Culture of Ecuador - Essay Example

A developing country in South America in the Western hemisphere, Ecuador is a country in which underdevelopment has been a feature of the political landscape in the post-independence period, in which subsistence is the norm and poverty runs rampant.  Situated in northwest South America and bordering Columbia and Peru, Ecuador remains poverty-stricken and effectively removed from the forces of economic globalization which has come to characterize the developed West world.  Seeking to address the history of this country as well as provide a social study of Ecuador today, this essay will begin with an introduction to this Latin American nation and follow with an analysis of the history and ethnic relations of Ecuador, the food and economy as well as the religious and political situation in Ecuador today.  Seeking to provide as holistic an analysis as possible, we conclude with a concise overview of each issue studied and provide a comprehensive conclusion regarding the Ecuadorian condition today. 

Introduction

Nicknamed the Light of America, Ecuador is a Spanish-speaking country in Latin America that shares relatively secure borders with Peru and Columbia as well as has direct access to the Pacific coast.  Although originally, inhabited by the Amerindian Quitu, Caras, and Incan people, Ecuador today is inhabited by a mix of mestizo, Amerindian and European populations.  Centered in the colonial capital of Quito, Ecuador's history is fascinating, and a brief overview of the history of this small nation is necessary in order to fully situate the country within a larger historical context.

History and Ethnic Relations

The history of Ecuador is one in which ethnic relations and ethnic conflict have been features of this country for more than five centuries.  Most famously perhaps, Ecuador was settled by the Incan Empire in the late 15th century. Spanish conquistadores arrived in the middle half of the sixteenth century and fought judiciously, establishing an important foothold in what was later to become Quito.  Colonization was brutal and harsh and resulted in the almost total decimation of the indigenous population due to disease, an uncompromising labor system called encomienda.  The Ecuadorian colonial period lasted for almost three centuries and was characterized by heavy social stratification and a pro-European bias (i.e. white) in social, political, and economic relations.  Independence pitted the elite indigenous-mestizo class against the Spanish colonial masters and resulted in independence in 1822. Authoritarian rulers became a feature of the Ecuadorian condition for the next more than a century and a half, culminating in military rule during the 1970s.  Today, Ecuador is led by Rafael Correa, a mestizo leader who promises to restore the rights of Ecuador’s indigenous yet underrepresented population (Wessendorf 182-202).

Food and Economy

The economy of Ecuador is primarily rural and agrarian based although this is changing as this country slowly embraces neoliberal economic reforms.  Foreign debt has been a major hindrance to the continued development of this country, The culinary history of Ecuador is heavily influenced by the Spanish legacy, the mestizo community as well as the indigenous Ecuadorian culture.  The climate and territorial conditions of this country ensure that pork, beef, chicken, and mountain pigs are staples of the Ecuadorian diet.  Accordingly, geography plays a role in what people East as those living in low altitudes are more likely to eat regional fruits such as passionfruit, while coastal dwellers often eat seafood (Newton 3-33). 

Religion and Politics

Religion plays an important role in the lives of Ecuadorians and although the country is officially a secular Presidential Republic, the majority of the Ecuadorians are Roman Catholics (estimated to be 95 %).  This is a legacy of the Spanish colonial experience although in recent times, Protestant denominations have gained importance and there is a small Jewish community in the country.  Politically speaking, this country has had to overcome a colonial legacy, a legacy of authoritarian rule, and a relatively recent transition to multi-party free democratic elections.  A legacy of mismanagement and strong authoritarian governments has left Ecuador with a large foreign debt which the current leftist President Rafael Correa is attempting to tackle in conjunction with international creditors and the multilateral economic institutions.  Seeking ties with the left-leaning countries of Latin America including Venezuela, Bolivia, and Cuba,  Ecuador today has positioned itself as an important player in leftwing politics in Spanish-speaking America (Wessendorf 182-202; CIA 2009). 

Concluding Remarks

Seeking to provide a brief yet thorough introduction to the Latin American country of Ecuador, this research paper has provided a complete overview of one of the most interesting and often ignored countries of the Americas.  Although underdevelopment has been a feature of the political landscape in the post-independence period for Ecuador, we have established that a colonial legacy and an authoritarian political tradition have paved the way for Ecuadorian underdevelopment.  Today, Ecuador is attempting to settle its outstanding debts and stake out its claim as an important political actor in Latin America.