two plants used for agricultural staples would also
be systematically different between the two regions. 33

This divide between agricultural output in the tropics versus that in temperate can
be seen within Latin America itself, with the temperate countries producing more
agricultural output (see Table 6). Agriculture also depends on physical capital like land.
Unlike in factories where human capital is more important and thus spread out, control of

32
Ibid.
33
John Gallup, Geography and Socioeconomic Development in Latin America and Caribbean,
2009.
 14

physical capital will most likely be concentrated in a few people, thus making income
inequality high.34

Table 6. Average Crop Yields in Tropical vs Nontropical Latin American Countries, 1998 35

Crop Tropical Nontropical Tropical/ Statistically

yield (mt/ha)a yield nontropical significant
(mt/ha)a differenceb

Cereals (milled rice 22.9 33.8 0.68 x

equivalent)

Maize 24.6 51.4 0.48 x

Root crops (potato, 122.0 218.0 0.56 x

cassava, etc)

Sugar canec 700.0 632.0 1.11

Pulses (beans and peas) 7.5 10.4 0.72 x

Oilcrops 6.2 5.3 1.17

Vegetables 143.0 161.0 0.89

Fruits 135.0 142.0 0.95

Bananas 166.0 214.0 0.78

Coffee 7.1 6.1 1.16

Observationsd 33 7
a. Metric tons per hectare
b. x=p value less than 5 percent for t test that mean tropical yield is different from mean nontropical yield
c. Data are for 1996
d. This is the number of countries with data for cereals. Not all countries produce root crops

Health conditions also aggravate the economic inequality of the tropics. The
vulnerability of a population to disease determines their economic output as a healthier

34
Bernardo S. Blum, “The Curse of Geography: A View about the Processes of Wealth Creation
and Distribution” Cuadernos de Economia 40, no. 121 (December 2003).
https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0717-68212003012100006 (accessed October
14, 2018)
35
Ibid.
 15

population is more productive. Geography affects health conditions in many channels but
is often exacerbated in vector, especially mosquito borne disease. Malaria and yellow
fever are two of the most known mosquitos borne diseases that are carried by mosquitoes.
Naturally, mosquitoes prefer a warm and wet environment making them more abundant in
the tropics.

The lack of seasons in the tropics makes it easier for mosquitoes to breed as they
have longer and more stable mating seasons.36 Institutions and policies also played a role.
Colonizers installed better institutions that can deal with problems better in those colonies
that have the same climate as theirs, and where they would like to have vacation.

Economic development of countries is also set back by natural disasters that hit
them. The western coast of Latin America is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it
vulnerable to large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Caribbean experiences the
seismic and volcanic events, and hurricanes from the Atlantic Sea. This can be seen in the
recent 2010 Haiti earthquake and Hurricane Maria that battered through Puerto Rico a few
months back. Risk is magnified through the continued urbanization of Latin America.
Rapid urbanization has amplified the adverse consequences of natural disasters on
economic activity and populations. By nature, cities are more physically and economically
vulnerable to natural disasters because of the concentration of people and assets and the
high degree of dependence of the inhabitants on urban networks of energy, water, and
food distribution. 37

Today’s economy is mostly dependent on exports and manufacturing. The

prominent economic model of today emphasized manufacturing of goods to sell in the
world market. Access to these world markets will largely depend on sea-based
transportation as this is still the cheapest way to ship large amount of goods from one
place to another. This is why landlocked countries such as Bolivia are at a disadvantage.
36
Gallup, Gaviria, Lora. Is Geography Destiny? 37-39
37
Ibid., 43-44
 16

CHAPTER 3
CULTURAL INFLUENCES

The culture of Latin America is the formal and informal expression of the people
of the region which includes literature, music, folk art, dance, religion, and customary
practices. Latin America consists of various groups of indigenous people and cultures
which distinguish it from English-speaking America.38

Latin America is mainly known as a region where Latin-based languages are

spoken such as Spanish and Portuguese. This was because their ethnic people were
colonized by countries like Spain and Portugal. An example is Central America where
majority of the groups found in this region speaks Spanish. Moreover, a huge chunk of its
population consists of Amerindians where their culture was untouched. Amidst the
colonization, this region was able to sustain its native culture as proven by the native
languages that are still widely spoken up to this day. 39

Thriving indigenous cultures were found when European settlers which were
mainly Spanish, and the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century. These settlers encountered
the hunter-gatherer tribes of the deep forests like the Incas in the South America and the
Aztecs in Mexico. A significant number of indigenous people survived the colonization
and remains an important part of the culture of the region today. Meanwhile, globalization
still continues in the region. Industrialization, urbanization and modernization became
more eminent in the region which contributed mostly to why globalization emerged in the
region which further permeated even indigenous communities.40

38
“What Is Latin America? Geography, Language and Culture Explained,” Owlcation. Accessed
October 15, 2018. https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/What-is-Latin-America.
39
“Cultural Geography and Latin America,” Study.com. Accessed October 15, 2018.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/cultural-geography-of-latin-america.html.
40
Victor Armonyand Paul Lany, "Latin American Culture and the Challenge of Globalization."
Ciencia Ergo Sum, January 1, 1999. Accessed October 15, 2018.
http://www.redalyc.org/html/104/10401603/.
 17

