Theme 3 : Geographical Issues on a Continental Scale North and South America

The Americas: fractures, competition & integration – The American Continent between tensions and regional integration

The Americas: Power of the North and Assertion of the South

I. A Cultural Mosaic

Environmental Threats

Key question: To what extent does the American continent portray a model of unequal development?

A. North America: Major Pole of the Triad 1.US and Canada are the two major powers of North America – Trade between the 2 nations has doubled since the creation of NAFTA – Competition remains strong Heavy industry, automobile, lumber – Canadian economy very dependent on US market

2. US economy the most powerful and most diversified in the world – On continental scale, embody an attractive model of a superpower giant – Top investors in the continent, esp Canada & Mexico

3. Canada: rich in natural resources and major exporter of raw materials – SE Canada contains major metropolises (Toronto & Montreal) – Its extensive integration in the US contributed to the emergence of a vast cross-border region Main Street – Canada’s Huge Heartland agricultural mining (iron, copper, nickel) Energy (hydroelectricity, petroleum)

B. Integration of emerging countries in globalization 1.Brazil stands out as the regional power of South America – 1 st country in FDI on the subcontinent, acts as a counterweight to US domination – Marked by major social inequalities

2. Mexico, Argentina and Chili sometimes referred to as “Jaguars” Mexico – 1 st foreign investor 2 nd recipient of FDI in Latin America – Proximity of US asset (exports) & drawback (dependence) – Role model of insertion in the world economy Chile (Copper, fruit) & Argentina (Wheat, soy bean) – Major exporters of raw materials and agricultural foodstuffs

3. Venezuela, Columbia & Peru dependent on exporting raw materials Venezuela – 7 th world petroleum exporter – Holds largest oil reserves on the planet Peru – GDP tripled from 2000 to 2010 Columbia – Exports coffee and coal

GDP of Countries in North and South America CountryGDP/capita (dollars) The USA47,283 Canada46,214 Uruguay11,997 Chili11,827 Brazil10,817 Mexico9,565 Argentina9,138 Columbia6,273 Bolivia1,858 Nicaragua1,126 Haiti672 Source: IMF 2010