Abstract
The paper explores U.S. influence in the form of free trade agreements, including the Washington consensus, NAFTA, CAFTA-DR and the MERCOSUR Accord. The paper also addresses the Cuban crisis and the role of the WTO and IMF. The paper reaches the conclusion that the U.S. has probably aided Latin America in its move away from the unsuccessful policies of import substation towards those of free trade. However, the paper asserts that it may be global changes in line with WTO and IMF policy which will mainly impact Latin America.

From the Paper
"Since the end of World War II, many of the countries of South America followed a policy of import substitution as a way of attempting to foster economic development. Such policies make use of high tariffs and other trade barriers designed to favour domestic goods over imported goods (Begg et al 2008). Over time, the premise is that industries within a given country will develop to fill the demand for domestic goods which would have previously been imported from over seas at a lower cost. Whilst such a policy was followed with relative success in countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore (Hutchings 2001), the Latin American experiment may be seen as a failure due to small internal markets and a lack of technology facilitating the development of mass production (Griffin and Pustay 2010).
"At this point one may consider how US influence, particularly under the Washington Consensus has been used to facilitate a move away from import substitution policies and towards those of greater levels of free trade and economic development (Gallagher 2008). Broadly speaking the Washington Consensus describes the policy advice given by Washington based institutions to countries within the Latin American era. As with many US based economic aid and advice packages the advice and polices usually includes a call for greater levels of free trade, liberalisation and deregulation of markets and disciplined macroeconomic policies."

Tags:free, trade, exports, imports, Washington, consensus, WTO, IMF

Abstract
This paper explains that the themes of control and resistance within the family and the Latin American upheaval are central to both Isabel Allende's "The House of the Spirits" and Laura Esquivel's "Like Water for Chocolate" but used in different ways. Presenting examples from both novels, the author looks at issues such as parents and children, male versus female and political instability in Latin America, the author underscores that those who are in control and those who resist are not always completely black-and-white. The paper stresses that not only are these themes of control and resistance essential to understanding the novels but also are important to the historical and socio-political context of both books.

From the Paper
"The roles of men and women are very much in contrast to this in "Like Water for Chocolate". Though there is not exactly very much physical violence between the two parties, the lack of strong male characters and surplus of strong female characters shows how the women in fact control men. This is shown through Mama Elena's control over the household even when Pedro, a male character moves in to the house. Traditionally, Pedro would have become head of the household.
"There is also a traditional parental control of the parents over their children. In "Like Water For Chocolate", this is best represented through the relationship between Mama Elena and Tita. Mama Elena exhibits this through the fact that she doesn't allow Tita to marry, as she is the youngest daughter and therefore has to take care of her mother until she dies. Tita very much recognises that "Unquestionably when it came to... dominating, Mama Elena was a pro". This control continues even after Mama Elena dies, as she comes back to haunt Tita. There are signs of this control being almost cyclic as Rosaura suggests that she will also not allow her daughter to marry so that "she can take care of me in my old age"."

Tags:narrators, magical realism, rebellion traditional army

From the Paper
"This paper will discuss the immigration of Mexicans to the United States. The first part of the paper will describe the history of this immigration. This will cover the period from the Mexican-American War to the present. The second part of the paper will examine the problems the immigrants faced in assimilating into American culture. This will look at the problem of discrimination and the participation of Mexican-Americans in the political process.

A History of Mexican Immigration
There is little evidence of Mexican immigration to the United States on a massive scale prior to the Twentieth Century. On the contrary, Americans migrated to Mexican lands throughout the Nineteenth Century. The Spanish had created settlements throughout..."

Tags:IMMIGRATION, MEXICO

Abstract
The history of migration of people from Latin American countries has been a long and difficult one. It is an issue that is still being dealt with today. This paper describes the different groups of Hispanics migrating to the United States, including the Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans. The paper examines how these different groups have assimilated into American society.

From the Paper
"Cuban Americans settled in Florida back in 1831. The number of Cubans today is very modest. A census showed 79,000 Cubans live in the U.S. (Schaefer, 2006, P.247) Schaefer stated, "This group has negative reception, as well as modest skills, lack of formal education, and a great deal of difficulty adjusting to their new life in the U.S." (2006, P.248) The issue of communist governments still overshadows attitudes about the relationship with Cuba. (Dahlburg, 2004) As of today, Cubans are doing rather well, with their college rates being twice as high as other Latinos."

Tags:Spanish, expansion, immigration, discrimination

Abstract
The paper offers an assessment as to whether the countries of Latin America are less subject to external control today than they were twenty years ago. Latin America consists of the countries that traditionally formed part of two of the great continental European empires from the 16th century onwards. The paper shows through the use of historical examples that although the nature of control has altered, Latin America is still the subject of external influence and direction. As such, the actual position in 2008 is little different from that of 1988 or 1788. The paper states that Colonial and Cold War doctrines have been replaced by the almost invisible control posed by globalisation. The paper confirms that only when the region acts in a united manner that safeguards its natural and agricultural resources against outside encroachment will we be able to say that Latin America has freed itself from external control.

