Read Chapter 4 - pages 102-136

Read Chapter 5 - pages 140-168

Latin America and the Caribbean were the first world regions to be fully colonized by Europe.

- Resulted in an unprecedented level of racial and
cultural mixing

Most people in Latin America live in cities. The cities are large and combine aspects of the formal industrial economy with an informal one.
Compared to Europe and Asia, Latin America is still rich in natural resources and relatively lightly populated. However, there is particular concern for the relentless cutting of tropical rain forests.
Uneven development and economic frustration have led many Latin Americans to consider emigration as an economic option. Today Latin American emigrants send billions of dollars in remittances back to Latin America each year.
Most Latin American governments have embraced neoliberal policies in an attempt to foster economic development. As a result, exports have surged, along with direct foreign investment in the region. Although the region experienced growth from 2000 to 2010, there is still stubbornly high income inequality.
Latin American governments were early adopters of neoliberal economic policies. Although some states prospered, others faltered, sparking popular protests against the negative effects of globalization. It does seem, however, that new political actors are emerging—from indigenous groups to women—who are challenging old ways of doing things.
The Caribbean is more integrated into the global economy than most other developing nations, albeit as a dependent economic periphery. The region offers some of the clearest examples of the long-term efforts of globalization, from plantation agriculture to offshore banking.
This tropical region has exploited its environment to produce export commodities such as sugar and bananas. The region’s warm waters and mild climate attract millions of tourists. However, serious problems with deforestation and soil erosion have degraded urban and rural environments.
Population growth in the Caribbean has slowed
over the past two decades. Social measures of development such as life expectancy and literacy are very good in the region, yet countries struggle with supplying adequate employment. Emigration is a way of life in the region.
The Caribbean was forged through European colonialism and the labor of millions of Africans. The blending of African and European elements, referred to as creolization, has resulted in many unique cultural expressions, especially in the religions, music, and languages of the region.
Today the region contains 26 independent countries and territories. With the end of the Cold War, many microstates in the region fear that their lack of strategic significance may result in neglect by the United States and Europe, which may limit their ability to participate in world trade.
In terms of development, the Caribbean has gradually shifted from being an exporter of primary agricultural resources to a service and manufacturing economy. The region’s strides in social development, especially in education, health, and the status of women, distinguish it from other developing areas.