Evolution of Nationalism in Latin America in the Context of Globalization

Abstract

Although scholars have investigated the evolution of Latin American nationalism over time, as well as the history of globalization's impact on Latin America, few have systematically examined the history of the intersection of nationalism and globalization in the region. The 19th-century conceptualization of nationalism was a European import, but the implementation of nationalism in Latin America proved different than its European counterpart, as nationalism was very much a top-down project in Latin America, established in countries by (largely white, or mixed-race, or mestizo) elites, on a racially diverse population of Indians, Afro-Latin Americans, and mestizos. By the 20th century, nationalism proved an important means of unifying Latin American nations as the economic influence of outside powers, including the United States increased, and Latin American nations attempted to strengthen national sentiment to unify their nations as a means of protecting Latin American sovereignty. At present, as the influence of the forces of globalization grows, Latin American nations aim to control globalization's impact, again, as a means of protecting individual Latin American nations' sovereignty.