Book Reviews - Reseña

Hispanic Times Magazine, Oct, 2000 by Robert Kendall

Underdevelopment Is a State of Mind

by Lawrence E. Harrison Madison Books, distributed by Nation Book Network, $29.95

Lawrence E. Harrison presents a challenging review of Latin American development. His viewpoint is unique. Harrison argues that the principle explanation for the regional disparities in economic growth can be found not in the exploitation of poor countries by imperialist powers, nor by lack of resources, inhospitable geography, of a world economic system stacked against poorer nations.

Rather, Harrison contends, development must be viewed relative to the traditional Hispanic culture.

He cites as one example Costa Rica which was settled by pioneering farmers. Costa Rica consequently has been more successful economically than Nicaragua, which was settled by the conquistadores who were searching for gold and slaves.

Two other nations illustrate the point Harrison is making so well; Argentina and Australia are both resource-rich, underpopulated and remote countries. But Argentina's growth has been paralyzed by political instability and a failure to maintain durable and progressive institutions. Yet, Australia is a thriving nation with a long tradition of democratic capitalism, despite its start as a prisoners' colony.

Underdevelopment Is A State of Mind, is a rare book that reveals through case histories who most of the ideas about Latin America's failure to progress ate just plain wrong This book is an honest attempt to understand the various problems and difficulties confronting the economic failures and their relationship to cultural development.

Harvest of Empire A History of Latinos in America

by Juan Gonzalez Published by Viking, $27.95

In almost every town in the U.S., turn your radio dial and you will find a Spanish language station playing salsa of merengue. Watch TV and you will Latin news anchors. And if you go to a restaurant, Latino of American, you are likely to find fajitas, tacos or enchiladas on the menu The Latin culture is entwined with the larger American culture. And over the next ten years, Latinos will become the largest minority population in the country. By the year 2050, one of every four residents in the U.S. will be of Latin origin.

Harvest of Empire, by Juan Gonzalez, is the story of Latinos in America. He reveals who they are, why they came her, how they are changing the country, and who so many white and black Americans view them with fear and distrust. Yet they eagerly employ them as low wage laborers.

This remarkable book chronicles the Latino saga in a narrative span over 500 years, beginning with the colonial society, implemented by the Spanish conquistadores, and finally discussing the different waves of Latino immigration to the United States, with a special focus on present day debates over labor, immigration, and language. Gonzalez has a evenhanded approach in his objective account of how almost every wave of Latino immigration came as a direct result of U.S. policies, which forced their homeland to serve the interest of the U.S. Gonzalez writes with passion and clarity, illuminating the Latino experience in the U.S. Gonzalez was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York City.