Heritage Month: Latin American Identity
Americae Mappa Generalis. Source: Homann Erben/The Old Map Company
By Maximilian Frederik van Oordt
The term ‘latino’ has become a far more common reference point in the world of identity and is the product of over two centuries of fascinating historical processes. While some see the term as a foreigner’s generalisation of such a diverse region as Latin America, it has certainly been building enough momentum – much of it from within the region itself – to stand on its own two feet. While it absolutely glosses over the distinctions between the different countries and cultures of the region, it nonetheless serves as a perfectly acceptable demonym for Latin American people, underlining centuries of shared history between us all.
Generalisation of the region is nothing new, and actually began internally. In the early 1800s, when independence movements began sweeping Latin America, national identities were almost non-existent. The famed heroes of independence, Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín and Bernardo O’Higgins, all took to referring to Latin American nations – in conversation – simply as ‘patria’ (fatherland) rather than anointing it with the names of today’s states – Argentina, Colombia, Perú, etcetera. In their eyes, Latin America was one, united against Spanish dominion, with Bolívar even hoping to establish a gargantuan new state from the unification of the liberated Spanish colonies. Only this, he believed, would give the region the influence and resources it needed to remain independent in the future. To him, the path to the future would be walked side by side – as a united Latin America.
The development of national identities began in the latter part of the 19th Century as several wars, such as the War of the Confederation and that of the Triple Alliance, began establishing a sense of patriotism. The liberated nations took up arms to defend their land against one another and consequently began to differentiate themselves from their neighbours. This period saw the birth of national anthems, flags, and local identities. It partially unified the ethnic mestizos with the indigenous populations under one flag, although racism remains rampant to this day. This created an identity based on nationality rather than ethnic homogeneity.
Fast forward to today and national identity is stronger than ever and not necessarily for the worse. The differences appreciate the enormous and wonderful regional diversity that characterises Latin America. Nonetheless, there remain powerful social, cultural, linguistic, and historical ties between the countries which have begun to build a common regional identity on top of a national one. These have both been a product of, and an inspiration for, Latin American international organisations such as MERCOSUR, CELAC, PROSUR and UNASUR, which reinforce this regional identity. To complement the political integration, cross-border cultural exchanges in music, dance, television, and more have increased the feeling of community and will continue to do so in the future.
While it may sound paradoxical, the fomentation of a regional identity will most likely continue and complement an ever-increasing national one, highlighting everything we Latin Americans have in common with one another, while promoting the cultural differences that make us unique.
Maximilian Frederik van Oordt is a second-year International Relations student at King’s College London. interested in politics, history and law, he enjoys focusing on Latin American affairs, with a particular emphasis on these three areas.