From the Paper
"From the early 1950s onwards this protection of interest centered on the perception of threat from Soviet communism, in particular the theoretical assumption that communism could spread from one country to another like the falling of dominos (Ambrose and Brinkley, 1997; p.76). This certainly accounts for President Kennedy's endorsement of the "Bay of Pigs" invasion attempt of Cuba in 1961 and President Johnson's overt support in 1964 for a right wing revolutionary coup in Brazil (Ibid, p.103-107). In the same fashion, the Soviet Union attempted to bolster and intervene on the side of left wing groups and movements."

Tags:cold, war, national, governments, globalisation

Abstract
This paper examines how Mexico, like many of the world's developing nations, has attempted to stimulate its economy by enticing investment from external sources, most notably from that of multi-national enterprises (MNEs). It looks at how such corporations are enticed to Mexico and other such countries by low wages, low tax rates and other formal incentives and how in their quest to attract investment, the Mexican government has allowed standards on wages, labour conditions and working hours to fall in a race for competitivity. It aims to assess how varying MNEs across many industries have reacted to these low working standards.

From the Paper
"In the 1960s, the Mexican government looked east to find ways to promote economic growth and prosperity for its citizens. The rapid growth of countries such as South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan offered examples of how export-orientated production could rapidly aid development. Mexico took initiative and offered foreign firms beneficial rates to set up factories in certain areas of Mexico, most notably along the northern border with the United States (see Cravey, 1998). Such areas, known as export-processing zones (EPZs) emerged in Southeast Asia as a way of concentrating growth as well as limiting external influence and foreign ownership "

Tags:conditionstransnational, working, tax, wages

Abstract
This paper first explains that a country of the south is defined as a country in the southern hemisphere that does not reach the standards considered as acceptable by more developed countries typically of the north. Next, the author reveals many factors based on the Human Development Index (HDI) , which indicate that Brazil remains in many ways still a country of the south. However, the paper concludes that Brazil has developed certain distinctions, especially in the area of economics, which indicate that it is reaching the level of development of a northern country and that it has an ever-growing importance in world politics.

Table of Contents:
Brazil as a Country of the South
Human Development Index
Poverty and Hunger
Inequality
Health and Sanitation
Children's Rights
Demographics
Urbanization
Crime
The Environment
Industrial Profile
Brazil as an Emerging Country
Debt
Economic Power
Political Regime
Domestic Programs
Industrialization

From the Paper
"The first indications of a country of the South that are pinpointed by media and analysts often revolve around quality of life. In effect, most developed countries pride themselves on the relatively clean, safe environments that the majority of their population live in. The Human Development Index was conceived by such nations in order to measure and compare how the wealth produced is being distributed throughout countries and for what benefit. In 2009, Brazil's HDI was ranked 75th in the world according to the United Nations Development program."

Tags:poverty health children, industrial capacity, environment

Abstract
This essay examines the purposes of the Mexican Revolution, from its early days as an anti-capitalist demonstration against its government, to the repeated claims by Mexican leaders that the revolution is over, having embraced capitalism whole-heartedly.

From the Paper
"In July 1914, General Carranza proclaimed the revolution over. In 1928 Calles proclaimed the revolution "achieved". In 1940 President Camacho said the same thing. There are those who believe the revolution still to be going on; it is only in the last couple of years that the PNR has finally been voted out of power; Mexico, though a "democracy", had effectively been a one party state until very recently."

Tags:carranza, chiapas, mexican, mexico, obregon, pancho, pnr, revolution, zapata, zapatista, pnr, democracy

Abstract
This paper discusses Colombian situation by mentioning Benedict Anderson's work, "Imagined Communities". It then examines how Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" creates a myth of Colombian history and how its magical realism expresses Latin American collective consciousness.

From the Paper
"Marquez has long expressed an aim to write what he refers to as 'the true history of Colombia'. One Hundred Years of Solitude may not have any factual basis, although it does contain fictionalized versions of actual historical events, but it is a response to the inadequacy of official history and a myth of the history of Colombia. It begins with the founding of an Eden-like Macondo in an innocent and 'magical' time and follows its progression through the stories of various generations of the Buendias till its eventual destruction by a great wind. It is a myth of evolution, of progress, and of the loss of innocence of a whole society. It begins in an era where magic is possible, and follows the loss of this magic to science and technology. "

Tags:realism, solitude, hundred, years

Abstract
This essay looks at purpose of the pre-colonial economy in Latin America and the methods employed by the Spaniards to control the natives and production under colonization. It examines the diverse population the Spaniards found upon arrival, and how the Spaniards simply superimposed themselves upon existing structures. The four main labor systems used by the Spanish are outlined. The exploitation based on the economic systems implemented by the Spaniards is explored.

From the Paper
"The process of colonization within any one country or group of countries was conditioned by the pre-existing historical circumstances and the attractiveness of its resources to the colonizers. In turn, these affected the degree of exploitation and the nature of the developments that took place and consequently the level of marginalization that occurred within the economy and society. The conquest of Latin America was carried out by the Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch and British. But it was Spain who secured the largest, richest and most diverse territory, and did so with great rapidity. Within 70 years of Columbus's arrival in the Caribbean, Spain had overthrown the Aztec and Inca empires and occupied most of middle and western South America."

Tags:indians, slavery, exploit, colonial, Encomienda, Repartimiento