Latin America’s lurch to the left
The recent inauguration in Bolivia of indigenous leader Evo Morales is being interpreted by many as a sign of a hemispheric lurch to the left. Indeed, with 12 presidential elections in 14 months, 2006 could well be a watershed for the region, recasting US policy toward its neighbors.
Yet, characterizing the region as hopelessly drifting away from US interests or as uniformly jettisoning the market economy “model” underestimates the complexity of both US relations and democracy in the region.
To look at what will be the most intense election year in Latin American history as a question of left-right orientation misses important differences among the leaders and obscures the democratic progress that many of these electoral contests represent. For many countries, the dozen presidential contests that started with Honduras last November will be a stable exercise in popular will. In only two of the countries, Nicaragua (November 2006) and Venezuela (December 2006), have observers raised questions about the fairness of the electoral process.
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Latin America's Two Left Wings
Don't confuse those leaders who spring from a communist or socialist past with those who trace their roots to old-fashioned populism.
Is Latin America swerving left? Is that the right question? Clearly, the people who are winning elections today are not the ones who won them 5, 10 or 15 years ago; their rhetoric is not the same, and their views of the world are miles apart from those who were elected in the 1980s and 1990s. But are their policies so different?.
Consider today's sitting or wanna-be left-wing heads of state: Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, Ricardo
bolivia’s election latin america’s drift to the left
Evo Morales, the Bolivian president-elect, has already declared himself an admirer of Cuba’s communist leader, Fidel Castro and Venezuela’s outspoken leftist President Hugo Chavez, who consolidated his power in legislative elections this month.
During his campaign ahead of the election, Morales -- whose main opponent was Jorge Quiroga, a former president -- warned repeatedly that if elected, he would become a thorn in Washington’s side.
Argentina’s left-of-center President Nestor Kirchner has also reinforced his influence in legislative elections, while Chile is on course to getting its first socialist woman president, Michelle Bachelet.
And more left-wingers
A different Latin America
Bolivia's recent presidential election was almost as history making as Iraq's parliamentary vote. The winner, Evo Morales, will be the first member of the indigenous majority to run Bolivia since the conquistadors arrived nearly five centuries ago. His victory was one of the most decisive since the return of democracy more than two decades ago, ending an era of weak, unstable and ineffective governments.
But do not expect any toasts from the Bush administration. During the campaign, Morales advertised himself as Washington's "nightmare." He opposes almost everything the Bush team stands for in Latin America, from combating
As Latin America shifts left, U.S. risks being left behind
The Bush administration's focus on Iraq and the war on terrorism has led to a foreign policy devoid of a sophisticated understanding of diverse regional challenges beyond the Middle East. Meanwhile, Latin America has been moving to the political left through the ballot box with policy implications largely misunderstood by American policy-makers. Furthermore, in the few instances when administration pronouncements are articulated, they seem to miss the point and may in fact aggravate the increasingly tenuous relationship with the neighbors to the south. In light of recent global upheavals, the United
Latin America Continues March to the Left
Recent public opinion polls taken in Mexico and Peru show left-leaning candidates leading as presidential elections approach in the two countries. The current front-runners are in position to replace two close U.S. allies.
A recent Mexican public opinion poll shows leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador leading a field of presidential candidates, as the July 2 presidential election approaches. Some 42 percent of respondents supported Lopez Obrador, placing him ahead of ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon with 32 percent and Roberto Madrazo with 24 percent.
Critics of the former Mexico City mayor have branded him a populist
