Among these reasons are its history, geography, and the political routes that many of its nations have taken since independence. According to Hillman, the Andes mountains have aided in isolating regions from communication with adjacent areas and seperated populations culturally and economically. Likewise, colonialism has effected the regions progress. Despite independence from nations like Spain, and Portugal many of the nations did not attain economic independence. A sort of neo-colonialism had persisted well into the 20th century with foreign nations owning lucrative national resources and industries within Latin American nations.
Colonialists view the colony as a means to an end.
In this way the region was exploited for its resources and little thought was put into developing internal structures. The colonial period only succeeded in stratifying society. Spanish assimilation of native cultures was lopsided. Undoubtedly the economic implications of this left those who did not speak the language of the conquerors, or share with them a common faith, at an economic disadvantage, a problem that persists to this day. The socialism of Castro is an example of both of these consequences wrapped into one.