Latin America's Turbulent Transitions : The Future of Twenty-First Century Socialism

Introduction: turbulent transitions and the specter of socialism -- Globalization, neoliberalism, and the rise of the social movements -- The pink tide and the challenge to US hegemony -- Between neo-extractivism and twenty-first-century socialism -- Venezuela's twenty-first-century socialism -- Bolivia's communitarian socialism -- Ecuador's buen vivir socialism (by March Becker) -- Brazil: between challenging hegemony and embracing it -- Cuba: 'updating' twentieth-century socialism? -- Conclusion: socialism and the long Latin American spring.;"Over the past few years, something remarkable has occurred in Latin America. For the first time since the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua in the 1980s, people within the region have turned toward radical left governments - specifically in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Why has this profound shift taken place and how does this new, so-called Twenty-First-Century Socialism actually manifest itself? What are we to make of the often fraught relationship between the social movements and governments in these countries and do, in fact, the latter even qualify as 'socialist' in reality? These are the bold and critical questions that Latin America's Turbulent Transitions explores. The authors provocatively argue that although US hegemony in the region is on the wane, the traditional socialist project is also declining and something new is emerging. Going beyond simple conceptions of 'the left', the book reveals the true underpinnings of this powerful, transformative, and yet also complicated and contradictory process."--Publisher's website. More praise for Latin America’s Turbulent Transitions 2 About the authors 4 Title page 6 Copyright page 7 Contents 8 Illustrations 9 Acknowledgments 10 Abbreviations 13 Map 15 Introduction: turbulent transitions and thespecter of socialism 16 1 | Globalization, neoliberalism, and the rise of the social movements 28 Illustration 1 Argentine piqueteros demonstrate in Buenos Aires during the 2001–2 financial crisis 27 The challenge of the social movements 33 2 | The pink tide and the challenge to US hegemony 42 Illustration 2 The presidents of Saint Vincent and the Granadines, Bolivia, Cuba, and Venezuela 41 Globalization and nation-state autonomy 48 Reform left and radical left in power in Latin America 50 3 | Between neo-extractivism and twenty-first-century socialism 54 Illustration 3 Bolivia begins testing to exploit the world’s largest reserve of lithium on theUyuni salt flats in November 2009 53 A real anti-capitalist challenge? 55 The conundrum of the state 57 The radical left in government 58 Concluding perspectives on the left in power 60 4 | Venezuela’s twenty-first-century socialism 64 Illustration 4 Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez flood Bolívar avenue in Caracas 63 Revolution in an unlikely country 65 Reclaiming control over the military and oil 67 Challenging US hegemony 71 Eradicating poverty by giving power to the people 73 Building a parallel Venezuela 77 Table 4.1 Distribution of income by quintiles (1998–2006) 78 Table 4.2 Gini index of income distribution (1998–2006) 78 Radicalization and the advance of socialism 80 Bureaucracy, corruption, and popular power 84 Twenty-first-century socialism without Chávez? 88 5 | Bolivia’s communitarian socialism 94 Illustration 5 Thousands of Bolivian campesinos and indigenous farmers raise their hands during a people’s assembly in La Paz, Bolivia, in 2005 93 Economic roots of social revolution 95 Nationalizing the economy 97 ‘Refounding’ the state 101 Resisting US imperialism and the rise of an indigenous-popular hegemony 103 Class showdown 104 ‘Creative tensions’ on the path to communitarian socialism 107 6 | Ecuador’s buen vivir socialism, by Marc Becker 114 Illustration 6 An indigenous Ecuadoran blows a conch shell at the opening march for the June 2010 Meeting of Original Peoples and Nations of Abya Yala in Quito, Ecuador 113 Citizens’ revolution 116 Economic policies 118 Anti-imperialism 120 Extractive enterprises 121 Whither Ecuador? 127 7 | Brazil: between challenging hegemony and embracing it 130 Illustration 7 Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff attend a campaign rally in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo 129 Dictatorship 132 The birth of the PT and the MST 134 Foreign policy – ‘South–South relations’ 136 Domestic policy – ‘cautious, calm ... solid’ 141 Poverty alleviation 142 Big business – big winners 144 Social movements – socialism and decline 147 Neo-extractivism and renewable energy 150 Trade policy – neo-developmentalism and contradictions 151 Beyond Lula 153 Challenging hegemony and embracing it 154 8 | Cuba: ‘updating’ twentieth-century socialism? 158 Illustration 8 Santiago de Cuba, 2010 157 Conclusion: socialism and the long Latin American spring 168 Illustration 9 Seven hundred women from Vía Campesina and Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement march against a eucalyptus plantation in Rio Grandedo Sul, Brazil 167 Appendix: nationwide elections in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador 174 Notes 176 Introduction 176 1 Globalization 176 2 The pink tide 177 3 Neo-extractivism and socialism 178 4 Venezuela’s socialism 179 5 Bolivia’s socialism 183 6 Ecuador’s socialism 186 7 Brazil 188 8 Cuba 195 Conclusion 195 Bibliography 198 Index 216 About Zed Books 225 Over The Past Few Years, Something Remarkable Has Occurred In Latin America. For The First Time Since The Sandinista Revolution In Nicaragua In The 1980s, People Within The Region Have Turned Toward Radical Left Governments - Specifically In Venezuela, Bolivia, And Ecuador. Why Has This Profound Shift Taken Place And How Does This New, So-called Twenty-first-century Socialism Actually Manifest Itself? What Are We To Make Of The Often Fraught Relationship Between The Social Movements And Governments In These Countries And Do, In Fact, The Latter Even Qualify As 'socialist' In Reality? These Are The Bold And Critical Questions That Latin America's Turbulent Transitions Explores. The Authors Provocatively Argue That Although Us Hegemony In The Region Is On The Wane, The Traditional Socialist Project Is Also Declining And Something New Is Emerging. Going Beyond Simple Conceptions Of 'the Left', The Book Reveals The True Underpinnings Of This Powerful, Transformative, And Yet Also Complicated And Contradictory Process.--publisher's Website. Introduction: Turbulent Transitions And The Specter Of Socialism -- Globalization, Neoliberalism, And The Rise Of The Social Movements -- The Pink Tide And The Challenge To Us Hegemony -- Between Neo-extractivism And Twenty-first-century Socialism -- Venezuela's Twenty-first-century Socialism -- Bolivia's Communitarian Socialism -- Ecuador's Buen Vivir Socialism (by March Becker) -- Brazil: Between Challenging Hegemony And Embracing It -- Cuba: 'updating' Twentieth-century Socialism? -- Conclusion: Socialism And The Long Latin American Spring. Roger Burbach, Michael Fox, And Federico Fuentes. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 183-199) And Index.

