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 questions:
• To what extent does the American
continent portray a model of unequal
development?
• How extensive is North and South
American integration?
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, the U.S. embodies
an attractive model of a superpower
giant
– Top investors in the continent, esp
Canada & Mexico
Utilities
2%
Corporate
Education services
Management1%
2%
Mining
2%
US Economy by Sector 2011
Agriculture
1%
Other services
3%
Waste services
3%
Real Estate
14%
State/Local Govt
10%
Construction
4%
Arts/entertainment
4%
Information
4%
Finance, Insurance
9%
Fed Govt
5%
Non-durable
manufacturing
6%
Retail
6%
Wholesale
6%
Health/Social Care
9%
Durable
Manufacturing
6%
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 referred to as Main
Street
Canada’s Industrial Heartland
• Most of Canada’s Industries are Located near
the St. Lawrence Lowlands and these 4 cities:
–
–
–
–
Quebec City
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
• Huge labor population
• Near a great source of water
for manufacturing and power
• 60% of Canada's wealth is located in these
areas
• Services: 83% of people live in cities
Canada’s Huge Heartland
• agricultural
• mining (iron, copper, nickel,
uranium)
• Energy (hydroelectricity,
petroleum)
B. Integration of emerging
countries in globalization
1. Brazil stands out as the regional power
of South America
– 1st 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
– 1st foreign investor 2nd 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
– 7th 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
Country
GDP/capita (dollars)
The USA
47,283
Canada
46,214
Uruguay
11,997
Chili
11,827
Brazil
10,817
Mexico
9,565
Argentina
9,138
Columbia
6,273
Bolivia
1,858
Nicaragua
1,126
Haiti
672
Source: IMF 2010
Summing it all up
• Video: 3’24
How are the Americas interconnected?