Latin America – prospects for 2022

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By FRANCISCO EDUARDO DE OLIVEIRA CUNHA*

We are at a key moment for the continent to take its own path or remain dependent on the center

The discussions that have been held by Latin American intellectuals instigated by the book dialectic of dependency by Ruy Mauri Marini have made clear our status as a region of dependent capitalism. Indeed, Latin America has lived hegemonically due to what happens in regions of advanced capitalism based on an unequal interaction. Because of this inequality, the crisis when it hits the center, flows more intensely in our continent.

From a brief political context of Latin America in the current century, with some exceptions such as Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, as well as the recent victories of the left in Argentina, Peru and Chile, it is clear that the region has experienced pendular movements in which , part of the countries achieved more democratic governments, some more progressive; and right-wing governments, more conservative and/or with a neoliberal agenda in the economic field.

An important issue in this initial scenario is to realize that in progressive waves, the opportunity for important popular reforms slipped through our fingers. Whether in reformist governments or those considered even more revolutionary, it became clear that the current models considered democratic, did not present themselves as capable or capable enough to promote structural changes, but on the contrary, favored the maintenance of colonialist structures of dependence and domination , although we can recognize important social advances in leftist governments, mainly in Brazil.

Hence the problem seems to perpetuate itself. Latin America continues to occupy this strategic role for capitalism, that is, it continues to supply raw materials, cheap labor and a socio-productive space conducive to the intensification of the super-exploitation of the workforce. From a more political point of view, an absurdly fertile place for the endeavors of neoliberal policies.

The Venezuelan case, as a counter-hegemonic example of what we have seen in Latin America, presents itself as an interesting illustration of popular advances, as was the case with the construction of a more democratic constitution, as well as with the discussion and decision of important issues consulting the population, and also, with the process of nationalization of oil income in favor of the people. Likewise, we can mention the Bolivians with pluri-nationalism, water conflicts, the nationalization of natural gas and oil. These experiences signal to Latin America the need for sovereign directions and the overcoming of a political lethargy that leaves our continent at the mercy of what happens in the central world.

Going into aspects of the cyclical crisis of capitalism, it is important to realize that it has an uneven impact on social strata, especially in our region. This is very evident in the communication vehicles, where it is very common to see the exorbitant profits of big businessmen and bankers being reported, as well as the very price of the dollar that causes production destined to supply internal demands to be transferred for export in the eagerness for greater profits, which ends up, to some extent, corroborating the inflationary indices that fall on the lowest-income population. Finally, the crisis has an uneven impact on rich and poor, the latter more ruthlessly.

It is exactly in these crisis cycles that the class struggle is intensified. The conservative wave, fascism, militarism, are the most visible characteristics of this intensification. It is therefore necessary, within this struggle, to recover some important actions such as grassroots work, political training, awareness of a rupture project in favor of workers, peasants, indigenous peoples and other classes oppressed by economic power in our region. .

In view of the above, a more urgent reflection on the continent is necessary, considering that waves of lefts are uncertain and, consequently, opportunities for ruptures become more scarce, while also more complex, although not impossible. In this way, it is important to provoke about the current role of Latin America in this context and in these winds that blow for the continent in 2022. complex reversal, at least in a shorter time perspective.

Finally, we entered a historic year of struggles and the overthrow of fascist projects on the continent. This is a key moment for us to either maintain our underdeveloped condition, dependent, consequently, on a socioeconomic space conducive to anti-people neoliberal policies, precarious working conditions, overexploitation of the workforce – which are necessary policies for the maintenance of capital profits in crisis cycles; or if we mobilize in the sense of a project of rupture, with popular awareness, of the masses and, in achieving a resumption of progressive governments on the continent, do not settle down with the mobilizations so that in fact the necessary structural reforms are carried out, in order to take a path of its own for Latin America.

The transition is possible to the mainland. A revolution is urgent and necessary.

*Francisco Eduardo de Oliveira Cunha Professor at the Department of Economic Sciences at the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI).

 

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