Chapter 27 Reading Questions

1. In what ways was Latin America drawn into the Cold War as a participant and as a battleground?
- Latin America was heavily under the growing shadow of the United
States and was slowly drawn into the massive global conflict the US was
heading against Soviet Russia. This ideological struggle between the two
great powers could be seen in Latin America as both sides supported their
own factions within those governments.
- The U.S. intervened in Latin America during the Cold War era through
various means, including covert operations, military interventions, and
support for right-wing dictatorships. For example, the U.S. Central
Intelligence Agency was involved in covert operations to overthrow
democratically-elected governments in countries such as Guatemala in
1954 and Chile in 1973 due to their perceived leftist leanings.
- The Cold War also fueled an arms race and military buildup in Latin
America. The U.S. provided military aid, training, and equipment to its
allies in the region, while the Soviet Union also supplied weapons to its
leftist allies. This led to the militarization of societies in some Latin
American countries, with increeased military spending, arms proliferation,
and the use of military force to suppress dissent.
2. Why did social revolution appeal to so many people in Latin America in the post-World
War II era, and what forces opposed it?
- Social revolution appealed to many people in Latin America in the
post-World War II era due to a variety of factors, including social
inequality, political repression, economic grievances, and the influence of
Marxist ideology.
- Latin America had many deep social inequalities, with a small elite
owning the majority of land, wealth, and power, while the majority of the
population, particularly peasants and workers, faced poverty,
marginalization, and exploitation. The post-World War II era saw a
 growing awareness of these social disparities, and social revolution
appealed to those who sought to challenge the existing power structures
and demand more equitable distribution of wealth and resources.
- The traditional ruling elites in Latin America, including landowners,
business interests, and military elites, were often resistant to social
revolution, as they sought to protect their privileges, wealth, and power.
They used various means, including repression and alliances with foreign
powers to maintain their dominance and resist revolutionary movements.

3. What have been the tensions between nationalism and the development of the global
economy?
- Nationalism often promotes protectionist policies that prioritize domestic
industries and markets, and may impose tariffs, trade barriers, and other
measures to protect local economies from global competition. This can
hinder the development of the global economy, as it limits the free flow of
goods, services, and capital across borders, and may lead to retaliatory
measures by other countries.
- Nationalism emphasizes the sovereignty and autonomy of a nation-state,
and when international organizations are created, they clash because these
organizations often regulate policies.
- There is also a clash between national interests and global interests.
Nationalist agendas may conflict with with the idea of developing a more
stable global network of trade, often by way of creating free-trade policies.

4. How did urbanization in Latin America compare to the rest of the developing world, and
how did it alter the lives of its people?
- Urbanization has offered economic opportunities to many people, as
cities are often hubs of economic activities, employment, and
entrepreneurship. Urban areas in Latin America have attracted investments
in various sectors such as manufacturing, services, and the informal
economy, providing livelihoods for millions of people.
- Urbanization has also brought about environmental challenges in Latin
America, such as pollution, deforestation, land degradation, and climate
change impacts. Urban areas in Latin America face isssues of inadequate
infrastructure, pollution, and environmental degradation, which can have
negative impacts on the health and well-being of urban dwellers.
- Urbanization also allowed for the quicker spread of diseases, made
apparent in the 1918 Spanish Flu which killed an unprecedented number
of people during the end of World War I, adding to the chaos and
destruction.