Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

Preview

• Focusing on the Issue

• Brazil and Mexico

• Exploring the Issue

• Investigating the Issue Document 1

• Investigating the Issue Document 2

• Investigating the Issue Document 3

• Investigating the Issue Document 4

Case Study 2

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

Focusing on the Issue• How are developing nations such as Brazil and Mexico trying

to meet the needs of their peoples?

Developing Societies Brazil and Mexico

Case Study 2

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2 Brazil and Mexico

• Three elements of stability for prosperity– Political—helps businesses take root and thrive, attracts foreign

investment– Economic—creates jobs, wealth, and consumer markets; helps build a

middle class– Social—contented, stable society promotes political order and helps

democracy take root• Latin America has had instability in all three categories

– Political revolutions—because of economic gaps between rich and poor– Economical reliance on exporting cash crops—keeps regions at mercy of

boom-and-bust cycles– Social problems—poor and landless peoples moving to urban areas

seeking work; indigenous peoples in Mexico and elsewhere are trying to gain recognition and equality

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2 Brazil and Mexico

• Political transformations in Brazil and Mexico

– From repressive dictatorships and one-party rule to modern democracies and two-party elections

• Economic security is more difficult to achieve

– With globalization comes competition

– Need dynamic solutions for long-term stability

– Make use of greatest assets: human resources

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

• Faces poverty in megacities—those with populations of ten million or more

• Dangerous favelas—shantytowns where police refuse to go

• Newly opened spaces for resettlement

• Destruction of rain forests

Problems in Brazil• Latin America’s largest country,

with the region’s largest economy

• Making economic progress

• Global markets in agricultural, mining and manufactured goods

• Exports increased and the economy grew

Progress in Brazil

Exploring the Issue• Brazil and Mexico face many of the same economic and social challenges

• Both are trying to broaden their economic bases by expanding sources of trade and foreign investment

• Face chronic problems of poverty and inequity in society

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

Efforts• Addressing rural poverty limited by lack of arable land, peasants continue to

flow into the megacities

• Policies focus on urban poverty and spinoff problems

• Migration to U.S. encouraged, dollars flow back into home economy

• Creating more highly educated work force is key to solution

Mexico Seeks Solutions

• Second largest economy in Latin America, with oil reserves and tourism industry; NAFTA partner

• Maquiladoras—large industrial assembly plants near border

• Highest per-capita income in Latin America but huge gap between rich and poor

Exploring the Issue

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

Both countries have adopted a number of strategies to boost economic development and to lessen its potential negative effects.

Investigating the Issue Document 1

Brazil Taking Lead• Forming regional trade

agreements in Latin America

• Establishing trade ties outside region

• Effectively broadens and stabilizes economy

• President da Silva is committed to this approach

Da Silva’s Philosophy• Brazilian president wants to

consolidate process of integration

• Physical integration with infrastructure of roads, railways, communications, and energy

• Brazil investing in other countries

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2 Investigating the Issue Document 1Brazilian President Luiz Ignácio Lula da Silva• Only infrastructure will make more circulation of goods and people

possible

• Current results

– Latin America is Brazil’s biggest market; export almost $28 billion to the rest of Latin America

• $27 billion to European Union

• $23 billion to United States

• “We are showing that it is possible through partnership … we can help ourselves to grow.” Interview, Financial Times, July 2006

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

Analyzing Document 1

Why, according to da Silva, does it make sense for Brazil to invest money in other countries in the

region?

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

In 1979 Brazil launched a national program to develop alternate fuels.

• Ethanol is leading alternate fuel

– Produced from refined sugar cane– 34,000 gas stations in Brazil offer this fuel

• Program has lowered Brazil’s need for oil– Lower auto pollution– Vast acreage devoted to sugar cane – Environmentalists fear loss of biodiversity

Investigating the Issue Document 2

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2 Investigating the Issue Document 2

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2 Investigating the Issue Document 2

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

Analyzing Document 2

What is the trend in ethanol production? How does the trend correspond to trends in auto

manufacturing?

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

• About a third of the people in Chiapas are Mayan descendants

• Since 1994 indigenous people of Chiapas have fought to end political and cultural repression by the government

• Want decent living conditions in impoverished region

• Woman in photograph participated in Zapatista rebels of Chiapas protest held in Mexico City

• Demonstrations have drawn worldwide support

Investigating the Issue Document 3

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

Analyzing Document 3

What does this photograph suggest about the cultural identity of the people of Chiapas?

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2 Investigating the Issue Document 4

Issues in the Contemporary World Case Study 2

Analyzing Document 4

Compare and contrast the statistics for the Mexican and Brazilian cities listed in the table.

Which city has a higher percentage of its country’s population? Which city is projected to

grow the fastest?