Suchergebnisse

To place the Marxist observation that ". the country that is more developed industrially only shows the country that is less developed, the image of its own future" in its proper context requires reading the preface to that phrase that "social antagonisms that spring from the natural laws of capitalist production (of)." Read in this way, the incompleteness of the development of capitalist production that Marx noted throughout the European continent can be applied to "signs of the times" in Latin America. The author explores three aspects of the internal reorganization of the state in Latin America, & the evidence of an emphatic turn across the region to the systematic pursuit of international competitiveness & the opening up of a new phase of class struggle. Competition authorities have proliferated across the region over the last decade, reflecting a fundamental reorientation in the political economy of the region. Current hyperactivity around the issue competitiveness is demonstrably a reaction to the "palpable evidence" of rapid development in East Asia, & the poor performance of the region. The international organizations are engaged in a shared project of building "competition cultures" at global & regional levels. The current projects of "market led development based on international competition" in Latin America goes beyond the adjustment oriented policies promoted by the IMF to internalize at a national level the logic of capitalist reproduction & hegemony. US empire in the region is concluded to be part of the rivalry between the advanced capitalist countries that extends the social relations of capitalism across the multiplicity of nation-states. Imperialism, it turns out, is the pioneer of capitalism after all. References. J. Harwell

Part of the Morality & Society Series (Alan Wolfe, editor), shows how citizens of Latin America established strong democratic traditions in their countries through the practice of democracy in their everyday lives. Considers the development of democratic life in Mexico & Peru from independence to the late 1890s & traces the emergence of political, economic, & civic associations run by citizens in both nations & shows how these organizations became models for democracy in the face of dictatorship & economic hardship. Looks beneath institutions of government to uncover local & civil organizations in public life & reveals a tradition of edification & inculcation that shaped democratic practices in Latin America. Adapted from the source document.

Analyzes the increasing urban violence in Latin America & the Caribbean as a social problem that has been created by economic, cultural, & structural factors, & therefore can be prevented, controlled, & eradicated. Victims are defined as persons who have suffered "physical, mental, or emotional injury; economic loss; or substantial damage to their fundamental rights, individually or collectively, through acts or omissions that violate laws that operate in each state." A description of the magnitude & dimensions of the problem looks at the homicide rate in countries in Latin America & the Caribbean, as well as incidences of violence against children, adolescents, & women. The impact of rapid urban growth on violence is explored along with different perceptions of violence & insecurity. A classification of violence by type, motive, victimizers, & victims is offered as a tool for recognizing the different factors that generate or facilitate its occurrence. Strategies for confronting violence are outlined, maintaining that prevention should be favored over repression, & special attention is given to vulnerable groups. 3 Tables. J. Lindroth

It is argued that emotions -- particularly "moral outrage" -- were the dominant factors in shaping the formation of the US movement against human rights abuses in Central America in the 1980s. Though structural factors were critical in determining who gained access to information about such abuses as it began to appear, the motivation to actively form a Central American peace movement varied as a function of emotional factors, including those linked to network, organizational, & interpersonal ties. Data obtained via surveys & interviews with peace activists reveal the central role of the Christian religious community in the creation of this movement. This is explained in terms of its particular combination of offering cognitive accessibility to information about the abuses, personal encounters with refugees from Central America, a religious commitment to social justice & peace, & the theological belief that such atrocities violated moral norms. These factors contributed to the development of a sense of "moral outrage" & the feeling that activism was required. K. Hyatt Stewart

It is argued that emotions -- particularly "moral outrage" -- were the dominant factors in shaping the formation of the US movement against human rights abuses in Central America in the 1980s. Though structural factors were critical in determining who gained access to information about such abuses as it began to appear, the motivation to actively form a Central American peace movement varied as a function of emotional factors, including those linked to network, organizational, & interpersonal ties. Data obtained via surveys & interviews with peace activists reveal the central role of the Christian religious community in the creation of this movement. This is explained in terms of its particular combination of offering cognitive accessibility to information about the abuses, personal encounters with refugees from Central America, a religious commitment to social justice & peace, & the theological belief that such atrocities violated moral norms. These factors contributed to the development of a sense of "moral outrage" & the feeling that activism was required. K. Hyatt Stewart

