Post-WWII Themes in Latin America

Flirtations with socialism/communism/Marxism From 1945 to the present, several L.A. nations have experimented with socialism at one time or another This is most likely due to the poor economy in many L.A. nations, as socialism promises to alleviate the suffering of the poor masses Cuba (‘59-Present), Chile (‘70-73), Guatemala (‘50s), Brazil (‘60s), to name a few

Political instability/dictatorship/juntas/revolutions/civil wars After WWII, there were multiple revolutions & civil wars in L.A. countries Many of the wars centered on Cold War politics It was not uncommon for a single country to experience democracy, communism, junta all within one generation

Latin America in the 21st Century After the fall of communism in the 1990s, many areas democratized & adopted free trade practices Many countries’ economies greatly expanded Largest economies in the world based on GDP: Brazil (7), Mexico (14), Argentina (26), Venezuela (31), Colombia (32), Chile (36), Peru (47)

Current Challenges The War on Drugs: beginning in the 1980s, drugs such as marijuana & cocaine began flowing into the West from S. American nations Drug cartels have become a HUGE problem in some nations, & have complicated relations with the U.S.

Current Challenges (cont.) The persistence of dictators & un-democratic regimes: Cuba & Venezuela Though not as common as the 20th century, there are frequent coup attempts & bloodshed Pink Tide: Since 2000, many countries have once again flirted with socialism (hence the name “pink” because it is not fully “red” like communism) According to a 2005 BBC report, 75% of Latin Americans now live in “pink” countries