Relaciones internacionales.indb - HOMINES

ALINE FRAMBES-BUXEDA
Up to now, the benefits have been, above all, for U.S. businesses; in the
Caribbean nations, the economic crisis has worsened and no respite has
been forthcoming. Yet, the results of the Caribbean Basin Initiative clearly
show the meager results that Caribbeans and Latin Americans can reap in
the North American Free Trade Agreement.
To summarize this section, it is evident that the United States has been
systematically strengthening its hegemony over the Caribbean and Central
America; efforts to increase informal trade agreements and economic integration
also exist. 35
8. CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION
PERSPECTIVES AND DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS
DURING THE 90s
The challenges presently outweigh the existing proposals and alternatives
for Latin American Integration. However, the region also accumulated
30 years of experience in terms of integration. These experiences have
provided scientific knowledge for avoiding a repetition of the integrationist
experiences that proved non-beneficial.
In view of the approaching prolongation of economic deterioration,
the third world in general and Latin American and Caribbean nations in
particular, must be prepared to act by creating new organizations composed
of new actors that can and want to modify the present social processes.
Only new political, economic, labor and social organizations, that include
at least some highly qualified and motivated sectors of the middle class,
workers, small and medium businesses and a part of the small and medium
national industrialists, can serve as a catalyst to the technological restructuring
that is necessary for our economies to confront the crisis. There will
probably be no real integration for many more years, but cooperation and
collaboration on specific projects will be very beneficial, slowly creating
the foundations for a future confederation.
35
For more informations see:
a) Anduze, Madeleine P., “The Caribbean Basin Initiative and U.S. Hegemony:
Something Old or Something New,” Paper, VX Annual Meeting Caribbean
Studies Association, Trinidad, May 22-26, 1990.
b) Lozano, Lucrecia, “Estados Unidos frente a Nicaragua (1981-1987),” Política
Internacional, No. 9, Caracas, Jan.-March 1988, pp. 11-20.
c) Romero, Carlos, “Cuba y el Caribe Insular,” Política Internacional, No. 9,
Caracas, Jan.-March 1988, pp. 21-18.
d) R.O. Olaniyan, “The Caribbean Community: Basic Issue in the Integration
of Mini States,” Development and Peace, Vol. 7, Budapest, Spring, 1986, pp.
136-155.
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