Examines protests carried out by the popular classes in Latin America to oppose austerity measures implemented by international creditors or imposed by state governments to alleviate foreign debts. A description of the debt crisis facing many Latin American countries emphasizes its magnitude & its roots in global patterns of accumulation & developmental goals of dependent states. The economic situation in Latin America is analyzed in relation to interacting states & international actors, including the International Monetary Fund. Austerity measures undertaken by various nations are described, along with the wave of popular protests that emerged in response. It is noted that, between 1976 & 1986, over half of the major countries of Latin America & the Caribbean experienced social upheavals as the result of austerity measures. The motives, forms, membership, & consequences of these popular protests are examined, & it is argued that their importance must not be viewed as a separate determinant of change, but as part of the multiple forces involved in reshaping state & society. 2 Tables, 22 References. J. Lindroth

Examines protests carried out by the popular classes in Latin America to oppose austerity measures implemented by international creditors or imposed by state governments to alleviate foreign debts. A description of the debt crisis facing many Latin American countries emphasizes its magnitude & its roots in global patterns of accumulation & developmental goals of dependent states. The economic situation in Latin America is analyzed in relation to interacting states & international actors, including the International Monetary Fund. Austerity measures undertaken by various nations are described, along with the wave of popular protests that emerged in response. It is noted that, between 1976 & 1986, over half of the major countries of Latin America & the Caribbean experienced social upheavals as the result of austerity measures. The motives, forms, membership, & consequences of these popular protests are examined, & it is argued that their importance must not be viewed as a separate determinant of change, but as part of the multiple forces involved in reshaping state & society. 2 Tables, 22 References. J. Lindroth

Focuses on the contrasting cases of Brazil & Colombia to examine how lower-class movements grounded in liberation theology differ depending on specific national &/or local conditions. Although linking religion & structures of political protest is not a new phenomenon, the emergence of "base communities" (CEBs) in Latin America represents the first time the center of decision making has rested with groups of poor people. However, little attention has been given to the diversity of CEBs in different settings or to the complicated connections between the CEBs & politics. Brazilian CEBs emerged in the late 1960s as progressive models within worldwide Catholic forums. Conversely, Colombia used CEBs to advance the Vatican line & limit grass-roots activism. A discussion of underlying conceptual & theoretical issues is followed by a description of the life histories of two lay activists, one from Brazil & the other from Colombia, to show how the CEBs changed their lives & communities, as well as how national/international differences determined the nature of popular religious attitudes, practices, & organizations in both nations. 62 References. J. Lindroth

An introduction to The Church at the Grassroots in Latin America focuses on the evolution of the progressive church from a formidable popular movement to the margins of a religious movement more concerned with dogma than societal transformation. It is argued that the Catholic Left's decline reflects changes in the general society during the so-called postauthoritarian period of the last decade. The rise & fall of the progressive church are traced, noting pessimistic referrals to the death of "people's Catholicism" in the recent literature. Contributors focus more on the subtle contributions of the progressive church to social change at the grassroots level, such as the legacy of an enhanced ability to organize & fight for democratic change. The essays document the political, social, & cultural changes generated by the progressive intervention & show how the project has assumed different forms in varying circumstances. A synopsis of each chapter is included. 36 References. J. Lindroth

An exploration of how Soka Gakkai International in the US (SGI-USA) became the largest & most racially diverse Buddhist organization in North America focuses on three cities: Los Angeles, where Soka Gakkai meetings were first conducted in English; Chicago, the first city with large numbers of African American converts; & Miami, where Hispanics became a significant force. An analysis of SGI's development in these cities looks at the unique dynamics of each urban center, as well as differences in immigration patterns, racial mixtures, levels of social stability, & the styles/personalities of local leaders. An overview of the history of SGI-USA notes that the earliest & fastest growth occurred in areas with large numbers of people with Japanese ancestry & the extreme importance of its later success at organizing individuals from many different ethnic & cultural backgrounds into an organic whole. It is maintained that the social solidarity & inclusiveness central to the strength of Soka Gakkai do not serve as a control mechanism, but as an expression of social connectedness & social responsibility. 1 Table. J. Lindroth