Religion

The dispersion of religion in Latin America also greatly contributed to their culture
today. Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, both brought by European colonizers, are
the most widespread religions in the whole region. Majority of the population are
Christians which comprise 90% of the population, most of which are Roman Catholics.
The Protestant population also increases especially in Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, and
Puerto Rico, even though they were defecting to this religion for decades.41

For many years, Catholicism has been the dominant religion in Latin America.
This religion was ruled by the Spanish and Portuguese colonizers since the 1500s. The
nations incorporated their church into their government decisions and policies such as land
distribution and conversion, and education of their people. Protestantism on the other
hand, roots as far back as the early 1900’s when the first Presbyterian and Methodist
missionaries from the United States came to spread their domination of Christianity. This
developed an option for Brazilians with their interest in faith. Two denominations of
Protestant Christianity emerged which highlights on spiritual gifts of speaking in tongues,
healing, and prophecy. Their followers followed these beliefs among any other
characteristics. 42

The population of Christians decreased when people started joining the Protestant
congregations specifically the Pentecostal and Neo-Pentecostal churches. According to a
major new Pew Research Center survey that examined religious affiliations, among the
beliefs and practices in 18 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, Roman
Catholicism has declined throughout the region. Their research suggests that the reason for
the church's experienced net loss is due to religious switching, where a significant number

41
“Is Latin America Still Catholic?” CatholicHerald, January 25, 2018. Accessed October 16,
2018. http://catholicherald.co.uk/issues/january-26th-2018/is-latin-america-still-catholic/.
42
"The Growing Protestant Presence in Latin America," Panoramas, January 16, 2017. Accessed
October 16, 2018. https://www.panoramas.pitt.edu/art-and-culture/growing-protestant-presence-latin-
america.
 18

of the population joined evangelical Protestant churches or chose to become an agnostic or

an atheist. In the early years, the population of the Protestants was only 1% while 94%
were Catholic. 43 Figure 4 shows how the adult population religious affiliation has
changed over the whole region.

Figure 4. Shifting Religious Identity in South America44

Ethics

Ethical questions in Latin America were raised after the expansions of the Iberian
conquest in the fifteenth and sixteenth century. The expansion started a conflict between
the indigenous people and the Spaniards where the nature of fundamental moral rights are
being changed. The Amerindians and the Spaniards had different goals. The Amerindians
focused on human or natural rights to life, liberty and property. while the Spaniards gave

43
Wormald, Benjamin. "Religion in Latin America | Pew Research Center," Pew Research Center's
Religion & Public Life Project, September 07, 2017. Accessed October 16, 2018.
http://www.pewforum.org/2014/11/13/religion-in-latin-america/.
44
Ibid.
 19

emphasis to their social rights to wage war, trade, travel, and preach their religion to what
they believe as the "New World". They made sure that these were their topmost objectives
with their expansion in Latin America. Because the Amerindians fit the description of
Aristotle where they are considered as natural slaves, they are not able to govern
themselves or to have human rights. Thus, the Amerindians were invoked some of their
practices such as idolatry, cannibalism, and human sacrifices. The Spaniards believed that
they can solve the insufficient rationality that the Amerindians exhibited. The Latin
Americans believed that having their own identity will help them establish who they really
are as people. This can define who they really are culturally, ethnically and racially.
Having this belief, they raised distinctive ethical issues in order to fight for their collective
identity and not just follow what the colonizers will give them. 45

South Americans had an obsession to stop growth and development but to accept
plurality of valuations. Because of this, several positions of South American social and
political activists had been made, most of which focused on the defense of nature and
social justice that seeks a rupture with the idea of development in all its expressions.
Among all the concepts used in South America, the concept of Buen Vivir emerged. Buen
Vivir means a new era of great social change where the belief that true wellbeing or the
good life is only possible as a part of a community. It shows that a good community must
be placed on top of an individual and is not a development centered approach. Buen Vivir
is a non-essentialist position where growth is not only rejected as an end itself but also
disregards the idea of development. It originated from Bolivia and Ecuador where this
concept is being believed strongly. Buen Vivir seeks linearity of a Western history where
plurality of valuations is accepted, and it recognizes the value of intrinsic nature as well.
The perspectives of Buen Vivir are very different from the perspective of modernity. It
encourages the duality between society and environment where different relations are
dissolved. It is comprehensible that this concept will force progressive administration to
start change away from contemporary development by reducing extractives from the

45
Susana Nuccetelli, "Latin American Ethics," International Encyclopedia of Ethics, 2013.
doi:10.1002/9781444367072.wbiee648.
 20

environment. The progressive government's support would now base their decisions in
aligning themselves with pro-growth developmentalism. The concept was supported by
many intellectuals where they were able to make arguments to explain the concept fully.
The ways out of the crisis being experienced in South America cannot come from the
political right, it must come from the left where its commitments to justice are being taken
into account. A dilemma in this perspective is that the positions of the left can be
considered as insufficient because alternatives to development cannot solely focus on
dismantling the exchange of values in order to strengthen the use of it. This would further
generate different kinds of limitations that may render the permanence of growth and
development possible. 46

