Latin America: From an Unhappy Past to a Promising Future


News from Panama / Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

I was reading an article written by Peter Hakim In the Inter-American Dialogue about how in just one generation Latin America has arisen from numerous crisis, dictatorships, military regimes and floundering economies to becoming one of the strongest growth markets in emerging nations around the world.  He addresses the issue about the potential impact of Latin America’s growth on Western Hemisphere politics, expressing cautious optimism about the region’s economic future.  He  also notes,  while the US doesn’t seem to aware of their partners to the south, China, Europe and others have.

” Despite the fact that Latinos are far and away the fastest growing segment of the US population, the US and Latin America year by year appear to be growing increasingly distant from one another. Washington’s inclination to involve itself in regional affairs has diminished sharply in recent years, while China, Europe, and other countries are expanding their presence. Over the longer term, it is hard to imagine this trajectory changing—unless the US, for reasons not yet known, sees its security dangerously threatened by events in the region or becomes aware of some breathtaking economic opportunities.”

Read the entire article here.