ABSTRACT
Latin America is a huge region containing enormous diversity in culture, natural and human resources, ethnic backgrounds, per capita incomes, and general economic development. This is a region where the populations of all continents converged. Over the past century the Latin American countries have reflected the cultural influence of two outside areas: the United States and Europe. These two areas have exercised strong pulls that have, in part, reflected the backgrounds of the countries’ populations and the distance from the two outside areas. Broadly, the more to the south and the east are the countries, the stronger has been the pull coming from Europe. The more to the north and the west, the greater has been the influence of the United States. Naturally, in several of the countries of the region these two outside influences have competed with domestic traditions linked to pre-Columbian cultures that have remained strong in particular countries.