The family plays a central role when it comes to compensation and recognition.
The concept of Buen Vivir cushions the quality of family life because it promoted the
recurrence of economic crises. Like in Mexico where having work was considered as an
obligation where it can be a way so that the important things in life can be enjoyed. As a
solution, it is recommended to put workers and their families at the priority of the benefits
that a company can provide. It is also recommended that the Human Resources staff
would consider each worker's basic needs to be able to assure success. Additionally, the
efficiency of the human resource systems can be improved by ensuring job stability,
stronger relations between the labor and management and maintaining the company's
sustainable development. 47

46
Eduardo Gudynas,"Value, Growth, Development: South American Lessons for a New
Ecopolitics," Capitalism Nature Socialism, 2017, 1-10. doi:10.1080/10455752.2017.1372502.
47
"How Culture Affects Work Practices in Latin America." Knowledge@Wharton, Jan 26, 2005.
Accessed October 16, 2018. http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/how-culture-affects-work-
practices-in-latin-america/.
 21

CHAPTER 4
OVERCOMING PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL CONSTRAINTS TO
DEVELOPMENT

Physical Constraints

Latin America offers a diverse set of physical structures from rainforests, mountain
ranges, and deserts to waterfalls, rivers, and lakes scattered across the continent. Although
there is a wide selection of resources to acquire from, Latin America has suffered from a
slow economic growth. Studies have suggested that countries in tropical regions, including
the Latin America, tend to grow more slowly than countries with fewer resources located
in more temperate climates.48 We can attribute this to the very unequal land distribution of
usable lands across every country in the continent.49 Despite this, Latin American
countries fare quite well in terms of GDP in comparison to other countries in the tropics,
according to an alumna of the Department of Geography. 50

However, Latin America also presents itself with its own set of environmental
problems. Levels of urbanization and motor vehicle use are higher compared to most
developing regions throughout the world. Almost ¾ of the residents in Latin America live
in urban areas. An example of this is Mexico’s population numbers almost 100 million,
most of which live in urban areas that faces greater exposure to air pollution.51 Motor
vehicles emit more pollutants in Latin America than they do in the US whose Clean Air
Act has significantly improved air quality. The Latin America also faces the problem of
water pollution. The situation in Latin America and the Caribbean is not as bad as in

48
Michael Gavin and Ricardo Hausmann, “Nature, Development and Distribution in Latin
America: Evidence on the Role of Geography, Climate and Natural Resources,” SSRN Electronic Journal
(2000). doi:10.2139/ssrn.252313.
49
Anastasia Moloney, “Latin America Has Most Unequal Land Distribution, Colombia Fares
Worst: Charity,” December 1 2016. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latam-landrights/latin-america-has-
most-unequal-land-distribution-colombia-fares-worst-charity-idUSKBN13P2NX.
50
Maeryck Justinne Bernardo (GIS Analyst, RASA Surveying and Realty), interviewed by Kiarra
Hurtado and Michelle Delos Santos, Quezon City, September 2018.
51
“ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN LATIN AMERICA,” 2018. Accessed October 14.
http://bio.sunyorange.edu/updated2/ideas/2/2/latin_amer/latin_polut.htm.
 22

Africa or India. But the United Nations reports that almost 36 million people are living
without clean water which is more than all people in Bogota, Lima, Buenos Aires, and
Mexico City combined.52 For Latin America, this is not a problem of not having enough
water to go around as the region presents some of the most beautiful water resources in the
world. The problem mostly stems itself on poverty which from the words of Manuel
Rodriguez Becerra, former Minister of Environment of Colombia,53 “It is the poorest of
the poor who don’t have access to clean drinking water”. The problem in the region is a
lot more severe than what United Nations (UN) data suggests because what UN count as
“lack of access to clean, safe drinking water” is the lack of water piped into people’s
homes. In Latin America especially, tap water is not safe to drink due to water pipes
mostly corroding and sewage water mixes in with the drinking water.54

Latin America also faces the problem of soil erosion. Soil is an essential part of
ecological sustainability and food security not just in Latin America but everywhere. With
their unique topography, Latin America is faced with a much bigger problem. The Andes
Mountain Range and the Amazon Rainforest are huge vehicles for soil degradation; the
Andes Mountain range due to its steep slopes and erratic weather that easily causes
landslides and the Amazon Rainforest experiencing deforestation due to a slash-and-burn
agriculture. More than 68% of the soil in South America is currently affected by erosion:
100 million hectares of land have been degraded as a result of deforestation and 70 million
have been overgrazed.55 An especially serious case is Bolivia, where six million people, or
77 percent of the population, live in degraded areas. This issue is not only present in South
America but in Central America as well. According to the 2014 Soil Atlas of Latin
America and the Caribbean produced by the EUROCLIMA program, erosion affects 75
percent of the land in El Salvador, while in Guatemala 12 percent is threatened by

