Blogs

After hundreds of years of colonial rule, and oppression by eastern world civilizations, Latin American countries and its citizens acquired freedom. For many, Latin independence from the Spaniards would have left them delighted at the possibility of their lives and nations improving economically and socially for years to come. Furthermore, the people of the lower […] read full post >>

It costs an arm and a leg… In case of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, fighting for Mexican independence literally cost him a leg. This week, we continue with our topic of “independence” in Latin America in the 19th century. What I found most amusing during our reading was the life of this 11-time Mexican president/General. … Continue reading Week 5 read full post >>

Week 5 brought through the themes of the caudillos, militaristic strongmen who gained the support of the masses in this new, unsure Latin America. I found many connections between the content of this week and current issues in Latin America and the world as a whole. Many of Latin America’s problems and trends of the … Continue reading Week 5: Caudillos read full post >>

This week’s lecture spoke about post-independence Latin America and the rise of Caudillos. Initially, one may think that life after independence would be great, but unfortunately, this was not the case for Latin America. In reality, Latin America was spotted with wars between different nations and neighbours. Independence left many people susceptible to harm, and …

Continue reading "Week 5: Caudillos Versus the Nation State"

read full post >>

This week’s lecture spoke about post-independence Latin America and the rise of Caudillos. Initially, one may think that life after independence would be great, but unfortunately, this was not the case for Latin America. In reality, Latin America was spotted with wars between different nations and neighbours. Independence left many people susceptible to harm, and …

Continue reading "Week 5: Caudillos Versus the Nation State"

read full post >>

“El Matadero” I decided to focus in  “The slaughterhouse” because in my opinion even though the text alludes to the political system of Argentina, it can be used to analyze the socio-political context of any Latin American country that has begun to develop as an independent nation during the 19th century. I believe that through […] read full post >>

In the period following “independence” of the former Spanish Empire in the Americas, many of the new nation-states struggled to establish peaceful regimes in the ensuing vacuum of power. What becomes clear is a linear conception of development (in the broad, historical sense) largely defined by Eurocentric (and therefore colonial) ideology. The binary between barbarism and civilization points to the two extremes of this imported historical-determinist trajectory. In turn, the ideal of civilization became dominated by the subsequent royalist-republican binary (along liberal-conservative lines). Through the analysis of the concept of...read more read full post >>

In the period following “independence” of the former Spanish Empire in the Americas, many of the new nation-states struggled to establish peaceful regimes in the ensuing vacuum of power. What becomes clear is a linear conception of development (in the broad, historical sense) largely defined by Eurocentric (and therefore colonial) ideology. The binary between barbarism and civilization points to the two extremes of this imported historical-determinist trajectory. In turn, the ideal of civilization became dominated by the subsequent royalist-republican binary (along liberal-conservative lines). Through the analysis of the concept of...read more read full post >>

Caudillos Versus the Nation State Throughout past few weeks, we discussed the challenges and the difficulties to identify Latin American objects from politics, demographics, economic and cultural aspects. On this blog post, I would like to discuss the perspectives of … Continue reading → read full post >>

After this week’s video and readings, what come up most prominently in my head is political turmoil and social unrest. It seems to me that after having acquired their independence, the people of Latin American were directionless. I do not mean that individually they did not know where they wanted to go. Surely, each individual […] read full post >>