Latin America advances toward global insertion: Political, economic and social aspects; current situation and prospects for future

Abstract

ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES HAS BEEN ITS WILLINGNESS AND CAPACITY FOR MAKING REFORMS. GENERALLY SPEAKING, THERE ARE TWO MAJOR PROCESSES ACCOMPANYING THE REGION´S GLOBAL INSERTION DURING THE LAST 20 YEARS: A POLITICAL PROCESS, CHARACTERIZED BY THE REESTABLISHMENT OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS, AND AN ECONOMIC PROCESS, CRYSTALLIDEZ IN A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF REFORM AIMED AT ECONOMIC DEREGULATION AND THE TRADE OPENING IN LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES. GIVEN THE NEED FOR A MORE REFINED PERCEPTION AND GREATER ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY ON THE PART OF LATIN AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS IN THE SEARCH FOR OBTAINING BENEFITS FROM THE GLOBALIZED ECONOMY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO EVALUATE THE EXPERIENCES THUS FAR, HOW TO OVERCOME THE PENDING DEBTS, AND -IN RELATION TO ESTABLISHING A FREE TRADE AREA- THE NEGOTIATING CAPACITY OF LATIN AMERICA IN ITS TOTALITY, AS INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES OR AS INTEGRATED REGIONAL BLOCS.