Latin-American Studies

Majority of the South American countries were colonized by the Spanish except Brazil which was a Portuguese colony. At the beginning of the 19th century, most of these countries achieved their independence from the colonialists through wars and revolutions. The colonial period had lasted for over three centuries before it came to an abrupt end at the beginning of the 19th century. The wars of independence were waged from 1808 to 1826 after which the whole of Latin America had achieved independence except Cuba and Puerto Rico. The Spanish rulers had instituted some reforms in the 18th century that provoked deterioration in relations between the colonies and the rulers. The creoles were especially unhappy with the reforms since that gave more power to the peninsulars at the expense of the creoles. Some people were influenced by the Enlightenment and the American and French revolutions which led to increased resentment of the colonial system. The strict economic restrictions and taxation policies imposed by Spain made matters worse as they were not allowed to grow crops that could compete with those grown in Spain.
  
The developments in Europe leading to the invasion of Spain and Portugal by Napoleon were the turning point for Latin Americans quest for independence. Between 1808 and 1814, the Spanish king, Ferdinand VII was held captive by Napoleon and this caused divisions in Latin America between the Spanish authorities and the Creoles. The Spanish authorities were considered to be agents of the French and hence the creoles formed committees or Juntas and declared their loyalty to the king of Spain. The committees claimed that they wanted to rule on behalf of the king as he was the divinely chosen authority. The Juntas declared independence in different colonies including Argentina and Chile in 1810, Paraguay and Venezuela in 1811, and then Bolivia and Colombia also followed suit. As a result war, broke out between the Spanish authorities in Latin America and the members of the Juntas.

The loyalist troops soon defeated the Creole dominated Juntas and in some areas like Mexico and Montevideo, fighting was still going on. By 1810, the juntas in some regions were moving towards setting up their own independent governments. The initiative needed a lot of sacrifice and the following decade witnessed increased warfare as the Spanish Americans were determined to achieve independence. The movements that liberated Latin America emerged from different parts of the continent with one group from the north led by Simon Bolivar and the other from the south led by Jose De San Martin. After succeeding in their home regions, they spread the cause of the liberation into other regions. The struggle in New Spain (Mexico) and Central America was led by Miguel Hidalgo, a sixty year old priest and Jose Maria Morales.
   
The creoles in the north were deeply worried about the end of Spanish rule for fear of a revolution similar to what had occurred in the French colony of Saint-Domingue. In 1791, a huge slave revolt had led to a general rebellion against the economic system and colonial authority in the island. The resistance developed into a civil war setting the blacks and those of mixed parentage against the whites. While the whites were supported by the whites, the rebels were supported by the Spanish. The rebellion was mainly influenced by the French revolution which was instituted on premise of equality for all men. After several years of war, the rebels had transformed the former colony into an independent country of Haiti.

The events in Haiti had served as a warning to the elites in Latin American colonies where there were high populations of the slaves. By 1826, most regions in Latin America had achieved independence and were split into several countries on the basis of the colonial administrative units. The region failed to achieve political unification like what had happened in the north but they were able to establish republican governments. One notable feature of the independence movements in Latin America is that they were modeled on the French revolution. This indicates the significance of the French revolution in shaping the history of the world in the last two centuries.

In my endeavor of becoming an educator, I have chosen to make as my mission helping the Latin American region in acquiring quality education that will benefit the society in the near future.  Finally, the realization of this dream has started to take roots as I have been granted by the government in establishing a small school in rural Peru.  Perhaps, through this small  initial step, my goal of uplifting the economic standards that are prevailing in all of South America will someday be realized by first offering my talents and skills in one of the municipalities that is generally considered as being among the poorest of the poor.
   
Based on my observations on the social make-up of rural Peru, I am of the belief that putting emphasis on English and Science subjects will prove to be most beneficial.  Firstly, as what is true in almost all of Latin America, student proficiency in written and oral English seemed to be below par compared with the other regions of the globe.  This situation will most certainly prove to be a disadvantage in the global picture of the economy, as graduates from other countries have been increasingly improving on their English proficiency skills.  Being the accepted universal language, Latin American students, then, are faced with dire consequences of bettering themselves if the region is to experience the economic recovery that for so long had been the aspirations of many generations. The attainment of high quality English, then, will make for a major factor in economic recovery.
   
As a teacher who is trained in the principles of education, I am aware of the importance of Science in the development of human logic and reasoning skills, as can be evidenced in highly industrialized societies where technical experts in various fields of science are the ones tasked with the operations and maintenance of their industrial sector.  The importance of furthering Latin American students knowledge in science, as can be seen in more advanced countries, will likewise hasten the development of the region into being one of the industrialized nations of the world.             
   
In my endeavor of teaching in rural Peru, I have chosen to hire teachers who have the same sets of beliefs as I do.  They must be able to look beyond the present and view Latin America based on the potentials of its society into being a fully-industrialized region.  They must realize this as an investment for what the future may hold for the region where students from every sector of the society can gain knowledge in the arts and the sciences in universities that are within the vicinity of their homes, and of their finances.  In a gist, my co-teachers should have a vision of Latin America where a high quality standard on higher education is available for every member of the society. 
   
Education, being social in its form, naturally must be conscious of the uniqueness that a particular society possesses.  Teachers, as well, being the front-liners of the educational programs of instructions, must always bear in mind this reality.  Thus, in teaching Latin American students, it is our responsibility to be sensitive of the needs that are distinctive to the culture.  The method of education should therefore be progressive, yet possessing of characteristics where a free exchange of ideas is encouraged, with students vis--vis teachers.  In most certainty, this will result in an increased interest on the part of the students, as this method has the characteristics of freedom that South Americans are known to be passionate with. 
   
It is my belief that the classroom should be a place where there is a free exchange of ideas between students and teachers.  It should never be representative of the divisions in the social strata, where the practice of nepotism and discrimination exist.  More so, being inside the confines of an educational institution, the students must be made to learn to develop their own passion in furthering their knowledge through the responsibilities that their educators have tasked on them.
   
The betterment of Latin America has always been my reason for choosing the professional avenue of education.  Her youth, primarily, is the sector that I am certain will be holding the torch of enlightenment for the entire population of the region to follow.  My initial mission of teaching English and Science will be my first steps in aspiring to reach this goal, for I am of the belief that in mastering these subjects, society is awarded with advantages that have the potential to free Latin America from the bounds of ignorance, oppression, and poverty.
   
