Study Notes on Nancy P. Appelbaum's 'Becoming the Country of Regions'

Colombians refer to their country as a país de regiones, meaning a country of regions.
- This term encompasses pride in regional cuisines, musical genres, and local slang.
- Strong allegiances exist toward various regions, such as Antioquia, Santander, and the Caribbean Coast.
- While diversity is celebrated, regional divisions are lamented for contributing to nation-wide violence.
Similar regional identifications are found across Latin America, but Colombian emphasizes regionalism as a form of exceptionalism.
- Influenced by María del Pilar Melgarejo Acosta, regionalism in Colombia reflects persistent racial and gendered stereotypes.

Regional stereotyping is pervasive, with certain populations classified as heavily White, Black, Indigenous, or mixed.
In Colombian context:
- Whiteness is often linked to hard work and progress.
- Blackness and Indigeneity are associated with backwardness, problematic sexuality, and laziness.
The chapter criticizes elite representations of race and region rather than documenting the regions themselves due to the fluid boundaries that have evolved over time.
Consensus on regional identity does not equate to agreement on the number of regions present in Colombia.

The examination focuses on geographic writings, cartography, and illustration that attempted to conceptualize Colombia's diversity before the consistent use of the term 'region.'
The Chorographic Commission (1850-1859), a seminal moment in this discourse, will be emphasized.
- Involved Colombian political and elite figures who interpreted the nation’s heterogeneity in light of European theories, local knowledge, and foreign observations.
Geographic science served various political agendas, Liberal and Conservative alike, aiming for a unified citizenry amidst observable diversity.

The lettered elites (letrados and letradas) grappled with the complexities of a citizenry that did not align with a singular White and prosperous identity.
- The population had a mix of Brown, Black, and White identities, often politically active and rebellious.
The elites sought to create coherent regional classifications while referencing European racial and gender theories.
- They envisioned an emerging whitened Colombian race while walking a fine line that acknowledged racial differences.

At the end of the eighteenth century, responses to European naturalist theories emerged, notably from Francisco José de Caldas.
- Caldas' work in Semanario del Nuevo Reino de Granada (1808-1810) merged scientific observation with European geographic determinism.
He promoted a view of Andean regions as superior due to their climate, juxtaposing it against the lower tropical zones which he deemed lesser.
- According to Caldas:
- Cooler climates fostered favorable human and societal qualities.
- Hot climates produced deviancies in gender and sexual norms.
The hegemonic discourse created by Caldas depicted Andean regions as the national ideal, worthier than lowland regions.

Commenced in January 1850, the Commission was led by Agustín Codazzi and Manuel Ancízar.
- Aimed at creating a national map to highlight cultural and geographic diversity for economic reasons.
The resulting documents were comprehensive, highlighting the provinces' cultures and natural resources, intending to encourage European immigration and investment.
Codazzi defined chorography as mapping provinces with notable geographical points, building on earlier works.

The Commission operated amidst a shifting political landscape, transitioning from a republic of small provinces to larger states by the 1850s.
The argument for territorial consolidation stemmed from the need for stronger governance, as popular uprisings threatened elite privileges.
- Geographical studies were cited to rationalize the reorganization of states based on shared climates and customs.
The Granadine Confederation and subsequent United States of Colombia led to a realignment of provinces into stronger states with defined boundaries.

Popular typologies emerged where regional characteristics influenced societal traits, with writings illustrating varying intelligence and morality based on race and region:
- Notable comparisons were drawn between different inhabitants (e.g., highland vs lowland, Indigenous vs European).
Codazzi and contemporaries often homogenized populations, overlooking the diversity they documented in official reports while constructing a superior identity for highland peoples.

By the late 1800s, geographic literature emphasized a national identity composed mostly of a racialized, predominantly White citizenry with a redefined Colombian race.
Liberal policymakers utilized regional maps and racial typologies to justify centralized governance to manage diversity.
The Regeneration era called for stronger central governance, diminishing the role of provincial autonomy that characterized earlier political models, as leaders sought to combat perceived chaos from regionalism.

Colombian regionalism increasingly recognized complexity yet often oversimplified for political narratives or economic aiming.
- It can serve as a means of pride amidst historical violence and inequality but also risks marginalizing diverse local identities.
The legacy of 19th-century writings and mappings continues to impact Colombia's internal and external perceptions of regional identities and race.