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National Identity, Anomie and Mental Health in Latin America

Universidad Nacional de Columbia, Colombia, cparalesq{at}unal.edu.co

This article suggests links between the construction of national identities in Latin America, anomie and mental health. Several issues in the process of national identification, including ambivalent independence movements, segregation and the emulation of Spanish social practices, have prevented the inclusion of all segments of the population into collective political projects. Due to exclusion and inequality, there is a persistent condition of anomie, in which social rules become ineffective to regulate the social behaviour of individuals. Dependency and in-group derogation are also counted among the effects of the dysfunctional processes of national identification. Given the influence of social determinants on the health of the population, anomie is considered an important cause of violence and psychosocial problems. The links between anomie and mental health call for a wider perspective to promote mental health and prevent violence and illness. Social participation, equity and citizenship are core themes within this broader perspective.

Key Words: anomie • citizenship • Latin America • mental health • national identity • violence

Current Sociology, Vol. 57, No. 6, 851-870 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0011392109342222


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