[progchat_action] Latin America’s Changing Mosiac: Movements in Flux and Center-Left Governments i
 
Resent-Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:19:40 -0600 (CST)



By James Petras* Axis of Logic  <http://www.axisoflogic.com/>
Exclusive Feb 13, 2008  [Email this article]
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Editor's Note: The following treatise on contemporary political,
social and ideological changes in Latin America by James Petras is
the most reasoned and comprehensive approach we have read to date.
The following treatise on contemporary political, social and
ideological changes in Latin America by James Petras is the most
reasoned and comprehensive approach we have read to date. It is a
"must read and digest" analysis for anyone interested in understanding
the complex changes taking place throughout Latin America today.

- Axis of Logic Editors

In contrast to North America and Europe, in Latin America political
regimes, social movements and ideologies are in constant flux.
Within a period of a few years, the political pendulum can swing
from a seemingly radical leftist wave, to center-left and even
rightwing ascendancy1.

Likewise major social movements emerge, expand from local or regional
power bases to significant actors on the national political scene,
play a major role in dispatching right-wing regimes, support and
even enter governmental coalitions and then decline, especially if
they fail to achieve any of the minimum demands of their supporters.2

Despite this complex mosaic of relatively abrupt changes and shifts
in political power, social configurations and ideological direction,
many North American, European and Latin American writers, commentators,
intellectuals and journalists are prone to sweeping generalizations
covering the entire region and broad time spans, reflecting in many
cases, limited experiences and time periods, which have largely
become out of date.3  In most cases, these generalizations are
poorly documented, impressionistic and lacking any empirical,
historical or analytical depth. (Continue reading)
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