English and Science, I believe, will be most beneficial for the region.  As aforementioned, their benefits are for the advancement of future generations of the societies that make up Latin America.  These subjects will make our society globally competitive to compete with skills from those of industrialized nations, and in most probability effect the long-waited economic recovery that generations have longed for.
   
Hence, if given the chance, I intend to be one of the forerunners of the new wave in education that will effect progressive changes in the society.  Armed with the principles that are founded by your institution, this mission then will not be an impossible one the long hours will not be in futility or the opportunities, wasted.  It will not be as before where hope seemed to be a by-gone word left in the dust bins of history.  Finally, the youth of Latin America will have a fighting chance on prosperity.

European explorer Christopher Columbus traveled to Cuban, amongst other destinations in the late fifteenth century. Not long after, Cuba was colonized by the Spanish and many settled there, enslaving many of the natives to raise cattle, sugarcane, and tobacco. When many of the natives died under slavery, the Spanish imported Africans to take their place to work as slaves on ranches and plantations until the abolition of slavery there in 1886. Later, in the early twentieth century, Cuban gained its independence from Spain, even as Spain granted the island to the US in 1898 under the Treaty of Paris. Officially, Cuba was granted independence from the United States in 1902, and thirty years later, an agreement was made that gave the US lease of the Guantanamo Bay naval base. As an independent country, Cuba often had authoritarian political and military figures for rulers. One, Fulgencio Batista, was elected president in 1940, but was voted out four years later. But in 1952, he returned to power by coup and was disliked by those who wanted to follow democratic rule. Seven years after this, Fidel Castro was able to successfully overthrow Batista, ruling in a manner that seemed to some Cubans also inconsistent with promises he made as a new ruler. Based on this inconsistency, many Cubans fled the island.

Creation - Migration
When Castro formally declared Cuba as a communist state and pursued close ties with the USSR, relations with the US soured. Cuba expropriated some properties owned by the US and in response the US imposed an economic embargo on Cuba in the early 1960s. Relations worsened during the Cuban Missile Crisis that pitted the US against Cuba via the USSRs unsuccessful attempt to keep missiles pointed at the US on the island.

Throughout this time, Cubans have continued to migrate to the US. There are about major four waves of immigration since 1959 first wave of about 250,000 that established Little Havana in Florida was right after Castro took over the second wave happened in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a result of Jimmy Carters allowance for about 300,000 Cuban refugees to come over the third wave happened in the early 1980s when Castro allowed Cubans in the US to visit their relatives on the island which resulted in the move of about 125,000 emigrants and the fourth wave happened after the fall of the USSR in the early 1990s, since the island suffered financially from the loss of this economic partner. According to U.S. Census data collected from 2006 to 2008, there are nearly 1,572,138 Cubans in the US. Of these, about 990,000 or almost 68 percent of the total, live in Florida. Of this number, about 360,000 (37 percent) live in Miami City. Other major Cuban communities exist in New Jersey, California, and Texas, but Miami is considered the locus of the Cuban-American community.

Consequences  Fusion, Assimilation, and Discrimination
Most Cubans say they dont want to return to Cuba, and this explains why so many have assimilated into the US culture, although there are pockets of fusion in places like Little Havana Miami that includes many traditional features of the Cuban culture. Most Cuban-Americans are registered voters (78), they have political capital through organizations such as the Cuban American National Foundation, they have higher average incomes than other Hispanic groups, and they have higher levels of education on average above other Hispanic groups. Also, the Cuban-American family resembles the typical America family  two kids, comparatively independent female role contributing to the leadership of the household, and a belief in western religion (namely Catholicism). Even though theyve assimilated, they have also endured discrimination and resistance to their presence here in the US. They are portrayed by the media and perceived in society as unwanted social deviants expelled from a corrupt country that doesnt want them. They are also associated with organized crime in the US and adherents of a voodoo religion, Santeria, in the American public consciousness.

Part II - Journal Entry of a Subordinate Group Member
Im a Cuban-American who lives where I think is the best place for someone like me - Miami. My parents came during first major wave of immigration during the late 1960s when US President Jimmy Carter allowed Cuban refugees to come here. We apparently had other family that came over, but they moved out of Florida and went north to New Jersey when JFK introduced the Cuban Refugee Program that gave money to help with such endeavors. My parents didnt want to go too far north since so many more Cubans were staying in Florida, especially in Miami. Even though shed never admit it, I also think my mom wanted to stay closer to the water just in case our American project didnt work out and we could just make the ninety mile trip back to our home country. I was just a baby when they came, so I dont really remember the trip, but I have seen early pictures from our first years in the States. My dad worked for a construction company and my mom worked as a teacher. I only know about the stories they told me of how difficult it was to start a new life here, but how grateful they are for leaving the island.

Piecing their memories together, it seems to me that my parents came by boat to the shores of Florida. They left the Cuban city of Santo Domingo on a crowded boat across the Straits of Florida to the city of Miami. It was difficult since they didnt speak English at first, but they found a family of exiles who left when Batista ruled who was willing to teach them. They worked for over a year, tutoring with the exiles and then working together at home to build their language skills. By the time I entered elementary school, they both spoke English competently, so well in fact that I never knew they ever struggled with it. For me, it was never difficult because I learned English from my parents and from school. My parents spoke Spanish at home, but usually only when they were angry or frustrated about something.
My dad got a job working construction, many long hours, so I didnt get to see him as much as my mom. She worked, teaching mathematics, but she also spent time with me and my brothers at home. She let me help her grade papers and sharpen pencils for her students. I loved being her little helper and one day she even let me visit her class. I showed up and watched as she wrote a simple addition problem on the chalkboard. But I noticed that when one of the students asked her a question in Spanish, she corrected them and made them speak in English. When we got home, I asked here why couldnt the kids speak Spanish and she told me that theyd be more successful if they didnt. I just took her word for it, even though I thought it was kinda weird knowing that she and papa could and did speak it also, if but on occasion.

Sometimes I think about my long-lost family members back on the Cuban island, many of whom are quite possibly suffering from the embargo that causes massive cases of malnutrition there. I really dont know because we dont talk to anyone back there. Once my parents moved here, they were determined to start a new life  one that permanently separated us from our Cuban connections across the water. Even when Castro allowed Cuban-Americans to visit family back on the island, my parents refused to go. They were done with that place.

