Twelfth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Though frequently labeled “non-western” in debates over globalization, citizenship, cosmopolitanism, and other considerations of “modernity,” a reevaluation of Latin America’s current state suggests that it is deserving of an alternative label. The contemporary world has a cursory understanding of the constitution of these territories and the characteristics that bind them together, and Latin America remains peripheral to the Global South. The binary of “Latin America” versus the west or the rest continues to influence the economies and politics of said regions, unevenly positioning its policymaking and politics broadly, and even dampening the spirit of its populations. In a search for a broader comprehension of this region and its position in the world, this article seeks to re-evaluate the classification of the region as it relates to conceptualizations by the rest, while simultaneously redefining the position of Latin America with regards to globalization and modernity. This essay then clarifies the links between modern conceptualizations of the nation-state and its historicized understanding of globalization and citizenship.