Our America and the West

Abstract

As in other attempts to come to terms with names, precise definition of and its historical parameters leads to search for a name that represents it better, making us more conscious of what are trying to understand. The almost endless succession of names coined for reveal not only indecision but also geographical and historical expansion of its compass. We might even say that we're dealing here with an expanding concept.' A first formulation can be found in Sim6n Bolivar's great plans for newly independent American republics. In December 1814 he convenes Panama Congress, to be held two years hence, and reiterates his belief that the American republics, formerly Spanish colonies, will have a firm base. name Latin America emerges and spreads in second half of 19th century, it includes Brazil and Haiti as well as former Spanish colonies. In 1844 come across an even more inclusive idea in Jose Martif: When say 'A People' rather than 'the peoples' mean that everything from Rio Bravo [i.e., Grande] to Patagonia is one. On occasion, however, Marti preferred name Our America over Latin America, thus averting etymological traps. Latin America (now understood as a synonym of Our America, beyond its original delimitations), then, includes English and Dutch Antilles (and, of course, large enclaves of indigenous peoples) as well as those countries more closely affiliated with Latinity. We shall adopt term in this more inclusive sense. The task of defining historical parameters of will undoubtedly be made easier if confront its reality with that of so-called western world, to which have been bound and which enjoys greater conceptual clarity. How this confrontation has been tackled by representative American thinkers is topic of pages that follow. We must, however, get over an initial hurdle: m1lange of writings on West or western world are generally unsatisfying and scandalously mystifying, contrary to what one might deduce from frequency with which terms are used. After World War II, writes JosT Luis Romero in 1953, we tend to speak of a western world rather than a western culture.2 We don't know with any certainty, however, when western culture, western world, or simply West began to