The progressive changes taking place in Latin America governments since the arrival to power of Mr. Chavez in Venezuela are striking. The recent election to Paraguay’s highest office of Bishop Fernando Lugo shows the unstoppable impetus of the Latin Americans hungry for change by electing democratic governments from the left. Moreover, the striking numbers with which the Coca-farmer President of Bolivia (almost 67% of the population) got re-elected in a seismic national referendum are evidence of the popularity of social justice programs. In addition, Ecuador just approved a new constitution giving broader powers to its President, Rafael Correa to continue and deepen the progressive policies of his movement, Alianza Pais.
But all in all not everything is “peaches and cream” in the sub-continent international relations. The remnants of the old and new empires and the unfortunate continuation of their policies by the national elites make it quite difficult, even to partners in the fight for justice to live without conflict.
Bolivia, landlocked by a stupid war with Chile in the 1800s, needs to recover part of its territory that would allow their exports easy access to new markets via the Pacific Ocean. It is imperative that torture-survivor President Michel Bachelet facilitate more than a dialogue but take concrete steps to overcome this historical injustice.
In the same tone but due to different reasons Brazil must recognize that the energy that the Itaipu dam provides has indeed much more value than what it was originally agreed between the two countries. Paraguay needs President Lula to persuade Brazilians to accept this reality, take responsibility for it and pay more for a rich, abundant resource that they obtain at below market value. Hopefully, it seems evident that the Workers Party’s government understands their leadership in a new South America. For example when Bolivia nationalized their hydrocarbon industry Brazilians accepted, not without some hesitancy, the new conditions of doing business under new perspectives with a progressive government.
The other conflict that for some time attracted media attention is the problem that Uruguay is facing with Argentina. The two countries across Rio de La Plata have been fighting over the detritus from a paper mill in Uruguayan soil and the environmental impact it is causing in Argentina. Through mediation they have been dealing with an international conflict of importance for one of the most important economic actors in the region: Argentina.
However, it is the regional developments spearheaded by oil-rich Venezuelan leadership that are amazing and surpassing the already ancient MERCOSUR and the CAN slower integration. ALBA, Bank of the South, UNASUR are some of the new South-South instruments of cooperation with which the countries below the Tropic of Cancer will face the future together. It is worth mention the latest success of this fascinating continental re-integration. Recently UNASUR was able to convene in Santiago de Chile most of the democratically elected leaders of South America in order to stop the civic coup-d’etat taking place in the northern rich areas of Bolivia. Even President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia, not precisely an ally of the South Cone progressive democracies, was forced by history not only to attend the summit but also to sign the declaration supporting Evo Morales democratic mandate.
Definitely changes and challenges go hand in hand. When any country tries to overcome inequality and injustice road blocks, internal and externally, questions and enormous problems arise. It is however in how they are resolving their differences that South America progressive democracies are teaching the rest of the world that integration is not only possible and necessary but that peaceful resolution of old and new differences can be achieved through cooperation and dialogue.
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