To the left, to the left
Bush gets luke-warm welcome in Latin America
March 28, 2007
Alison Fraser
George Bush visited several Latin American countries last week for bilateral negotiations. The trip, his eighth to the region since his presidency began, is in part an attempt to counter growing antagonism towards the United States.
Several issues were discussed during the visit, including the drug trade, the need to counter poverty, the use of alternative fuels, and the growing anti-Americanism in the region. Bush’s visit was greeted with deep antagonism and a general lack of excitement, as several countries in the region are increasingly setting their own agendas outside of the sphere of American influence.
Many of these countries are increasing social welfare and nationalizing various industries, including the energy sector, in order to aggress against the perceived oppression of the Bush administration and its policies.
The economic divisions between rich and poor have contributed greatly to the election of leftist candidates. Inequality rates in Latin America remain the worst in the world as over 40 per cent of Latinos live below the poverty line. This type of situation means that a strong plan for dealing with poverty is essential to win the support of the people.
Given these circumstances it is clear that Latin America has the right conditions for leftist movements. The victory of leftist governments in recent years has marked a deepening resistance to U.S. neo-liberal policies, which require liberalizing trade and finance, privatizing public firms, and deregulating markets. In contrast, trade protectionism has been a powerful tool for many Latin American leaders, whose countries have been damaged by free trade.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, in particular, scrutinizes the United States and continues to rally both his own people and those in neighbouring countries against the Bush administration.
Chavez is not alone is his move to the left in both his domestic and foreign policies. Many countries in Latin America will witness the strengthening of leftist forces in 2007. In 2006 there were more than ten elections in the region, a majority of which saw leftist leaders come into office.
Nicaragua swore in Daniel Ortega earlier this year, a leftist who first ruled in the 1980s as head of the Sandinista party. He was closely allied with the Soviet Union while fighting off the U.S.-backed Contra rebels attempting to overthrow the radical leader. He is now closely tied with Chavez; together they are a force reacting against the perceived failure of the neo-liberalism of the United States.
Cuba, for as long as a half century, remained the sole Latin American enemy of the United States. However, since Chavez became president in Venezuela, and Evo Morales secured victory in Bolivia’s election last year, these three countries – Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia – together pose a great challenge to the United States in its influence in Latin America.
This new Latin American left has a much wider range of ideological views than those that was held back in the days of the Cold War. Unlike many of their predecessors, the new Latin American leaders came into power not through force, but through democratic elections. These new leaders have varying approaches as well: Chavez and Morales tend to give radical and revolutionary speeches, while Chile’s Michelle Bachelet and Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva offer a more pragmatic approach.
Although the United States is Latin America’s biggest trading partner, the region as a whole receives less U.S. aid annually than Egypt. The widespread feeling in Latin America that the United States has ignored its southern neighbors is not completely unfounded. Latin America has, in many ways, been at the bottom of the list of foreign policy priorities for current president, George Bush.
Despite Bush’s tour of Latin America last week, hostility is growing against both the president and the U.S. It is not like that his visit will change that attitude.
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