LATIN AMERICA AND MULTICULTURAL IDENTITIES: UNATTAINABLE MYTH OR WELL-HIDDEN REALITY ?

The article seeks to problematize the expression "multicultural identity" under a dual theoretical-practical approach. It is organized in three sections. The first presents a discussion of notions of identity and multiculturalism in general and applied to Latin America (considered as a cultural mosaic, a melting pot of races or ethnic groups by some researchers). The second, closely related to the previous one, tries to establish a critical assessment of these notions according to the analyzes of specialists in the subject presented in recent years. The third section is devoted to studying the relevance of the concepts mentioned in two specific countries: Mexico and Argentina. To what extent do the strong presence of Amerindian-born populations with their customs and traditions, their indigenous languages (as is the case in Mexico) or the ethnic brewing resulting from successive waves of migration (Argentina) allow to talk about multicultural identities?