I grew up in the great city of Miami and was fortunate to go to college at Florida State University, where I got a degree in Computer Science, but where I also learned more about my Cuban heritage. While studying in college, I got the chance to travel outside my home state, I and came face to face with the reality that Im a minority in the US, even though growing up, I never felt like one. My youth was filled with love, adventure, learning, and fun with mostly people who look like me. And there was always so much to do in little Havana. I loved going to the festivals my favorite is the Three Kings Parade because I love watching the floats, musical bands and characters marching through Calle Ocho.

ince then, Ive come to know what it means to be second generation. Whenever I leave Miami, I feel that people look at me like Im one of those criminals Castro exported here, but Im not I know life isnt fair, but its so frustrating when people look at me and are surprised that I speak English so well, or when they find out that Im a Cuban-American, theyre further surprised that I dont have a stash of Cuban cigars in my pocket. What I am surprised about is how my parents had the strength to create a new life for themselves, and one that resulted in my ability to have two great identities  one American and one Cuban. And even though I have yet to fully grow into what it truly means to have Cuban heritage, I know that I have the rest of my life to figure that out. I have experienced the first chapter of a successful migrant Cuban family book, founded on my parents vigor and the context of Cuban life in Miami. Consequently, I am primed to construct the rest of the story in my own, unique, and colorful voice as Maria Gomez, a fusion of assimilated member of a socially perceived subordinate group member, but also a fusion of all things good both Cuban and American.

According to Merriam-Webster, the belief that race, being the primary determinant of capacities and human traits, is racism. Also included is the production of inherent superiority of a particular race given by racial differences. When denial of rights and benefits or receiving preferential treatment takes place on racial groups, institutional racism is the coined term.
The Lemon Grove Incident that took place the year 1930 to 1931 in California is one historical antecedent that led to walkouts. The school board of Lemon Grove decided to build a separate school that will be attended only by children of Mexican heritage. The issue worsened when the board of Lemon Grove did not inform the parents of those students of Mexican heritage that their children will be isolated on a separate school. The school was known in the local Mexican American as La Caballeriza which means the stable. Because of the parents instructions to their children to return home if such is to happen, the children followed what their parents have said. The students were not allowed to return to the main schoolhouse at the same time, the parents refused to send their children to the new school. Because of the incidents that took place, a boycott resulted. The parents approached the Mexican Consul in San Diego and sought for their assistance. Two attorneys were given to them. Thus, the Lemon Grove Incident was the first successful school desegregation court decision in United States history.
According to George Sanchez, Mexican Americans in Los Angeles had formed their own unique identity oriented not toward Mexico but to their new home. Because of being often denied with equal opportunity in employment and education, Mexican immigrants have built cohesive communities at the same time adapting to the cultural practices of Americans. Though receiving pressures from Americans to assimilate and form Mexican government representatives to remain loyal to their homeland, Mexican Americans found a middle way of being Mexican while living as citizens under the country of United States. In competing religious faiths, many Mexican women quietly continued Catholic traditions at home while others converted to Protestantism. Mexican Americans continued to eat their native foods, but immediately adopted American fashions. When the second generation came of age in the 1930s, they participated in American party politics and labor unions in order to improve conditions for Mexican Americans. George Sanchez used materials such as statistical analysis, narrative, and compelling individual histories to present data. Sanchez demonstrates that Mexican Americans became loyal and hard-working citizens that deserve equal rights and privileges. Mexican Americans quietly persevered and survived to assert their identity as a distinctive ethnic community within the American nation even when faced with discrimination.
Throughout the film, the different struggles of Chicanos were shown before they have acquired their interests in receiving equal rights and just treatments. It was clearly seen in the movie the discrimination that Chicanos experienced by the sole reason of being a Mexican American. They are people who are trying to adapt and acclimatize themselves to the American culture but they still get unequal rights and benefits compared to that of the pure Americans are receiving. Becoming doesnt mean becoming solely an American or becoming solely a Mexican. Becoming means embracing both races and cultures and establish a new wave by being a Mexican American. Becoming in the movie has evolved because from being discriminated for having a Mexican heritage receiving unequal rights and unjust treatments, Mexican Americans fought for what they think is just for them. Being successful in what they have fought for, they have acquired what they have longed for, becoming a recognized and equally treated citizen of the United States disregarding the reason of being a Mexican American. They have established a new culture not that of Mexicans or Americans alone but that of Mexican Americans. From a simple goal of establishing and forming groups to promote their interests, the Chicano students in the film came up with a well-thought plan to end up the disparities when it comes to the level and kind of benefits they are receiving if compared to those of pure Americans. After all, Chicanos deserve equal rights and protection since they are also citizens who pay taxes to United States just like Americans do.
After the boom that took place after the World War II, Chicanos did not benefit much from it as said by Hayes Bautista. More than half of the population of Chicanos or 60.6 lived a life of poverty while those of the non-Hispanic Whites had a lesser population of only a quarter or 25.5. For the Chicanos who werent able to receive the benefits, they were deprived of a better life and a higher quality of education. Since the countrys finances have recovered, Education has been prioritized by the government. The fact that they are Chicanos had already deprived them from receiving the right to have a better education. Being a Chicano will do no harm to United States but they are treated as if they are people who only seek opportunities in the country. Since employed Chicanos pay their taxes to the American government, it is just and fair for their children to receive the kind of quality education and improvements that pure American children do. Because of the discrimination, Chicanos are deprived of the right to be educated and acquire a white collared job because of their low educational attainment.
Based on the movie, only a few Chicanos managed to enter college. Not having the opportunity to enter college is synonymous to not having the chance to provide a better life to their family and future family. Chicanos were removed from their dreams of uplifting their heritage and proving themselves. They were expected to stay on the place where they are standing and most of them were deprived of the chance to move up a step farther from where they used to be. It is because they dont receive the knowledge and skills where they could have taken in college. They could have increased and improved their capabilities but getting into college was a struggle for them.
The movie showed how Chicanos were provided with old and lacking instructional materials. They were not given the freedom to speak the language of their preference because in doing so, they will be receiving a severe punishment. Chicanos have lived a life in fear and depression because they were made to feel that they are an inferior race. Despite Chicanos have managed themselves to get into school, the majority only reach high school as the highest level. They are still undereducated. The Chicano community didnt prosper at all. Most of them have been stuck in the high school level. Because of the condition, a protest resulted from Chicano students who had felt the need to stand up for what they should deserve. It has caused chaos and a piece of American history. A brave mass walkout was bravely organized together with different schools to show or express their hearts and minds.
As I have read and watched, Chicano history was a brave one. Their history was started by despair but it ended well because of the motivation of their race. Chicanos are people who value their pride as a person and as a human being entitled to receive the same rights as the rest of their co-citizens in the United States. Chicano history was a bloodless battle because no great harm to humans was caused in winning the fight. Aside from the harassments that some students experienced in the walkout, the rest had undergone in the right process. Excluding the acts of the policemen who were controlling the walkout, no one else placed the law in their hands. The rest had undergone the right processes in achieving justice and equality.
Whatever the present Chicanos are enjoying today, they all owe it to the past Chicano youth who bravely stood out and fought for their rights, for their race. They have gained respect by giving respect to themselves first. There were a lot of oppression especially in education and benefits back then but all of which were corrected because of the brave acts of the Chicano youth in those times. I have learned that Chicano, Mexicans or Latinos are people who have found its home in the lands of United States of America. They are the people who gave America its first successful landmark case of school desegregation that marked history. They had given empowerment to a lot of people because of the tactics they used in dealing with the situation. It was a bloodless fight that gave an opening gate for a better future to the Mexican American race. Who wouldve thought that the brave acts of brave Chicano youth will allow their race to be free from the inequalities and unjust treatments they are receiving. The Chicanos have proven that even the youth has the power to change the world, that the youth cant be fooled and be blinded, and that the youth are people who will bring forth a change that the world will benefit in the future. The power of youth shouldnt be underestimated. It was only the power of Chicano youth that was seen, how much more if the rest of the worlds races hold hands together in achieving a vision of a better Earth Indeed, the youth can make history and change future.

