Wal-Mart

Questions

1. List some aspects of Latin American culture and indicate the influences on their development.

2. What current factors might cause cultural change to occur in Latin America? What are the likely changes?

3. Explain some cultural contrasts or differences within Latin America. How might they impact international business operations?

Answers

1. Latin America represents 1/10 of the world’s population, and geographically can be located from the land extensions of Mexico, until the Patagonia at Argentina. Some of the most relevant elements of today’s culture in Latin America are; Religion, Values, Attitudes, Social structure, Social stratification, Language and Gift-giving hospitality. The predominant religion throughout history in Latin America has been Catholicism. From big cities to small villages, churches, basilicas, and cathedrals are found. Catholicism left its mark, from customs and values to architecture and art. During many years in many countries the Catholic Church had power over all civil institutions, education, and law. Nowadays religion plays an important role in Latin America, but the church and the state are officially separated, and the practice of other religions is freely allowed. As the author of our book states; the “catholic church is an important pillar of these societies.” Other important factors of Latin American culture are values and attitudes. As our author states, “ Cultural attitudes toward such factors as time, age, education, and status reflect these values and in turn shape the behavior of and opportunities available to international businesses operating in a given culture.” In Latin American culture time is seeing as space. As the video shows, punctuality is not as important as resolving some problems that may arise in the way. Latin America besides being influenced by immigrants, conquerors, and slaves is also influenced by the occidental world when talking about architecture. Cities have both colonial and modern influence. The clothing has also a western and traditional tendency. Other important aspects of Latin American culture are, its corruption in politics, its arts, its natural resources, its formality in doing business, its extreme economic conditions and food. In Latin American culture the most important unit of the social structure is the family. The most important unit within the family is the oldest male of the house, which generally is the father or grandfather. In Latin American culture, the degree of social stratification is very high. The social mobility is very limited due that the Latin American society is merely classis. This classis is based on race and ethnicity. Latin American might be considered as multilingual; nevertheless Spanish is predominant in most countries. Latin American language was influenced by the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors, native Indians, the African slaves, the immigrants communities of World War I and II.

2. An important factor that might cause a cultural change in Latin America is Globalization. Industrialization is growing in Latin America rapidly and this is a consequence of globalization. Some of the changes that are likely to occur are modernization of cities which will make rich people richer, and poor people poorer. Mega-cities are being built by multinational corporations in cities such as Santiago in Chile. The Contrast between these wealthy mega-cities with rural areas can be very extreme. For example in Argentina there is an emerging high-tech industry brought by globalization. Entering globalization also means that Latin Americans will have to acquire more and new skills, learn how to do business with foreigners and probably improve their quality of life. One example we can observe nowadays is that in some countries of Latin America, students are require to learn English before getting their bachelors degree. Globalization is making that competitiveness grows more in Latin America, more jobs