Presentation

Abstract

The record of FIGURAS REVISTA ACADÉMICA DE INVESTIGACÓN contains three essays brought together to commemorate the bicentennial of the independence consummation processes of the countries that now comprise the region known as Latin America, in 2024. The commemoration of these two hundred years concurs with a time of profound changes in the international economic, political, and social development, but which, in the last twenty-five years, has strongly constrained it.  Highlighted in this matter are the negative effects of income concentration and slower economic growth, cause by the liberalization of markets that led to the globalized economy, as these have increased the socioeconomic inequality that has prevailed since the very formation of Latin American nation-states. It is therefore pertinent to examine the development and persistence of institutional weaknesses and limited productive capacities, from which authoritarian governments and the ability to implement state projects aimed at creating the necessary conditions for economic and social development arise.

The tensions between China and The United States, caused by the increasingly evident technological disadvantages of the United States, as well as the shift of the world’s center of power from the North Atlantic to Southeast Asia, reflect a changing era. Some Latin American countries remain under US influence, while for other, Chinese presence if growing. US influence, while for others, Chinese presence is growing. In this context, the question arises as to the possibilities for more autonomous economic development, considering the demands of sustainability required for environmental protection and for improving the well-being of populations excluded from employment opportunities, diverse services, and sufficient income to cover basic needs.

The articles in the Perspectives section address, from different disciplines, contemporary phenomena that express certain tensions: tradition and transformation, identity and globalization, theory, and practice. In the urban sphere, “The architectural fact” proposes a critical perspective on the aesthetic and emotional evolution of the city and explores how photography can problematize the relationship between modern and historical in the built environment. In contrast “South Korea’s Defense Industry” examines the geopolitical and ethical implications of the South Korean arms industry expansion to stand out the challenges faces in the matter of human rights and international humanitarian law. Meanwhile “ECLAC’S Diversified Evolution” offers and overview of Latin American structuralist thought and underscores this ability to adapt to the region’s social, economic, and environmental changes. Finally in the field of language teaching the article on “Dictogloss” presents empirical evidence on the effectiveness of this technique to improve oral production in English, showing how by integrating form and meaning, linguistic learning at initial levels can be upgraded.

Lastly in the Resonances section, the reviews of the books The integration of digital humanities on the teaching of Hispanic literatures and Evolution and ecosystem: A proposal for environment study address innovative proposals regarding the production methods and analysis of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences. The first one examines the use of digital technology as a didactic resource for teaching literature, while the second one reflects on the evolution of media from an ecological perspective.