52
Joseph B. Treaster, “First Take: The Struggle for Clean Drinking Water in Latin America,”
ReVista, 2013. https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/book/struggle-clean-drinking-water-latin-america.
53
Ibid.
54
Ibid.
55
Orlando Milesi and Marianela Jarroud, “Soil Degradation Threatens Nutrition in Latin America,”
Soil Degradation Threatens Nutrition in Latin America | Inter Press Service. June 15, 2016.
http://www.ipsnews.net/2016/06/soil-degradation-threatens-nutrition-in-latin-america/.
 23

desertification.56 This is especially concerning due to the fact that 95% of the food we
consume come from soils and about 33% of the world is living in degraded soils. There
have been some ways in mitigating what is probably one of the Achilles heels in Latin
American Agriculture. The concept of sustainable agriculture is presented here. 57 It aims
to prevent deforestation by making production systems more sustainable like the increased
use of silvo-pastoral systems and planting leguminous trees in Colombia. The use of
Geographic Positioning Systems has also been integrated in precision agriculture by using
digital maps, crop and soil fertility growth models, and pest management systems. There
have also been efforts to reduce post-harvest losses through improvements in logistics and
infrastructures because an estimated 7% of the food produce end up being consumed by
pests in Latin America. Maintenance of an open trade system and the management of
water resources have also been cited as key in sustainable agriculture as it helps promote
the region in selling agricultural products more efficiently and be able to handle a limited
water resource for more years to come. Finally, the most integral part of it all is the
development of more ecological inputs and industries. Products include: organic
fertilizers, microbial organisms, biochar, organic pesticides, and predator insects used to
mitigate pests. All of these in turn will be able to help solve soil degradation by ensuring
that lands used for agriculture will be exhausted at maximum efficiency. 58
Latin America also faces the problem of Eutrophication. Eutrophication (which
literally means “well nourished”) is a type of pollution which adds nutrients to water
which were short in supply.59 This occurs when fertilizers (containing nitrates and
phosphates) enter the water through agricultural runoff and when the water is polluted
with detergents. This is a huge problem because as the amount of oxygen within the water

56
Ibid.
57
John Nash, “The Greening (?) of Agriculture in Latin America.” Latin America & Caribbean:
Opportunities for All, June 25, 2012. http://blogs.worldbank.org/latinamerica/the-greening-of-agriculture-in-
latin-america.
58
Ibid.
59
“Coastal Eutrophic and Hypoxic Areas of South America,” Coastal Eutrophic and Hypoxic
Areas of South America | World Resources Institute, March 2008.
https://www.wri.org/resources/maps/coastal-eutrophic-and-hypoxic-areas-south-america.
 24

drops, fewer and fewer fish can live in the water.60 What’s alarming is that only about
14% of the wastewater produced through Eutrophication are being treated in the Latin
America. Figure 5 shows the concentration of Eutrophication and Hypoxia (another
oxygen deficiency in the water) in major places in Latin America.

Fig. 5. Map of Eutrophic and Hypoxic Coastal Areas in South America61

The map has identified at least 25 places of concentrated cases of Eutrophication

and Hypoxia, most of which are found in the coastal areas of Brazil, Peru and Chile.
Eutrophication could lead to fish kills, an alarming phenomenon that causes aerobic
bacteria to propagate within the water which can potentially lead to extinction of some

60
Ibid.
61
Ibid.
 25

fish species native to the region and it also causes a foul smell from the decomposed
sewage.62

There have been steps in mitigating the extensive water problem. For example, an
enormous progress has been made in the last two decades in addressing the problem of
water access in Latin America. With World Bank’s effort, 70 million more people in the
urban centers of the region have been served by the end of the millennium.63 But in
comparison to the rest of the world, access to water services is still highly unequal. A key
challenge here for Latin America is to further improve the way it allocates its scarce water
resource. While the region has already met the Millennium Development Goal target for
water, issues of rural sanitation still need to be addressed. Access to water services has
been concentrated towards urban centers and with a high concentration of waste waters
being produced, it may lead to a rapid pollution of coastal areas and rivers which not only
exposes residential population to health hazards but also causes lost in potential tourism
and real estate revenues.64

We can see that Latin America, although diverse in nature, also experiences major
physical constraints in development. The biggest problem among the physical constraints
is the lack of access to sanitary water. Despite being the one of the regions with the
highest access to some of the most beautiful water resources, Latin America suffers from
the problem of inequality in which majority of the people with access are people with
higher economic standing and/or live in urban centers. This is highly problematic but there
have been steps in trying to solve some of these problems and what Latin America needs
is a clear plan on what the government has to do in order to address such inequalities.

62
“Causes and Effects of Eutrophication,” Earth Eclipse, July 1, 2016.
https://www.eartheclipse.com/ecosystem/causes-and-effects-of-eutrophication.html.
63
“World Water Day: Latin America Leads in Water Management but Inequalities in Access
Remain,” World Bank, March 22, 2013. http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/03/22/world-
water-day-latin-america-achievements-challenges.
64
Ibid.
 26

Cultural Constraints

Latin America is a region characterized by its multiethnic, plurinational, and

multilingual populations that reveal its extensive miscegenation. Its cultural diversity
results from the conflictive colonial subordination of the native populations to European
states as well as the transatlantic African slave trade beginning in the 15th century to the
end of the 19th century.65 It is however hard to qualify Latin America as a region without
tracing its roots to the Spanish colonizers despite the existence of as much as 50 to 60
indigenous communities before them.66 We can see here that with a Spanish colonization
as its past, Roman Catholicism has already predominant throughout the whole region but
indigenous communities have thrived way before the Spaniards came. What prevented the
indigenous communities from further dispersing during the 19th century was the arrival of
the European colonizers with which they carried with them viruses and bacteria against
which the Indigenous people lacked immunity from. This makes the estimation of Latin
American indigenous communities hard to quantify since the remaining communities have
either fled to the Amazon Rainforest or the southern tip of South America. Currently,
Bolivia houses most of the indigenous population in the region as seen in table 7.

