ALTERNATIVES TO LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION: BEYOND THE MISCEGENATION AND THE MULTICULTURALISM

Abstract

This text is based on Rodolfo Stavenhagen’s essay “Siete tesis equivocadas sobre américa latina”, particularly the sixth ‘tesis’. By reviewing the author’s theories as well as the underlying notions of his essay, this text proposes – in a first instance - a different approach to the problem of Latin American integration.
In a second instance this text examines the cases of Mexico and Colombia in order to highlight some of the main changes during the last fifty years with regards to ethnic integration in the Latin American context. The author focuses on some key events that showcase how the ethnic integration model via assimilation has lost its legitimacy. Lastly, the author examines the current challenges that ethnic integration in Latin American is facing and proposes an alternative option which portrays the ‘hybrid’ in a positive light as way to escape from internal neocolonialism.