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The New Spain and the New Latin America
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18853 |
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Section : |
SPECIAL SECTION
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| Issue
Date : |
12 / 1991 |
2,699 Words |
| Author
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Howard J. Wiarda
Howard J. Wiarda is professor of political science at the
University of Massachusetts at Amherst, professor national
security studies at the National Defense University, and
visiting scholar at the Center for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS). He was lead consultant to the National
Bipartisan (Kissinger) Commission on Central America and is
the author of Rift and Revolution: The Central American
Imbroglio and The Democratic Revolution in Latin America. |
In 1992 we celebrate the five hundredth anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. Politically correct persons in both the United States and Latin America are now referring to the event of 1492 as an "encounter" rather than a "discovery." But in Spain--because the terminology reflects on its accomplishments and glory--Columbus' exploration is still emphatically referred to as "The Discovery." And, there is no doubt that Columbus' epic voyage did vastly increase our knowledge, expand our vision, give rise to the field of cultural anthropology, mark the beginning of the western world's contact with and domination over the non-West, stimulate European economic growth, and--along with the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the scientific and industrial revolutions--constitute one of the marking points of the modern world.
As often nowadays with great international events, the quincentennial is likely to overwhelmed by our domestic political debates. There will be heated, overwrought charges of racism, genocide, colonialism, and exploitation. But by focusing on issues that resonate in our own country, we will miss the deeper significance of the quincentennial. For the fact is that a great deal is happening in European-Latin American and specifically Spanish-Latin American relations, which has long-term implications. It will be a shame if the larger issues are obscured because of the domestic quarrels and the rhetorical posturing of groups with political axes to grind.
European Trends
European interest in Latin America has been increasing since the 1960s. This includes political as well as cultural and economic relations. The new ties between Europe and Latin America are the product of increasing European prosperity and desire to play a greater global role on the one hand, and of Latin America's efforts on the other to diversify its dependences. In both areas the desire has been to reduce the influence of the United States. Since 1985, the European Community has had an office in Madrid devoted exclusively to advancing European-Latin American relations; this office has grown considerably in size.
But one needs to distinguish further between the countries and their purposes. France, which has concentrated its efforts in Africa, views Latin America as part of the larger Third World. Great Britain under Margaret Thatcher focused on commercial ties particularly with the Southern Cone countries. Scandinavia, which has few concrete interests in Latin America, nevertheless used the region as a way to castigate American
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