Assesses contemporary debates on citizenship & national identity, drawing on the secondary literature. It is suggested that the current crisis of citizenship in Latin America is a consequence of the racist colonial legacy, which produced a protonationalism based on racial criteria that has carried over into the republican period, especially in the form of discussion of the status of native Indians in these countries & in the differential concession of citizenship based on economic stratification. Moreover, many Latin American countries followed the colonial example to press for nation-state cohesion through cultural homogenization policies. Latin American social scientists have responded to this situation both by appropriating a particular Western academic paradigm, eg, Marxism, & by adhering to an ideological stance toward regional racial, national, & ethnic groups. Real change in the circumstances of the Latin American citizenry, however, awaits the development of a notion of multinational states, with citizenship & cultural rights bestowed on the population. 62 References. D. M. Ryfe

Discusses the nature of citizenship in Latin America, generally, & Brazil, specifically, utilizing a historical-comparative framework in which citizenship is best understood as variable patterns of political practice shaped by particular contexts of authority & solidarity. In Latin America, nation-state building has traditionally privileged the forces of authority over solidarity. This has produced a highly differentiated pattern of citizenship in which some groups possessed much greater citizenship resources than others. Individuals on the lower rungs of the social ladder have experienced the state as alternately a benevolent & oppressive force. These patterns are demonstrated in a close analysis of 20th-century Brazilian history. In recent years, the Brazilian government has followed a path that privileges a rapid economic expansion at the expense of universal rights. While this process has achieved economic expansion, it has also produced a crisis of the nation-state. This crisis will be resolved in multiple ways across Latin America according to the general context of regional nation building & the particular national circumstances. 29 References. D. M. Ryfe

The nature & implications of recent developments in Latin American welfare states are discussed, with a particular focus on Chile, Brazil, Argentina, & Costa Rica. Social policy in Latin America is currently divided between the neoliberal model, characterized by market-driven forces, privatization, individualism, & expansion of inequality, & the social democratic model, which emphasizes market control, public provision of services, & increased equality. Although all of Latin America experienced a similar economic crisis during the 1980s, different countries adopted vastly diverse social & economic policies in reaction. Chile pursued the most radical neoliberal strategies resulting in a short-term improvement in capital markets & long-term threats to the social & economic security of a rapidly expanding poor &/or unemployed population. Brazil implemented a selective mix of neoliberal & social democratic policies, while Costa Rica moved toward a universalistic welfare state. Despite the advantages & necessity of welfare-oriented development strategies, it is suggested that these policies cannot succeed without increased state revenues. The specific requirements of a Latin American welfare strategy are briefly reviewed. 8 Tables, 63 References. T. Sevier

Examines the origins, growth, appeal, & current situation of Protestant fundamentalism in Latin America, focusing on the emergence & influence of the fundamentalist impulse in indigenous & missionary-founded churches. Analysis of the growth of evangelism in Latin America, 1960-1990, reveals how it drew support as a reaction against communism & Catholicism, protesting the values of traditional Hispanic society & becoming an antielitist, grassroots movement. This is seen in the conflict with Catholic liberation theology & growth of the Latin American Evangelical Confraternity & associated churches & organizations, which promoted the centrality of the Bible & a complete withdrawal from direct political action. It is argued that Latin American fundamentalism is a form of North American cultural & ideological influence that alienates fundamentalists from the often poor sociopolitical condition of their fellow Latin Americans as demonstrated via the activities of US missionaries & evangelists. It is concluded that, by addressing the concerns of lower & lower-middle social classes, evangelical fundamentalists have ensured their continued success in Latin America, which could grow significantly with a theological shift toward political & social activism. 2 Tables, Bibliog. T. Arnold

Describes the origins, evolution, & operations of the US Constitution, which has had wide significance as an exemplum of modern federal democracy. Central tenets of the Constitution, including federalism, the division of powers, an independent judiciary, & the rights of the individual, have been adopted across the globe. Yet both the Constitution & US federalism have been dynamic, as is indicated by key post-Civil War Amendments. The Constitution has also been affected by political & social change, the continental expansion of the nation, & the US's emergence as an economic & military superpower. K. Coddon