Theme 3 : Geographical Issues on a Continental Scale North and South America

The Americas: fractures, competition & integration – The American Continent between tensions and regional integration

The Americas: Power of the North and Assertion of the South

I. A Cultural Mosaic

Environmental Threats

Key questions: To what extent does the American continent portray a model of unequal development? How extensive is North and South American integration?

A. North America: Major Pole of the Triad 1.US and Canada are the two major powers of North America – Trade between the 2 nations has doubled since the creation of NAFTA – Competition remains strong Heavy industry, automobile, lumber – Canadian economy very dependent on US market

2. US economy the most powerful and most diversified in the world – On continental scale, the U.S. embodies an attractive model of a superpower giant – Top investors in the continent, esp Canada & Mexico

3. Canada: rich in natural resources and major exporter of raw materials – SE Canada contains major metropolises (Toronto & Montreal) – Its extensive integration in the US contributed to the emergence of a vast cross-border region referred to as Main Street

Canada’s Industrial Heartland Most of Canada’s Industries are Located near the St. Lawrence Lowlands and these 4 cities : – Quebec City – Montreal – Ottawa – Toronto Huge labor population Near a great source of water for manufacturing and power 60% of Canada's wealth is located in these areas Services: 83% of people live in cities

Canada’s Huge Heartland agricultural mining (iron, copper, nickel, uranium) Energy (hydroelectricity, petroleum)

B. Integration of emerging countries in globalization 1.Brazil stands out as the regional power of South America – 1 st country in FDI on the subcontinent, acts as a counterweight to US domination – Marked by major social inequalities

2. Mexico, Argentina and Chili sometimes referred to as “Jaguars” Mexico – 1 st foreign investor 2 nd recipient of FDI in Latin America – Proximity of US asset (exports) & drawback (dependence) – Role model of insertion in the world economy Chile (Copper, fruit) & Argentina (Wheat, soy bean) – Major exporters of raw materials and agricultural foodstuffs

3. Venezuela, Columbia & Peru dependent on exporting raw materials Venezuela – 7 th world petroleum exporter – Holds largest oil reserves on the planet Peru – GDP tripled from 2000 to 2010 Columbia – Exports coffee and coal

GDP of Countries in North and South America CountryGDP/capita (dollars) The USA47,283 Canada46,214 Uruguay11,997 Chili11,827 Brazil10,817 Mexico9,565 Argentina9,138 Columbia6,273 Bolivia1,858 Nicaragua1,126 Haiti672 Source: IMF 2010

Summing it all up Video: 3’24 How are the Americas interconnected?