Publication Cover
Culture and Education
Cultura y Educación
Volume 24, 2012 - Issue 1
122
Views
1
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Cultura, educación y desarrollo humano en América Latina

Culture, education and human development in Latin America

Pages 111-124 | Received 22 Mar 2010, Accepted 07 Sep 2010, Published online: 23 Jan 2014
 

Resumen

Este artículo defiende la idea de que un mejor desarrollo humano en América Latina no puede impulsarse solamente mediante la educación y las inversiones económicas o una combinación entre ambas. Las acciones en estas dos líneas apenas han conseguido reducir los índices de pobreza en el continente. Se ha pasado por alto un problema cultural de fondo, de mentalidades. Investigaciones recientes muestran que los excluidos son presa de la indefensión aprendida, carecen de un horizonte de vida mejor, sus disposiciones y preparación para una actividad productiva, más allá de la supervivencia, son prácticamente inexistentes. La motivación por educarse y romper así el círculo fatal de la pobreza está seriamente dañada. Se analiza la dinámica social que ha engendrado esta situación. Se mencionan algunas iniciativas que han tenido éxito pero se concluye que el problema del desarrollo humano es de índole sistémica y ha de atacarse mediante una política coordinada en los diversos frentes económico, educativo y cultural a la vez.

Abstract

This present paper claims that human development in Latin America is not promoted by education and economic investments only. Programmes in both domains have hardly succeeded at lessening poverty indices in the continent. There is at the basis a cultural problem that undoubtedly deserves more attention. Different investigations have concluded that among the people suffering from exclusion there is a kind of mentality characterised by learned helplessness, lack of any expectation of improving their life and a dearth of dispositions and preparation to any productive activity beyond everyday survival. For all these reasons, their motivation for an educational process that breaks the poverty circle is severely undermined. We analyse the social dynamics that engendered this situation. Some initiatives that have succeeded are mentioned, but to conclude that the problem of human development in Latin America is by nature systemic and it has to be dealt with through a coordinated socio-political action at the different fronts of economy, education and cultural change.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.