65
Maria Amparo Cruz-Saco, “Indigenous Communities and Social Inclusion in Latin America,”
May 15, 2018. https://www.un.org/development/desa/family/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2018/05/2-1.pdf.
66
Mendoza, Amado Anthony III G. (Instructor, teaches Ugnayang Pampanitikan ng Pilipinas at
Amerika Latina), interviewed by Kiarra Hurtado and Michelle Delos Santos, Quezon City, September 2018.
 27

Table 7. Total and Indigenous Population in South America in 201567

Country Total indigenous Indigenous people in total

population (thousands) population (in%)

1 Bolivia 6,200.0 62.2

2 Guatemala 5,900.0 41.0

3 Peru 7,500.0 24.0

4 Mexico 17,000.0 15.1

5 Panama 420.0 12.3

6 Chile 1,800.0 11.0

7 Nicaragua 520.0 8.9

8 Ecuador 1,000.0 7.0

9 Honduras 537.0 7.0

10 Colombia 1,600.0 3.4

11 Venezuela 725.0 2.7

12 Uruguay 77.0 2.4

13 Argentina 955.0 2.4

14 Costa Rica 105.0 2.4

15 Paraguay 113.0 1.8

16 Brazil 900.0 0.5

17 El Salvador 14.5 0.2

Total 45, 366.5 7.2

It can be observed here that the vast majority of the indigenous population in the
countries represent the rural sectors except for Uruguay. 68 Poverty rates in Latin America
have decreased over the decades but indigenous poverty rates remain at large. Although

67
Cruz-Saco, “Indigenous Communities and Social Inclusion in Latin America”
68
Ibid.
 28

Latin America accounts for 8% of the world’s indigenous poverty rates which is small
compared to the leading South Asia at 32%, it is because only a small portion of the Latin
American indigenous communities live in the urban areas.69 This can be attributed to years
of exploitation and usurpation of land by the colonizers which force the communities to
escape to the rainforest. Indigenous communities are also mostly located on rural areas
where there is an inadequate supply of health care, education, and public services. Access
to land is top priority for indigenous people although the governments have given access
to foreign bodies which continually usurped the indigenous people of these rights, without
consulting them.70 There should be a give-and-take relationship between both parties in
which the indigenous people must assert their rights to their properties and the government
respecting those rights. It is imperative for indigenous people’s representatives to increase
their political power in legislative bodies, passing laws, and attaining the ability to exert
self-governance.

69
Gillette Hall, “Poverty and Exclusion among Indigenous Peoples: The Global Evidence,” Voices.
September 19, 2016. https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/poverty-and-exclusion-among-indigenous-peoples-
global-evidence.
70
Cruz-Saco, “Indigenous Communities and Social Inclusion in Latin America.”
 29

CHAPTER 5
EMPLOYING PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL POTENTIALS TO ACCELERATE
DEVELOPMENT

Physical Potentials

Latin America is characterized by various types of physical landscapes. Volcanic

islands dominate Middle America while towering mountain ranges such as those of the
Andes, and lush tropical forests of the Amazon Basin define South America. These
features provide the population with different resources that could be used to provide for
their needs.71 In an interview with a Geographic Information System analyst, it was
stressed that perhaps it would be effective in terms of development to utilize what they
have to their advantage, seeing that Latin America varies widely in terms of its physical
characteristics, climate and vegetation wise. 72

However, the physical environment of Latin America is continually being

jeopardized by countless profit-oriented corporations in the name of ‘economic
development.’ This phrase is not seen in a positive light by most of Latin America’s
inhabitants, instead it is usually associated with social discrimination, exploitation of
natural resources, and poverty. For instance, national parks that used to be protected in
Bolivia are now exposed to oil and gas drilling which in turn endangers not only the
neighboring communities but also the biodiversity of the place.73

71
Royal Berglee, World Regional Geography: People, Places, and Globalization (Virginia: The
Saylor Foundation, 2012). https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_world-regional-geography-people-places-and-
globalization/s00-license.html (accessed October 15, 2018).
72
Maeryck Justinne Bernardo, interviewed by Kiarra Hurtado and Michelle Delos Santos, online
message, September 2018.
73
Leny Olvera Rojas and Aldo Orellana Lopez, “The phrase ‘economic development’ has bad
associations in Latin America,” July 9, 2016. Accessed October 15, 2018.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jul/09/the-phrase-economic-
development-has-bad-associations-in-latin-america.
 30

If accelerating the development of the region leads to the deterioration of the

environment, how can one possibly continue to increase economic prowess if nature and
the people are being compromised?

