Political Economic Change and Environmental Consequences in Latin America

Three Phases of Political Economic Organization Extractive Phase: 1492-Early 20 th century Extractive Phase: 1492-Early 20 th century Import Substitution Industrialization: Early 20 th century-the Debt Crisis of the 1970’s Import Substitution Industrialization: Early 20 th century-the Debt Crisis of the 1970’s The Current Structural Adjustment Phase: Beginning with the Mexican financial crisis of The Current Structural Adjustment Phase: Beginning with the Mexican financial crisis of 1982.

Extractive Phase: Colonialism and a changing landscape Landscape: A term that incorporates both the visible physical environment of a place and the cultural, political, and economic forces that shape it. Landscape: A term that incorporates both the visible physical environment of a place and the cultural, political, and economic forces that shape it.

Extractive Phase: Economic forces of change Mercantilist Economic Policies: Protectionist policies aimed at increasing the wealth of European countries at the expense of colonies. Mercantilist Economic Policies: Protectionist policies aimed at increasing the wealth of European countries at the expense of colonies. Plantation agriculture, the hacienda system, and livestock ranching: new plants, animals, and social organization. Plantation agriculture, the hacienda system, and livestock ranching: new plants, animals, and social organization.

Extractive Phase: Cultural change Annihilation of indigenous populations Annihilation of indigenous populations –Within 150 years the population of the Americas was reduced by 90% to around 5.6 million people. The introduction of African people and customs to Latin America. The introduction of African people and customs to Latin America. –Africans had immunity to European diseases. –Introduced new forms of food, family org., religion, music and dance The creation of Mestizo and Creole culture. The creation of Mestizo and Creole culture. –Independence movements

Import Substitution Industrialization The Dependistas: Dependency theory and the creation of a new economic model. The Dependistas: Dependency theory and the creation of a new economic model. –Uneven terms of trade –Structural underdevelopment –Modernization: Agricultural versus Industrial development. Developing in the European image. –Land reforms: the break up of the hacienda system and private property.

The Debt Crisis Petro-Dollars: OPEC oil embargo, global recession and ISI. Petro-Dollars: OPEC oil embargo, global recession and ISI. Neoliberal macroeconomic policies: Inflation control and interest rates. Neoliberal macroeconomic policies: Inflation control and interest rates. Structural Adjustment Policies: The spread of the neoliberal paradigm to Latin America. Structural Adjustment Policies: The spread of the neoliberal paradigm to Latin America. –Neocolonialism

Neoliberalism: Structural Adjustment and EPZs Review of Structural Adjustment Programs and Neoliberalism. Review of Structural Adjustment Programs and Neoliberalism. –Free trade, privatization, and the dismantling of the State. Export Processing Zones: Debt repayment and enclaves of environmental damage Export Processing Zones: Debt repayment and enclaves of environmental damage –A race to the bottom?

Development: Can it be Sustainable? Rio Conference of 1992, Agenda 21, and the Bruntland Report. Rio Conference of 1992, Agenda 21, and the Bruntland Report. Sustainable development: Meeting the needs of today without compromising the well-being of future generations. Sustainable development: Meeting the needs of today without compromising the well-being of future generations. Does poverty lead to unsustainable land use? Does poverty lead to unsustainable land use? New options for sustainable development: fair trade and ecotourism. New options for sustainable development: fair trade and ecotourism.

Discussion points from the video In what ways does fair trade coffee perpetuate a dependent relationship between producers and consumers? In what ways does fair trade coffee perpetuate a dependent relationship between producers and consumers? In what ways can fair trade help to foster sustainable development? In what ways can fair trade help to foster sustainable development? How is fair trade coffee production similar and different from previous forms of agricultural production in Latin America? How is fair trade coffee production similar and different from previous forms of agricultural production in Latin America?

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