During the course of 16 September, we discussed the evolution of Latin America: from the time of the indigenous empires to the beginning of the 20th century. Today, the Latin America comprises a wide area, with over 600 million people in more than twenty countries, speaking different languages and giving the culture a special touch, from Spanish and Portuguese to the various dialects of the different indigenous languages, such as Quechua. The very term “Latin America” introduced by the french Michel Chevalier, reflects a concept impregnated with power relations throughout history. Other denominations include Hispanic-America, Ibero-America which alone carry different perspectives-and categorizations include Indigenous America, Afro-Latin America, and Euro-Latin America in their manifold efforts to approach its identity.

Economically, the region represents a multi-faceted picture of high legitimate inequality coupled with a growing middle class, falling poverty rates, and stark economic disparity across and within countries-as in most parts, an outcome of the lingering shadows of colonialism. Three basic things one needs to understand about Latin America include: the manner in which legacies of colonialism continue to shape structural inequalities; the centrality of transculturation in formulating a Latin American identity; and Latin American culture as an increasingly diasporic phenomenon. The understanding is further deepened in light of the relevance of pre-Columbian civilization that was proven through sophisticated civilizations in Latin America prior to contact, such as the Aztec and Inca empires, while the Columbian Exchange-particularly the introduction of Old World diseases across the Bering Strait-carried an extremely powerful impact on native populations and thus set the stage for massive demographic and cultural shifts. Contemplating this rich tapestry of history and culture pushes one strongly toward the complexity and depth in which Latin Americans had to live.

This overview challenges one-dimensional narratives and invites us to consider multiple perspectives and long-term impacts of historical processes while studying contemporary issues in the region. The stress transculturation receives, along with the diasporic nature of Latin American culture, is particularly provocative in the requirement of any true understanding of Latin America looking beyond borders to dynamic, ongoing exchanges of ideas, people, and cultures that continue to shape the region. The approach/standpoint that it is one which nurtured a more complex and holistic conception of Latin American studies, taking into consideration both common histories and experiences existing within this wide geography and emphasizing contextual understanding in the approach to Latin American Studies and contemporary issues.