Theme 3 : Geographical Issues on a Continental Scale North and South America.

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?