From Colonialism To Globalization. Historical Review And Positions In The Formation Of A Latin American Identity

From Colonialism to Globalization. Historical review and positions in the formation of a Latin American identity
by Guevara, Janny
Introduction
When talking about Latin America, One cannot avoid making a review of its past, present and, why not, also its future. Then, a question that has been subject matter of many discussions and that represents a complex issue arises: Is there somethingcalled Latin America, beyond a common geographic area or the coincidence of a shared history? Can one really speak of a common cultural ethos between Latin American nations? In the context of changes in the globalization process, that -according to Larrain (1994)- began with the invasion and colonialism and continued with the transition to the modernity and postmodernism, considering a LatinAmerican identity is a challenge that leads us to review different positions.

According to Todorov (1989) in any asymmetrical and troubled encounter of two cultures, either because one invades and colonizes the other or both cultures develop strong relations or interdependence through mass media or commerce, the problem of cultural identity comes up. The question about the cultural identity normallydoes not emerge in situations of relative isolation, prosperity and stability. Identity to become an important issue, it is necessary to have a period of crisis and instability, a threat to the traditional way of life. Mercer (1990) affirms: “identity only becomes an important issue in critical situations, when something assumed as fixed, coherent and stable is displaced by doubt anduncertainty” (p.43).

Larrain (2000) claims that in Latin American history there are six stages in which the issue of identity becomes important. A detailed analysis of these periods as well as important factors (religion, political ideologies, economic models and the development of societies through the modernization process) in the formation of an identity will be considered in this paper.Colonialism and the first synthesis of a Latin American identity
The formation of a Latin American culture began in the moment that the European culture encountered the native cultures in America. In this encounter a problem of power asymmetry clearly existed since the European culture was technologically and militarily more developed (Todorov, 1989).

The European culture that arrived in America wasnot modern and rationalist; on the contrary, It was still semi-feudal and very influenced by religion, the absolute moral values and the intolerance against any difference. Therefore, they saw the native cultures through their own cultural prism and considered them as the “other” inferior one, in many cases as half animals who did not believe in the true religion and had pagan practices (DeImaz, 1984). One example of these pagan practices were the human sacrifices that the native cultures offered to their gods.

It has been well documented by the first Spanish chroniclers that Religion was an important instrument for the colonization process. Thus religious arguments and justifications were used to dominate and enslave the Indians; even they had the scruples of legalizing theseabusive procedures. Although, as result of this evangelizing process, the native cultures have adopted the Catholic religion, it was not a real conversion, but a way to cover up their own religious believes and cultural practices, leading to a religious syncretism that has lasted until today (Bengoa, 1988).

However, Religion was not the main instrument for the conquest, but it was the superiorunderstanding that the Europeans had of Indigenous culture and societies in contrast to the poor understanding that the Indians had of the European world. This superiority in understanding the indigenous culture, for example knowing that there were disagreements between the different indigenous groups, was well taken in advantage by the Europeans and used it to weaken the most powerful indigenous...