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SOCIOLOGICAL VIEW AND THEORY OF SUBORDINATE INTEGRATION...
of integration. Nonetheless, as a result of further economic deterioration
and transformation (in fundamental sectors), and resulting unemployment,
we must expect sporadic social violence, community protests, strikes and
looting of commerce in the region, such as has occurred between 1989-
1994 in Venezuela, Argentina, Los Angeles and Chiapas, Mexico. In this
“scenario”, democratic civil liberties may be restricted and, in spite of
integration and NAFTA, economic development and social justice will
probably be much lower than a decade ago—for at least half of the people
in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
NAFTA already has serious problems due to the so called Mexican
political and economic “tequila crisis,” which began with various political
assassinations in 1994. The Mexican crisis reached a dramatic peak,
between December 19, 1994 and January 15, 1995, due to an enourmous
40-60 percent devaluation of the Mexican “peso.” Some analysts consider
that Mexico rapidly changed overnight from a “First-World Economy” to
a “Fifth-World Economy.” The Mexican success story has vanished. 63
In a new milenium and as we look in 2008 to its first decade, these
are some of the problems which go hand in hand with a “subordinate
integration” project such as NAFTA.
However, as we reached the new millennium in 2000 this was the balance
of things concerning integration projects in the Americas. Curiously,
during 2000-2010 there have been great changes and improvements in Latin
American economies throughout the region and many new interesting
integration projects. Two interesting initiatives are ALBA, begun in 2001,
and UNASUR in 2004. However, these are in a new economic period and
shall be part of a future analysis of the many world changes which have
occurred specially after 2004-2010.
63
a) Dieter Boris, “Der Absturz des Musterschülers, ILA, Zeitschrifts der Informationsstelle
Lateinamerika, No. 184, Bonn, april 15, 1995, pp. 10-73.
b) Alfredo T. García, Ricardo R. Gómez, “El efecto tequila,” Realidad
Económica, No. 129, Buenos Aires, Jan. 1 - Feb. 15, 1995, pp. 12-21.
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