After the 1958 Cuban revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power, the United States initially welcomed the revolution but this changed when the country started to adopt communist ideas. This led to a general discord between the United States and Cuba. A few years after the revolution, many Cubans especially the middle class and the upper class left the country because of the adverse effects of the new economic policies instituted by the new government. On the other hand majority of those who remained behind supported the government policies. In 1960, the CIA started to draft a secret plan to overthrow the Cuban government based on a similar plan that had worked in Guatemala. This involved the creation of an exile government, a strong propaganda offensive, creation of a resistance movement within Cuba and development of a military group outside the country. The plan came to be known as the Bay of Pigs. Schemes included assassination plots against the Cuban leader but all proved difficult to execute (Jones, p 9).
    The Bay of Pigs was one of the most significant political decisions in the history of the cold war threat to the USA. The effects of the failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro are still felt to date. The fact that the decision was taken by the most powerful institution in the country indicated that the USA was and is not entirely perfect. The plan was not properly thought out and the subsequent global embarrassment was a big price to pay for the failure. The plan was initiated by President Eisenhower who mandated the CIA to train Cuban exiles and help them set up a resistance movement within Cuba and eventually topple Castros regime. The Cuban force was to be aided by American forces but the plan failed to materialize. The main reason for the invasion was to counter the spread of communism onto the American soil. The plan was to provoke a counterrevolution so as to destroy all traces of communism in Cuba. This proofed difficult as the Cuban government was generally popular among its citizens making the spread of propaganda against it very difficult. In the end, the Bay of Pigs revolution failed and the USA problem with Cuba intensified as it failed to stop the threat of communism in the country. Cuba increased its relations with the USSR leading to the infamous Cuban missile crisis. For many years, the USA has tried to overthrow Castro without success and the only remedy is maybe to wait for another regime that might be more democratic (Jones, p 75).
    The Bay of Pigs is just one example of how the USA has tried to control the Latin American countries over the years. The increased USA involvement in Latin America can be traced from Monroe Doctrine, which started the continued colonization of the South American region by European powers, would be viewed as an act of aggression. The policy has been modified   over the years with the intention of controlling the political events in the region. From the 1950s, the USA grew increasingly apprehensive about the possible takeover of communist governments in the Latin America region. The country tried to move closer to the Latin America dictators who could guarantee stability in the region and welcome more USA investors. These leaders included Somoza, Trujillo, Batista and Marcos Perez. In Guatemala, communist influence was countered by deposing the government of Jacob Arbenz and replacing it with a dictatorship dominated by Carlos Armas. These led to hostility against the USA in the region as the public was very unpopular with the USA support of dictators in the region.
    The coming to power of the socialist republic under Castro confirmed the United States fears and only intensified efforts to counter the situation. The USA administration increased economic assistance in the region in order to counter the anger and the resentment. The Alliance for Progress was established to channel billions of dollars through investment programs in the region. The aim was to improve the living conditions of the masses so as to undermine the anti-USA wave and the rise of socialist governments. In 1965, President Johnson sent USA forces into the Dominican Republic where a Cuban style regime was on the rise. In the 1970s, the CIA helped in the overthrowing of the democratically elected government in Chile under President Salvadoran Allede who had tried to introduce nationalist policies. In the coup, military officers led by General Augustino Pinochet killed the president and many other people (Schoultz, p 332).
    During Carters presidency, the administration tried to focus more on human rights issues and reduce cooperation with dictators but this proved difficult to accomplish. It also tried to improve relations with Cuba but this equally proved futile. The situation in Nicaragua was complicated by the victory of Sandinista who toppled the Somoza dictatorship. The Reagan administration became more aggressive in fighting the spread on communism in Latin America. The USA once again intensified its efforts to undermine revolutions in Nicaragua and El Salvador. In Nicaragua, it supported the Nicaraguan Contra rebels which became a major talking point in the United States. Although economic assistance was used to undermine the spread on communism, most of the efforts involved clandestine and military operations (Schoultz, p 350).
    Over the years, the USA supported the status quo in Latin American countries even though the governments acted against the moral principles of democratic tenets. It was hell bent on preventing the occurrence of communist revolutions even when they were occurring in peaceful settings. As President John Kennedy declared, those who make peaceful revolutions impossible make violet revolutions inevitable this was the case in the Latin America region. In many ways, the USA policies in Latin America were major setbacks to economic, social and political development in the region and this mainly affected the ordinary people. Human rights and democratization were not given top priority and this let to violent reform in the region. The USA preferred to support anticommunist military dictators rather than weak democracies that supported leftist ideals. This created a long period of conflict and military rule in the region led by the traditional elites. On the other hand, the communist insurgents resorted to armed conflict over electoral competition in order to achieve their aims which led to over two decades of civil wars in the region (Schoultz, p 316).
Question 2
Comparison of the history of Cuba and Chile
Cuba
    Cuba was the last Spanish colony to gain independence after Spain relinquished control of the country to the USA in 1896. The USA granted Cuba independence but retained right to intervene where necessary. For many years, the country was ruled by dictatorial military and political personalities who acquired power by force. In the 1950, Cuba was faced by a viscous power struggle among its leaders. In 1933, Fulgencio Batista organized a non-commissioned officer revolt and held considerable power until he was elected president in 1940. He lost the presidency in 1944 but regained power in 1952 after a bloodless coup with the support of the army. He crushed an uprising led by a young lawyer named Fidel Castro in the Oriente Province and was reelected unopposed in the 1953 elections after other candidates withdrew. He ruled by decree and this fuelled increasing revolt leading to the rise of popular resistance groups. In 1955, he restored to constitutional rule and freed all political prisoners including Fidel Castro. Fidel Castro fled into exile in Mexico and formed the 26th of July movement with the aim of overthrowing the Batista government. He launched guerrilla warfare and with time gained massive public support. The government was eventually overthrown by the rebels led by Fidel Castro and Batista fled the country (Staten, p 50).