One solution is for Latin American countries to gear towards sustainable

development. Sustainability focuses on meeting the needs of the current population
without compromising the ability of the future generations to satisfy their own needs. In
practicing this, one is trying to strike a balance between achieving economic development,
protecting the environment, and caring for the social well-being of the people. This
concept was introduced in 1987 in the Brundtland Report, when policy makers were trying
to solve the problems brought about by industrialization and population growth.
Environmental sustainability protects nature from being used inexhaustibly through
different strategies such as investing in renewable sources, conserving water, and applying
innovations in construction and architecture.74

With this in mind, the government and business owners in Latin America are left
with two choices: whether they should continue with the exploitation of the region’s
resources that would benefit them in the short-run or invest in sustainable practices that
would enable their environment to keep providing for people in the long-run. For the
agricultural industry, people understand the positive impacts of the latter and thus choose
to pursue the sustainable path. In Colombia, because the sugarcane business primarily and
heavily relies on steady-supplied and clean waters, the producers are now working with
environmental organizations to ensure the long-term sustainability of their water supply. 75

Furthermore, natural forests in Latin America are valuable environmental and

economic resources that help the region in a number of ways. Unfortunately, irresponsible

74
“What is Sustainable Development?,” Acciona, accessed October 15, 2018,
https://www.acciona.com/sustainable-development/ .
75
Mark Tercek, “Greening Latin America: Investing in Nature for a Sustainable Future,”
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-tercek/greening-latin-america-in_b_1140063.html (accessed October
15, 2018)
 31

practices such as mining activities, conversion to grazing pastures, and extensive

cultivation of export crops accelerate the devastation of these areas. In addition to this,
forested areas are underestimated by both the government and private sector due to an
incomplete knowledge on the forests’ true total economic value. These people only see the
marketable goods and services produced by forests and they fail to realize that it only
represents a fraction of its total value. Some of its non-marketable benefits include
protection of water resources and watersheds, climate regulation, protection of species
with pharmaceutical value, and carbon storage and fixation from the atmosphere. So, in
order to redirect the authorities’ interest in the long-term preservation of natural forests,
awareness on its total value is significant. A market for, and a societal recognition of the
value of the goods and services provided by these forests must therefore be developed.
Aside from this, other recommended policies to improve forest management include
providing incentives, increasing the efficiency of the forest sector through appropriate
taxation, and promoting post-logging silvicultural treatments.76

Lastly, Latin America and the Caribbean are blessed with an abundance of
maritime heritage that significantly adds to the region’s diversity and productivity. It is
endowed with many of the world’s biggest and most productive estuaries and its industrial
ports are considered the second leading destination for containerized US exports. The
Panama Canal which provides a vital link between the Pacific Rim countries, the western
hemisphere, and Europe, has become a major focus of seaborne trade. The potential of
marine resources that have been undervalued in the past are now increasingly gaining
recognition among coastal states and the public at large. Meanwhile, the rural
communities throughout the region are shifting away from agriculture into tourism and

76
Ronnie de Camino, “Sustainable Forest Management in Latin America: Relevant Actors and
Policies, ” Inter-American Development Bank (1999),
https://publications.iadb.org/handle/11319/2963?locale-attribute=en (accessed October 15, 2018).
 32

other related services. These shifts are accompanied by fundamental social changes
reflected in the role of families, community structure, and culture.77

Cultural Attributes

Tourism has become an important source of income for both the government and
the local populations. In addition to this, Latin America is home to many countries, each
having its own historical and cultural identity. This is highly advantageous because aside
from their typical tourist attractions like Machu Pichu, Angel Falls, and Nazca Lines,
Latin America also benefits from this social diversity through cultural tourism. In cultural
tourism, instead of places and landmarks, the rich indigenous heritage and customs of the
people serve as the principal tourist attractions. The images and cultural heritage, both past
and present, stands central.78

Taking place in the region’s societies and among the populations themselves,
cultural tourism can be viewed as an element of globalization wherein cultural discovery
has become a part of the global consumption patterns. The focus on the importance of
national and regional tourism is the result of an increasingly affluent middle class and a
growing awareness of, and admiration for, the indigenous past among national politicians
and populations.79

In recent times, there has been a growing awareness of the possible problems of a
one-sided focus on tourism as an instrument for development. A lot of people have been
complaining about how foreign entrepreneurs and transnational companies dominate this
sector, when in fact the beneficiaries of this development should be the local communities
and national and regional governments. This resulted to the concept of ‘sustainable

77
Michele H. Lemay, “Coastal and Marine Resources Management in Latin America and the
Caribbean,” Inter-American Development Bank (Dec 1998), https://publications.iadb.org/handle/11319/4757
(accessed October 15, 2018).
78
Michiel Braud and Johanna Louisa Ypeij, Cultural Tourism in Latin America: the Politics of
Space and Imagery (Leiden: Brill, 2009), 96.
79
Ibid.
 33

tourism.’ Many initiatives labelled ‘community-based’ or ‘sustainable tourism’ have been

implemented to promote participation, empowerment, control, and ownership of local
communities. Corresponding with a shift in development thinking in general and with the
United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals in particular, poverty elimination has
become an explicit goal of sustainable tourism development.80

80
Ibid.
 34

CHAPTER 6
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS

Indeed, the region of Latin America is characterized by its intricately arranged

physical features which became both an asset and a hindrance to its economic prosperity.
With its location and physical setup, it provided different avenues for it to achieve growth
in different sectors. Its formative soils and climate are manifestations of the capability of
the region to have emerging economies. However, problems of immense soil degradation
and lack of access to clean water sources became challenges to the long term growth of the
region. In addition, the fact that the region is placed along the Pacific Ring of Fire also
became an obstruction due to its increased exposure to natural hazards. With the threat of
declining resources due to degradation of the environment, sustainable practices have
come into the methods of different social actors in the region. This was considered as a
potential way to attain stable economies in the long run.