Over the past few years, something remarkable has occurred in Latin America. For the first time since the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua in the 1980s, people within the region have turned toward radical left governments - specifically in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Why has this profound shift taken place and how does this new, so-called Twenty-First-Century Socialism actually manifest itself? What are we to make of the often fraught relationship between the social movements and governments in these countries and do, in fact, the latter even qualify as 'socialist' in reality? These are the bold and critical questions that Latin America's Turbulent Transitions explores. The authors provocatively argue that although US hegemony in the region is on the wane, the traditional socialist project is also declining and something new is emerging. Going beyond simple conceptions of 'the left', the book reveals the true underpinnings of this powerful, transformative, and yet also complicated and contradictory process.

Over the past few years, something remarkable has occurred in Latin America. For the first time since the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua in the 1980s, people within the region have turned toward radical left governments – specifically in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador. Why has this profound shift taken place and how does this new, so-called Twenty-First Century Socialism actually manifest itself? What are we to make of the often fraught relationship between the social movements and governments in these countries and do, in fact, the latter even qualify as socialist in reality?

These are the bold and critical questions that Latin America's Turbulent Transition explores, as the authors provocatively argue that although U.S. hegemony in the region is on the wane, the socialist project is also declining. Going beyond simple two-left conceptions, the book reveals the true underpinnings of this powerful, transformative and yet also complicated and contradictory process.

Investigates the recent rise of radical left governments in many Latin American countries, exploring why this profound shift has taken place and how this new 'Twenty-First Century Socialism' actually manifests itself.