     On 1 January 1959, Castro declared the country a socialist republic and used his control over the military to suppress all forms of dissent. The USA reduced the amount of sugar imported from Cuba and imposed other trade embargoes that remained in force until the year 2001. This led to frosty relations with the USA as Cuba cultivated close relations with the USSR with the tension peaking during the Bay of Pigs invasion and Cuban missile crisis. The USA set up a naval blockade around the island to prevent any further shipments of the weapons from reaching the island. The policies of the government led to increased isolation by the other Latin America countries and Cuba was accused of fomenting communist rebellions in other countries (Staten, p 107).
    Over the years, the economy in Cuba has been organized on socialist principles where most of the enterprises are owned and controlled by the state. After the 1959 revolution, private properties were expropriated by the state and only a small percentage of the population was engaged in private business (MacEwan, p 65). The country mainly depended on the USSR and other soviet bloc countries for financial aid and joined the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON). After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Cuba entered a period of economic restructuring marked by food and fuel shortages and energy crisis since the USSR was the main trade partner. In 1993, the country legalized the dollar as the medium of exchange and allowed its citizens to engage in self-employment (Staten, p 125).
Chile
    From the 1920s, the middle class in Chile gained political recognition as they influenced the political events in the country. The military coup of 1924 led to political instability in the country that ended in 1932 with the return to constitutional rule. The Radical party which was dominated by the corking classes played a major role in coalition governments between 1932 and 1952. The period saw increased state control of the economy and increasing popularity of leftist parties in Chile. By 1964, it had become clear that either a centre-left or far-left candidate will emerge victorious in the elections. The top contenders were Eduardo Frei of the Christian Democrats and Salvador Allende of the Socialist party which had been formed way back in 1933. Allende had been a candidate in the 1952 and 1958 elections coming forth and second respectively. Frei won the election by an absolute majority after which he initiated major reforms under the slogan Revolutionary in Liberty. The new administration embarked on extensive social and economic projects especially in the education, housing and agricultural sectors. However, by 1967, there was increasing opposition from the leftist groups who held that the reforms were not adequate while the conservatives termed them as excessive. Consequently in 1970, Allende won the presidency with a narrow margin to lead the broad coalition of Socialists, Communist, Radical and Social-Democratic parties (Rector, p 155).
    He embarked on a massive nationalization program of the private enterprises, banks, land expropriation and collectivization. The United States was not happy with his election and even tried to prevent the formation of the coalition. His economic programs seemed to be successful at the beginning of his tenure but soon the economy was in disarray due to massive inflation. Within three years of his presidency, the country was heavily polarized with serious divisions between his supporters and the opponents. The potential of a civil war was eminent as military actions and movements began to emerge in the countryside. Subsequent events led to the coup in which Allende was killed and the government taken over by military officers led by Augustino Pinochet. The army established a military Junta to rule the country which lasted for sixteen years until 1990 marked by oppressive repression of the opponents. The Junta abolished civil rights, disbanded the national congress, prohibited union activities like strikes and collective bargaining by workers and reversed the agricultural and economic policies put in place by Allende. Political parties were abolished and most of the opposition figures jailed or forced into exile (Rector, p 185).
     During the military rule, the state reduced its control of the economy. It favored free-market policies which led to increased domestic and foreign investments. The administration embarked on a huge program of liberalization and privatization which included reduction of tariffs, welfare projects and deficits. The drive to restore the market economy was faced by serious problems due global inflation. The consumer price index skyrocketed, the state currency depreciated and the reduction in state expenditure led to a depression. The growth in the industrial and agricultural sectors stagnated as employment level increased. Fortunately, from 1976, the economy started to pick, fueled by increased investment through foreign loans with rapid growth rates registered for the subsequent five years. The main copper mining industry was controlled by the government but other mineral deposits were left to the private firms. The capitalist culture increased as the welfare and social sectors were privatized including healthcare and education.  On the other hand, inequitable income distribution was very serious as only a small percentage of the population benefiting from the rapid growths. The new policies also destroyed the small business groups due to decreased demand, lack of loans and increased monopolies by the big businesses. The international financial institutions were the major beneficiaries as they disbursed huge loans to the administration and received interests and repayments (Collier, p 330).  The fixing of the exchange rate in the 1980s led to increased imports but was detrimental to the domestic industry. The domestic economic troubles coupled with the world recession led to a series of protests to topple the regime without success. After the economic crisis of the early 80s, further liberalization programs were initiated that stimulated economic development. The rate of inflation dropped greatly and the volume of exports increased as the gross domestic product improved considerably. In 1988, the country returned to democracy after the defeat of Pinochet in the referendum and the constitution was amended to reorganize the political system. The market oriented reforms initiated by the Junta regime have remained in force over the recent years (Wesson, p 3).
    The two countries experienced different historical developments politically which in effect impacted on the economic policies and development. Cuba has been ruled by communist regime which put in place socialist policies that curtained economic growth exacerbated by the international trade embargoes and the cold war struggle. On the other hand, Chile was able to shake off the introduction of socialist policies albeit through a military dictatorship which provided a favorable environment for economic development. 

