Education and identity in Latin America.

Abstract

This article tackles the issue of Latin American identity and its relation with education. Beginning with a necessary clarification of concepts of identity and culture, the author briefly review the processes of identity formation, emphasizing on the mestizaje "ethnic cross-breeding" and on the regional understanding of this concept. Therefore, the review starts with the colonial stage, continues with the consolidation of the republics in the 19th century, and closes with the relation between education and identity during the 20th century. Finally, after a brief attempt to characterize the Latin American identity, the article concludes by turning its attention to the central idea of this reflection: the mestizaje.