What if Latin America ruled the world? : how the South will take the North through the 21st century

For too many of us, Latin America exists "below the fold," an echo barely heard beyond the roar of U.S. economics, politics, and culture; the source of little more than dance steps, mesmerizing soccer, spicy food, and questionable politics. But Latin America has been a vital part of the global community since the seventeenth century, when the Spanish silver peso became the world's first global currency instrument. Today it is home to six hundred million people and some of the fastest-growing economies on the planet. Latin America may not outshine or outspend the United States on the world stage anytime soon, but its voices will be heard. Its consumers, resources, and emigrants are already affecting us; they will be even bigger factors in our future. __What if Latin America Ruled the World?__ deftly braids together the histories of North and South America from the exploits of Hernán Cortés to the political showmanship of Hugo Chávezand Evo Morales. Scholar Oscar Guardiola-Rivera is an ideal guide for a searching portrait of the Latin America that we rarely hear about. For Too Many Of Us, Latin America Exists Below The Fold, An Echo Barely Heard Beyond The Roar Of U.s. Economics, Politics, And Culture; The Source Of Little More Than Dance Steps, Mesmerizing Soccer, Spicy Food, And Questionable Politics. But Latin America Has Been A Vital Part Of The Global Community Since The Seventeenth Century, When The Spanish Silver Peso Became The World's First Global Currency Instrument. Today It Is Home To Six Hundred Million People And Some Of The Fastest-growing Economies On The Planet. Latin America May Not Outshine Or Outspend The United States On The World Stage Anytime Soon, But Its Voices Will Be Heard. Its Consumers, Resources, And Emigrants Are Already Affecting Us; They Will Be Even Bigger Factors In Our Future. What If Latin America Ruled The World? Deftly Braids Together The Histories Of North And South America From The Exploits Of Hernán Cortés To The Political Showmanship Of Hugo Chávez And Evo Morales. Scholar Oscar Guardiola-rivera Is An Ideal Guide For A Searching Portrait Of The Latin America That We Rarely Hear About.--publisher Description. The Dream Of The Indians -- The Dream Of The Mountain Gold -- The Dream Of The Conquerors -- The Dream Of Revolution -- Independence : An Exterminating Thunderbolt -- Republic : The Sobriety Of The Day After -- Empire : Tales From Mañana-land In Neocolonial America -- Revolution, Or How To See The Beginning In The End -- Crisis : The Rise And Fall Of Global Capitalism -- The Solution To All Our Problems. Oscar Guardiola-rivera. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. For most Europeans and Americans, Latin America is still little more than their underdeveloped sibling, its inhabitants pitching up on its shores or struggling across the Rio Grande into the USA. It's a place of exuberant music, mesmerising football, extravagant beauty, fantastic literature, drug trafficking and guerrilla warfare - in short, exotic, dangerous and exciting. In this counterintuitive and fascinating book, Oscar Guardiola-Rivera, who teaches international Law and International Affairs at London University, shows how, unafraid to turn its back on some commonly held economic views that have now lost their currency, Latin America is in fact making its presence felt from Lima to Shanghai, from Brazilia to London and from Buenos Aires to New York. While the world acknowledges the continuing importance of the US in international affairs, few people have noticed that with Spanish language and culture in the ascendant the US is quietly but quickly becoming the next Latin...