RECENT POLITICAL TRENDS IN LATIN AMERICA

OUTLINE Political and economic considerations Regional integration External role players Conclusion

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS Rise in election victories of left-leaning/progressive governments Factors linked to the rise of left-leaning governments Categories of left-leaning governments

Political and economic considerations cont… Examples: Presidents such as Hugo Chavez (Venezuela) Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil) Evo Morales (Bolivia) Michelle Bachelet (Chile) Tabaré Vàzquez (Uruguay)

Political and economic considerations cont… Factors linked to the rise of left-leaning governments: Oppressive and corrupt governments Failure of military and subsequent governments to deliver on socio-economic policies Continuing Poverty

Political and economic considerations cont… Inequality and social exclusion of the majority and indigenous people Wave of state democratisation Dissatisfaction with implementation of neo-liberal economic policies Resentment of the US domination of the region The need to reinforce autonomy from external influences

Political and economic considerations cont… Categories of left-leaning governments First Category: Leaders and movements that originated from communist and socialist ideology. Emphasis on social policies that include education, anti-poverty programmes, health and housing, amongst other things. Represented by Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Panama and Peru.

Political and economic considerations cont… Second Category: considered nationalistic and populist in orientation. Prioritises the importance of national sovereignty and government’s involvement in controlling state resources Represented by Bolivia and Venezuela

Regional integration Brazil is one of the leading countries in the region together with Argentina, Venezuela and Mexico. Countries have actively engaged in efforts to reduce economic and trade dependence from the US and the EU. There are different approaches in integration efforts. Challenges in integration efforts lie mostly on how to move the integration process forward. Challenges are attributed to contending country interests, principally between Brazil and Argentina.

Regional integration Integration is a very complex puzzle. In addition to Mercosur, CAN and SACN, there is the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA). ALBA initiated and supported by President Chàvez . Notwithstanding differences, there is possibility for convergence between Mercosur, CAN, SACN and ALBA.

External Role Players CHINA Pursuing robust policy towards Latin America. Interested in gaining access to mineral resources through trade and investment. INDIA Considered as a new emerging market with new opportunities. Relations not yet at the desired level but growing . Possibility to escalate economic relations into political alliances at multilateral forums.

External role players cont… AFRICA Growing presence of the African countries in the region and vice versa. Brazil and Colombia have the largest number of African Diaspora. Developing cooperation between the two regions.

Conclusion The emergence of progressive governments in Latin America signals the possibility of a shift in the global configuration of power, in favour of the South. This then has a potential to boost the advancement of certain common issues of the South at the multilateral fora.