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 & MexicoChart Title
Real Estate14%
State/Local Govt10%
Finance, In-surance
9%
Health/Social Care9%
Durable Manufacturing6%
Retail6%Wholesale
6%
Non-durable manufacturing
6%
Fed Govt5%
Information4%
Arts/entertainment4%
Construction4%
Waste services3%
Other services3%
Utilities2%
Mining2%
Corporate Management2%
Education services1%
Agriculture1%
US Economy by Sector 2011
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 & Perudependent 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: 3’24How are the Americas interconnected?