The cultural realm of the region is described as a very rich one. With its long
history of Iberian colonizers, Latin America possesses a very diverse range of cultural
practices and beliefs. As this may be contradicting with what the indigenous people do,
conflicts were viewed as an impediment to efficient economic performance. Efforts to
promote tourism that highlights the cultural value of the region were deemed essential in
overcoming the cultural constraints of having a diverse culture.

The researchers’ assumptions are accepted as the region of Latin America is

possessing capabilities to push for economic growth despite the different challenges that
threaten such growth. The various mitigation and solutions performed in the region
seemed to be fit to what the situation needs.
There is economic growth that can be observed in the region and it is observable
with what the data shows. However, it is firmly believed that the region has the potential
to do more than what it does right now. Its physical and cultural aspects are really assets to
 35

better conditions and it is recommended that the nations in the country should thrive for an
economy that prioritizes social welfare and environmental integrity rather than pursuing
activities that could inhibit the overall growth of the nations. Continual and efficient
management by the respective government of the countries is much needed for the region
to reach its peak.
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hypoxic-areas-south-america.

“World Water Day: Latin America Leads in Water Management but Inequalities in Access
Remain.” 2013. World Bank. March 22.
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/03/22/world-water-day-latin-
america-achievements-challenges.
 APPENDIX

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
● What are the physical characteristics of Latin America? Relate to the concept of
geographic determinism of Huntington and current ideas on determinism
● What are the cultural characteristics of Latin America? Compare ideas and values
of Catholics and Protestants toward economic development
● How can these characteristics influence their economic development?
● How can Latin American countries overcome their physical and cultural
constraints to development?
● How can Latin American countries employ their physical and cultural potentials to
accelerate their development?

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS:

1.
Amado Anthony G. Mendoza III
Instructor (teaches Ugnayang Pampanitikan ng Pilipinas at Amerika Latina)
Departmento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas
College of Arts and Letters University of the Philippines Diliman

We have to qualify that Latin America as an organizing concept to identify the culture ng
region na iyon ay isang problematikong concept. Kapag inevoke natin ang concept na
iyan, ang starting point natin ay very Hispanic na aspect ng Latin America when in fact
ang dami daming indigenous peoples diyan na nandiyan na bago pa dumating yung
Spanish colonizers. Iyon ang una nating kailangan i-address that as a collectivizing term to
address the region, may problema sa paggamit ng term na “Latin” America.

Kung ihahambing natin yung cultures ng Latin American region sa North American
counterpart niya, obviously, kailangan nating balikan yung overly Roman Catholic
influence ng mga Kastila sa Latin America. Bukod sa dominant Roman Catholic strain sa
practices ng Latin America, kailangan din natin tignan kung paano ninegotiate ng locals sa
Latin America yung kanilang indigenous culture bago dumating yung mga Kastila, kung
paano nagkaroon ng syncretic combination yung Catholicism, Christianity, at yung
kanilang mga folk belief--yung mga paniniwala nila precolonization. In the same way, dun
sila nagkakaroon ng similarities ng US. Ang pagkakaiba nila ng North America ay iba kasi
yung nanakop sakanila pero all the same yung experience nila ng pangangailangan na i-
negotiate yung existing folk belief systems sa puritanical beliefs ng Protestantism ng mga
British.

Going back to Latin America, ang dami mong factors na kailangan iconsider sa pagdefine
ng kanilang culture. Tulad natin sa Pilipinas na sinakop tayo ng mga Kastila, hindi naman
tayo sinakop lang na parang wala lang--may physical resistance and at the same time
cultural resistance dahil may mga existing cultures and beliefs na tayo. You should
imagine the same for Latin America.

Next, ang problema sa Latin America, iconsider natin anu-ano yung mga bansa na kasama
sa Latin America. When you talk about culture, may sense kasi na i-homogenize mo yung
isang region; in the same way when you talk about geography, when you talk about a
region, sinusubukan mong gawing isa yung disparate and heterogenous mass of spaces or
communities. Halimbawa, may argument na hindi kasama ang Brazil sa Latin America.
Culturally, Portuguese ang sumakop sa Brazil pero when you say Latin America, it’s the
Spanish speaking part of the region.

Next, we need to consider that in other parts of Latin America, malakas pa rin yung
presence ng indigenous culture; take for example: Ecuador, Bolivia, and those mostly in
the Central South America as compared to those highly Hispanized like Mexico, Peru,
Argentina.
Next, when we talk about culture, andiyan palagi ang politics. Yung intervention ng
colonialism ay isang political enterprise, hindi lang naman siya cultural enterprise. Iisa
lang namang vantage point ang culture sa kung paano natin titignan yung region as a
whole pero para magkaroon tayo ng holistic and comprehensive na region, kailangan natin
makita yung ugnayan ng political, economic, at cultural.

