“Import substitution industrialization (ISI) was successful in dealing with the problems of the Great Depression.” Discuss with reference to one Latin American country.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of whether import substitution industrialization (ISI) was successful in dealing with the problems of the Great Depression in one Latin American country. Argentina and Brazil are the most likely choices, but other countries are possible. For Brazil, Vargas implemented ISI by state-guided capitalism, sometimes called corporatism, and stimulated production in steel and iron. Brazil’s industrial output doubled between 1931 and 1936. For Argentina, the Concordancia established new industries in chemical, electrical and metal products, though mostly with foreign capital. Domestic production increased and by 1936, most of the crisis had ended. Candidates may discuss other problems associated with the Great Depression, for example, social unrest, but the focus should be on economic issues. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of whether import substitution industrialization (ISI) was successful in dealing with the problems of the Great Depression in one Latin American country. This was addressed by several candidates who focused on Costa Rica or Brazil. Most responses tended to be descriptive of the causes, impact of the Great Depression, and did not treat ISI in depth. A couple of responses were quite sound in terms of knowledge and analysis.