Alfonso III was declared the king of Spain under his mothers regency at the age of 16. Even though the newly industrialized areas generated a lot of social unrest to the monarch, Alfonso enjoyed a lot of popularity. In 1898, Spain was defeated by the American troops and some of its colonies were taken by America.  The Catalans and Basque people of Spain were very agitated for independence as a result of the constant fighting in morocco and also by the rise of communism and lawless labor groups. A group known as the generation 98 (1898) composed of artists and other public figures formed a union which believed that time had come for Spain to embrace new forms of art, politics and customs in general. This group had very prominent members including Machado, Miguel de Unamuno, Pio Baroja, Ramon del Valle-Inclan, and others. This group wanted Spain to adopt a more modernized way of doing things as regards to science, medicine and politics. The Generation of 98 was very much worried about what came later to be referred to as the Spanish problem. They found out the beauty of the solemn Castilian scenery and developed a significant reformation in styles that were aimed at avoiding the characteristic 19th century style. This generation was so strong with its principles that some of its members acquired international status, for example Miguel de Unamuno a Basque.

The political life was very unstable and the young Alfonso had to deal with a lot of political disasters which included fourteen ministerial crisis and eight different prime ministers. After a radical publicist known as Francisco Ferrer Guardia was executed in 1909 as a result of an uprising in Barcelona, the government faced a lot of public attack. Though King Alfono XIII tried his best to keep Spain out of the First World War, he was however very dissatisfied with the functioning of parliamentary government and therefore he decided to support General Miguel Primo de Riviera in establishing a military form of government. Through his speech, Alfonso denounced the parliamentary system of government in Spain in 1921. That same year, a huge group of Spanish troops suffered a humiliating defeat from the rebellious tribes in Spanish Morocco. This defeat developed a lot of criticism to the military and the monarchy. The criticisms were so intense that General Miguel decided to take over the government and establish a military dictatorship form of governance. Alfonso was very pleased with that decision to an extent that he introduced Miguel as his Mussolini during a visit to Italy.
By 1930, the dictatorship had become so unacceptable that even the military denounced it. As a result of his association with the dictatorship, Alfonso acquired a lot of hatred for himself and the monarchy. He was dissatisfied with holding on to power after the municipal elections of 1931 where the republican acquired majority supports. The republicans demanded the resignation of Alfonso. On realizing that, Alfonso went into exile on April 1934 and suspended the exercise of royal power in order to avoid break out of a civil war. Spain became a republic in 1931. However, the republicans were unable to hold public order and political stability to the country. This led to the break out of a three year civil war after the army had rebelled in 1936.
The civil war was followed by the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. Though General Franco was not involved in the planning of the coup, he was fully aware of the coup proceedings. He rose to power and adopted a dictatorship mode of governance even though that was not a feature when the plan of the coup was being laid down. Due to complexities and lack of governance skills, Franco relegated all the leadership duties to his brother. With Francos brain behind the leadership of Spain, the republic could not be easily maneuvered and it was very difficult for Spain to join other western countries in their democratic ideologies.
The death of Francisco Franco Bahamonde, a Spanish dictator was announced by prime minister Arias Navarro on 21st November 1975. This death acted as a conversion mode in the wake of Spains political systems transformation. Various political parties were formed with an aim of reforming all sectors of life. Reforma democratic was formed with an aim of developing democracy while Raptura democratica which was supported by the communist and the socialist opposition groups were proposing a more radical approach in the development of a New Spain. A legal document known as law of political reform was developed and approved by the parliament. This reform opened a door for the formation of political parties. Alliances were formed in preparation for the forthcoming election. After a period of 40 years, a general election was held in 1977. The era of dictatorship and its dictators passed away after the death of the master mind. Aldofo Suarez gathered the entire political representative at the official residence of the prime minister the Moncloa palace Madrid in 1977 for consultations to develop a platform in the process of developing reforms. These consultations came to be referred to as the Moncloa pact and formed a very important base in the continuous rollout of change.
The Prime Minister Suares did all he could to persuade the compliant members of parliament to legalize trade unions. He also urged them to eliminate the form of government that once directed labor. In the Basque country, nationalists and conservatives parties vied for votes with the militia oriented groups. In Catalonia, the situation was also the same, leftists and conservatives regional parties vied for votes. The inflation rate which was as high as 20 was cut back to 16 and in 1978 Spain developed a new constitution which found favor in the eyes of the people. The constitution stated that the delegates to both the Senate and the Congress were supposed to be elected for a period of 4 years.
The heavy censorship that had been put in place for the press was lifted and this saw a boom in the number of publications. The electoral campaign received a remarkable coverage on the newspapers. In the 1977 elections, Aldofo Suares and his UCD party retained power. All political prisoners who had been convicted before the 1977 elections were released. The church became more liberal and Spain grew more prosperous than the early years. Spaniards were now starting to regain some hope from their parliament. In 1978, the constitution, which was based on democracy, gave freedom to all its old historic nationalities. This freedom was later extended to all the Spanish territories.  The second general election of Spain and the first after the development of a constitution was held in 1979 and the UCD (Union de Centro Democratico) with Aldofo Suarez as the prime minister won a second term in office. The major dilemma that was facing Suares was how to curb the crisis that was in Basque and keep the rich Basque country under the Spanish (Pierson, p 178).
The UDC party was under extensive pressure from the high office and also due to the crisis that were facing the country. Aldofo Suares began to isolate himself from the limelight. The government was being referred to as an inability government. The prime minister opted to resign from office when he sensed the mood of the people in 1981 (Pierson, p 178). Leopold Calvo Sotelo was elected to replace him. During the francoism era, it was very hard to obtain divorce, but the divorce bill of 1980 made this easy for Aldofo Suares in 1981. A coup was planned on 23rd February 1981 but it did not materialize. A third election was held in 1982 and the outcome of that election generated a new dawn from the political systems transition in Spain. In 1982, Spain joined NATO.
Spain became a member of the European Union in 1986. Though it was formerly a unitary system of government, Spain is currently a state of autonomies. Each and every community has different authority and laws. The current prime minister of Spain is known as Jos Luis Rodrguez Zapatero, joined PSOE in 1979 and was later chosen as the PSOEs local secretary for Leon city. He first became a member of parliament after the 1986 elections which saw the former prime minister, Felipe Gonzlez, who was a Socialist regain power.  During the Ombudsman and Constitutional parliamentary commissions, Rodrguez became the spokesman of the PSOE. Rodrguez was later to be re-elected in the 1993, 1996, and 2000 parliamentary elections.  In 1998 he was declared as the most active socialist member by journalists assigned to the congress. Spain became so prosperous and started competing with countries like Germany, Italy and French for superiority in terms of agriculture, economy and fisheries. Under the leadership of Gonzalez, Spain took a major step to strengthen its ties with other nations especially the Spanish America.  Spain also recognized Israel and has been selected as a site for holding important Israel peace meetings. Today Spaniards have embraced the warmth and individuality and gone back to their historic sense of community. Spaniards care no longer opposing each other

The Central American nations originally comprised by Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, as one can observe seem to constitute quite a homogeneous entity as the people speak a common language and profess a common religion. These republics as Anthony James Joes noted, All experienced centuries of Spanish administration, and they began their career as independent states at the same time (Joes, 131). These countries including Venezuela, Columbia, and Bolivia according to Ernesto Guevara, Brian Loveman, and Thomas Davies, were the scene of revolutionary guerrilla movements that either were rural-based or counted upon significant rural component (178).
While in most cases the guerrilla movements had failed to achieve their political objectives, it had left a significant effect on the basic economic issues that the revolutionaries were so concerned about and were fighting for. These issues include poverty, corruption, and inequality which had gripped these nations since they gained independence from the Spanish rule.

