Synergistic development strategy, a challenge for Latin America

This article undertakes a comparative analysis by contrasting the national development strategies followed by most countries in Latin America with those of South Korea and Taiwan during the Cold War period. It seeks to find out why these two South-East Asian countries, though starting at a much lower level of development than most Latin American countries at the beginning of the Cold War, were able to achieve much higher and equitable standards of living at the end of it. Its argument is that the remarkable difference in the performance between both regions is mainly explained by the ability of these Asian countries to pursue a synergetic development strategy, whereas the Latin American countries failed to do so. The extent, scope, and timing of a redistributive land reform were key ingredients of such a strategy, as well as the linkages established between the economic sectors. It is concluded that a synergistic development strategy offers the best chances of promoting a more dynamic, sustainable, and equitable development process for Latin America.