Ngayon, kung titignan naman natin yung region na ito in terms of location, malaking
bagay yung pagiging seemingly landlocked niya--pwede ka mag-assume ng solidity ng
cultures dahil sa pagka-landlocked niya. May iisa silang lingua franca. Whereas opposed
to South East Asia na archipelagic, hindi ka pwede mag-assume ng homogeneity.
However, we have to keep in mind that this region is still a host to various racial and
cultural identities.

Thus, the culture of South America may seem like a solid concept pero kapag inaral mo
niya, i-unpack mo na siya, it’s a set of diverse, disparate, practices and beliefs

2.
Maeryck Justinne Bernardo
GIS Analyst
RASA Surveying and Realty

● Latin America has a climate ranging from hot and humid (in the Amazon River
Basin) to dry and arid-like conditions in some parts of Mexico and Chile. The
region’s prevalent vegetation types are tropical rainforest and grasslands, which
covers a large area of Latin America. Climatic conditions or “climatic energy”
according to Huntington, is deterministic of human accomplishments. He noted
that civilizations thrive in ideal environments as determined by the climatic
conditions, preferably a temperate one. The ideal condition for humans to live in is
in a region free from experiencing extreme cold or heat with rainfall not heavily
concentrated on certain months but rather spread throughout the year. It was
mentioned in his concept of environmental determinism that climate and
 environment shape and contribute to the way of life of humans and prolonged dry
season could have an effect on human health and mental sharpness. In contrast, a
short-term shifting between dry and wet season could actually be regarded as
beneficial to human health as it was said to refresh the mind and spirit

● One of Latin America’s distinguishable characteristics from English-speaking

America is its people and culture. The region houses significant numbers of
indigenous people who have survived colonization from the European settlers.
There are areas in the region which is populated by a majority of people of
indigenous descent while some are a mix of indigenous and European descent.
With the arrival of Southern European colonizers, Catholicism and Christianity
successfully entered the Latin American scene as well. The vast majority of the
region’s population are Roman Catholic which is a significantly differ them from
the English-speaking Americans who are predominantly Protestants. These 2
religions have varying ideas and values specifically in terms of economic
development. When it comes to work and personal success, there are studies that
found, on average, Protestants to be working 8.5% more hours and show greater
personal success than Catholics, Average Catholics likewise participate in
volunteer work less significantly than Protestants which shows a weak link
between their values and volunteering. In terms of education, religion and
education are complementary in Protestant beliefs while in Catholics education
substitutes for religion. They are more tied with religious traditions and rigid rites
unlike Protestants who are more open to learning.

● Studies found that higher rates of religious beliefs lead to enhanced individual
behavior and self growth that can lead to greater productivity. Although this may
be the case, over time, religiosity tends to decline with economic development
 ● Seeing that Latin America varies widely in terms of its physical characteristics,
climate and vegetation wise, maybe it would be effective in terms of development
to utilize what they have to their advantage.

● The region is rich in resources and compared to most countries in the tropics, they
have higher GDP and per capita income despite the variations in economic
development in this region. In today’s modern age, enriching and developing
technologies still prove to be useful in overcoming most geographic barriers
towards achieving economic development.

3. Frances Aleksis Anika E. Uy

UP Diliman BS Geology graduate
(Answered questions 1 and 2)

● Latin America is bounded by mountainous regions and central plains. The

diversity in terrane results in two defined hemispheres as well as complex climate
zones. In the geographic determinism of Huntington, he states that civilizations
thrive depending on climate and human accomplishments are highly dependent on
climatic enerygy. Thus, applying his theory on Latin America, the diversity in
climate and topography would then determine how progressive a state or place
would be. However current ideas on determinism state that many human
phenomena and characteristics are affected by geographic and non-geographic
factors. It just tackles the concept of civilization and the thriving of human
population in a broader manner, wherein these aspects are not only limited to the
effect of climate and climatic energy as Huntington proposes but more on the
interaction between the aspects of the biosphere as a whole. Therefore, applying
the current ideas on determinism in Latin America, it shows that in terms of human
geography the culture and type of people residing in a particular area is defined by
their environmental and climatic aspects. These diverse group of people are then
tied together as one by their shared beliefs and by politics.
● Latin America is composed of a diverse number of ethnic groups resulting to
different cultural characteristics but are unified by similar linguistic and ethnic
traits. For example, most Latin America nations speak Spanish because of Spanish
colonialism.

In the catholic notion for economic growth, two important things should be pointed
out, their teaching on private property and on the human family. From these 2
aspects, 3 notions can be derived which are: a) The notion that in a capitalist
society there is a trend for the rich to get richer and the poorer get poorer
b)The belief that the labor market is radically different from all other markets
c) An “angelical” vision of the state, which recommends government intervention
whenever market forces do not produce ideal results

For the Protestant idea and value on economic development, Max Weber has his so
called "Protestant ethic" where he states that Protestant’s promote the virtues of
hard work and thrift. If we compare both ideas, it shows that the Catholic point
implies that future economy is highly dependent on the present economy, as rich
people even get richer. On the other hand, in the Protestant idea, it shows that
hardwork and thrift can cause economic growth, given this, it would not follow
that only the rich would get richer but rather those who are hardworking no matter
their present circumstance would have a greater shot in achieving economic
stability or growth in the near future.