The existence of guerrilla warfare groups in Central and South America
The role that guerrilla warfare groups had taken on Central and South American nations had indeed greatly affected the development of each nation. However, two interesting questions that seemed needed to be answered first before further discussion was how this guerilla warfare was formed and what were their intensions. The importance of these questions lies on the fact that according to Walter Lacqueur, in the entire history of Latin America there were countless external and internal guerrilla wars (Lacqueur, 52). Although he did not categorically identified the reason for the existence of such groups, he cited that one potential reason for the existence of such warfare groups was the government inability to afford sizable regular armies because of financial constrains. Lacqueur noted that in Central and South America, the military disposition in any event is to incline more to the convention of small flexible fighting units than to large, rigidly disciplined armies. In other words, ever since, guerilla movements had been the customary in the military affairs of Latin America. This suggests that the guerrilla warfare were not formed specifically for a particular revolutionary purpose. According to Lacqueur, army and politics have been traditionally linked closer in Latin America, than in other parts of the world and that the armies were on the whole more politically oriented, and political life more militarized than elsewhere (Lacqueur, 53).
Given the above reason for the existence of guerrilla warfare groups, one can easily form an opinion about what was the color of these guerrilla warfare groups. Were they for the masses or were they for the politicians whose aim was to enthrone themselves in the government Given their inclination to politics, these guerrilla warfare groups were unlikely for the side of the masses as it appeared that they were the tools of those in power for whatever they wanted to accomplish in their political ambitions.

Various guerrilla bands in Latin America
Among the most prominent guerrilla bands in Latin America according to Lacqueur were the montoneros of the La Plata region, the Almeydas of New Granada, the guerrilla bands of central Peru and the units of Jose Antonio Paez in Venezuela. All these guerrilla bands however, have different social backgrounds and have different concerns. The guerrillas of Central Peru for example were the middle-class Creoles and Mestizos whose property and families had suffered at the hands of royalists and who sought revenge (Lacqueur, 55). Paezs guerrilla group on the other hand, was a savage bands held together with no ardent idealism or ideology but simply by a prospect of plunder (Lacqueur, 55).
With these kinds of convictions, there seemed to have enough reason to believe that guerrilla warfare in Central and South America had no positive effect on the problem of poverty of the Latin American countries rather they had further contributed to this problem. The role they have taken on the issue of poverty was to give the people a false hope of reforms and land distribution when they succeeded in their guerrilla efforts. In Venezuela for example, Leslie Bethell pointed out that despite of the success of the Venezuelan reform, still the problem rural poverty continued. Bethell cited the massive rural-urban exodus, (Bethell, 352) as well as the visible proliferation of shanty-towns on the outskirts of the cities.

The breeding ground for guerrilla warfare beginning from the 1930s
    The atmosphere in Latin America during the early decade of the twentieth century were obviously prone to the re-establishment of guerrilla warfare as Latin America had managed to establish what Bethell calls oligarchical democracies (3) in which the president was elected by limited representative. From the 1930s Latin American countries experienced a period of democratization. However, this democratization were swept away in the late 1940s, and during the 1960s and 1970s Bethell contends that numerous countries returned to military rule, often for periods (Bethell, 4). This condition created the atmosphere for military dictatorship. Thus, the second half of the twentieth century once again saw the proliferation of social unrest, and the failure to solve the problems of rural unemployment, food scarcity, and poverty. This economic debacle suffered by the Latin American countries and the militarization of the government, triggered the reestablishment of Guerrilla warfare that was anchored on the fight against injustice, poverty, corruption and inequality through the help of radical peasants organization.
Among the most notable guerrilla warfare groups during the second half of the twentieth century were that of Fidel Castro of Cuba and Ernesto Che Guevara. According to Daniel Castro, Fidel Castro and Guevara were instrumental in the overthrow of one of the most repressive dictator of Latin America. Castros victory were seen by the masses as heroism, a sign that the people were tired of dictatorship but had not been doing their duties to uphold the welfare of the people. The Cuban revolution headed by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara was an example that Latin American people were tired of these unmet social and economic issues as they were seen as savior of the people against the tyrannical rule of Batista.
While most of the guerrilla warfare groups were unsuccessful in their mission during the second half of the twentieth century against military dictators, it could not be denied that they had an effect on the issues of poverty, and inequality in each region as people weary of these issues tend to turn on them for help. One obvious role these guerrilla had played for these peoples expectation was to show them their part towards overcoming the clouds of oppression, injustice, poverty, social inequality, and other issues affecting them through creating an atmosphere of popular discontent expressed in a more active form (Castro, 66). Apparently, the ideology and principles of these guerrilla warfare centered on the very issues of poverty, corruption, and inequality. Its aim is the liberation of the masses from this social misfortune. Castro puts it, Guerrilla warfare, the basis of the struggle of people to redeem it self, has diverse characteristics, different facets, even though the essential will for liberation remains the same (Castro, 67).
    The nature of the guerrilla warfare in South and Central America were apparently a struggle for national liberations not only from the clout of tyrannical rule but most importantly from the social inequality demonstrated by the gap between the rich and the poor, and the landless peasants and small farmers and the land owners and capitalist who controls them. The case of guerrilla warfare in Guatemala was obviously a struggle for liberation against military control that utilized paramilitary violence to maintain power and exercise control. According to Tom Barry, this military sanctioned paramilitary violence was responsible for much of the repression inflicted on those who dare to challenge the dictatorial government.
    Because of the firm control of those in power through military dictatorship, corruption simply emerges as part of the package. This was the case in the Peruvian struggle for independence not only from corrupt, tyrannical rule of President Fujimori but also from poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy. Ilan Stavans noted that during Fujimoris first few months in office as president, the national situation swiftly worsened (Stavans, 27) as despite of the worsening poverty level and the epidemic that left thousands dead, Fujimore was more concern on its intensified attacks on the provinces against his rival Presidente Gonzalo rather than addressing the problems besetting the entire country. Fujimores dictatorship made Peru plagued with corruption for decades.
Over the century, guerrilla warfare was lodge against corrupt dictatorial government by the guerrilla groups fighting these mostly pro military governments to liberate them from the grueling poverty, oppression and injustice. Indeed, since the World War II, poverty in Central and South America had always been severe but during the 1970s this situation became severe as corruption became rampant.

The situation in Central America in general
    Hugh Graham stated that the situation in Central America was worse as according to Graham, this part of the world has always been considered even by South Americans to be woeful and impoverished (Graham, x). Apparently, the Central American countries share the same problem of military dictatorship with the exception of Costa Rica which according to Graham was stable and has developed democracy. As discussed earlier, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and all the other remaining nations in the part of the Americas had faced or had been facing insurgencies either orchestrated by the guerilla warfare group or the paramilitary employed by the government to harass those resistance to their rule.   
The political situation in Central America was quite complex because while most of the countries were ultra rightist in the since that most of the guerrilla warfare groups were under the banner of communism trying to overthrow the militaristic government, guerrilla movement in Honduras was aided by the U.S. government to overthrow the communist rule. Here, it is clear that the intention behind the guerrilla warfare was simply to overthrow the existing government. It was a political motivation rather than the social and economic motivation. In effect, the concern for such economic issues as poverty, inequality, and corruption were secondary objectives. However, it was this issues that the guerrillas had utilized in order to gain the support of the masses particularly the peasants. The impact of guerrilla warfare therefore on the Central American development lies on their ability to convince the peasants of their promises once they are in power. But as it is, the impact of the guerilla warfare was the involvement of peasants towards the struggle to overthrow the existing government by increasing social tensions and unrests. The poor, the peasants, the oppressed, and the victims of injustices were undoubtedly the immediate beneficiaries of the guerrilla warfare effort in so far as fairness and injustice is concerned.

The effect of guerrilla warfare groups in South America
      The situation in South America was no different from Central America as the guerilla warfare groups were geared towards the overthrow of a tyrannical military rule. It was a conflict between democracy and communism and communism against military dictatorship responsible for the emergence of such groups. In Uruguay for example, Joes pointed out that the Tupamaros blamed most of Uruguays problems on foreigners, especially the British and Americans (Joes, 82). In this case, guerrilla warfare groups were seen as being triggered by the foreign exploitations namely by the United States of America and the British. This view on the role of the foreigners in Uruguay was in connection to the profit in trade and investment made by these two powerful countries in Uruguay. Thus, according to Joes, these guerrilla groups believed that the solution to their problems is the adoption of Marxism-Leninism on the Soviet model. 
    This reflects a political concern rather social or economic. That is, the fight is geared towards the overthrow not only of the existing regime but the ouster of the foreign powers in Uruguay. Given this undertaking, the social and economic issues were secondary. That is, peasants and the multitudes of marginal people should look beyond the present social and economic problems and unite towards the solution of the bigger problem which were the overthrowing of the present regime, and the ouster of the foreign powers controlling the business climate of the country
    The guerilla warfare in South America although very similar in nature with Central America, was however, focused more on the involvement of the foreign powers such as the United States rather than on the current regime of power. Citing the statement of Che Guevara, Paul Dosal stated, The type of struggle we are calling for goes beyond national framework (Dosal, 248). Dosal explained Guevaras strategy to establish hardcore combatants hoping to spark confrontation with the United States by developing a guerrilla front in the heart of South America (248).
    From this guerrilla tactic employed in South America, there was clearly a distinct emphasis on the nature of struggle which the guerrilla movement had between the two Americas. Apparently, there was much concern on the social and economic aspect in their struggle for liberation in Central America than in South America. This seemed to reflect the economic condition of the two Americas with the Central America receiving particular treatment in view of its woeful economic condition. That is, guerrilla leaders recognized the immediate situation of the people of Central America and the need to liberate them from the bondage of oppression, corruption, inequality, and injustice in the hands of the military dictators. While in South America, the economic and political situation was comparatively better and they were seeing as the immediate concern was not the condition of the people in general but the profits extracted by the foreign business at the expense of South Americans. What they were seeing was the imperialism swallowing the region. Thus, the strategy employed by the guerrillas was to lure the United States into arm confrontation hoping to generate opposition from progressive and nationalistic forces. 
    Looking at the big picture then, guerrilla warfare in South and Central America provides us a clear image of what was going on in both regions during the centuries of protracted arm struggles between the government and the guerrillas. The leaders of these bands of revolutionary and counter revolutionary struggles envisioned their roles as either savior of those affected by the ruling dictator or defender of the democratic institution. Either way, the degree of struggles they paid for such a cause was admirable and that they deserved their place in the history books of South and Central America.

The effect of guerrilla warfare in the development of Latin America 
    There is no doubt that terror and fear had reign in both the South and Central America during its years of guerilla activities. As Timothy Wickham-Crowley pointed out, extraordinary waves of terror have swept many Latin American societies since 1970s, most occurring in guerrilla-based insurgencies or even civil wars Wickham-Crowley p. 61). While the situation in Latin America had improved today, the wound of the past had not yet fully healed. However, it could not be denied that somehow it helped towards the triumph of political democracy and for the integration process of Latin American nations. Just as Germany and Japan realized the futility of armed struggle towards the progress of a nation so the Latin American nation is now transforming from an authoritarian rule towards democratic governance. Regarding this shift to democratic process, Joseph S. Tulchin and Allison M. Garland stated, Political democracy, although limited and constrained in several countries, appeared triumphant on the continent as never before in the history of the region as the late decade of the century began. This current shift in the region ran parallel to a broader international trend toward democracy (Tulchin  Garland, 89)
    However, this development taking place in todays Latin America never had existed before as the guerrilla leaders saw foreign business in Latin America as evil bent on extracting profits from its people. But with the advent perhaps of globalization and the coming of the GATTWTO it helps them to realize that integration in these nearly homogenous peoples of various countries, were possible through economic cooperation. I believed that the struggles they have experienced that claimed thousands of lives through guerrilla activity were a lesson from experience. Therefore what is Latin America today and in the future, is shaped by its past, and guided by the lesson they have learned from the bitter struggle to gain their sovereignty and freedom.