Since the end of the World War II, the left movements took an active political role in politics in Latin American and have played critical role in liberation of those economies from dictatorship leadership. By 1990s, these left wing movements had replaced most government with neoliberal democracies. Presently, these movements are playing an active role in guarantying radical changes in efforts to enhance national sovereignty. This essay evaluates the manner in which they play a critical role in political arena and the challenges they face in their endeavors with special reference to the relationship between Latin America and United States.
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According to Frens-String (2013), in the article ‘A New Politics for a New Chile’ there students of Chile have taken a more active role in the political arena. This is through lobby groups that recently have been spearheaded by the Chilean Federation of Student president, Vallejo, whose main agenda is improvement of the education system and improvement economic performance of Chilean economy. They are involved in advocating for reforms in education and other sectors of the economy to enhance equal opportunities for all while ensuring high quality standards are upheld. The students’ involvement in left-wing movement is evident through the students’ leaders’ key role in election of left-wing progressive leader, Josefa Errazuriz. Among the key students leader who played key role during the municipal election was CamilaValllejo among others (Frens-String 31).
The liberalization of Chile economy has resulted to many US firms investing in Chile, hence enabling the citizens of Chile to “shop the world” due to globalization (Chasteen 324). Chasteen notes the positive impacts neoliberalization focused on competitive advantage, free trade and export production of. As the left-wing movement try to guarantee access to social amenities, unequal distribution of wealth is the most limiting factor in Chile’s left-wing movement progress. High poverty levels have been a challenge for most to the left-wing movements in Latin Americans to enjoy the fruits of neoliberalization (Wood and John 226). Thus Wood and John have noted the poverty rates have resulted to inability of the Chilean household to purchase high quality, but expensive products from the global market due to the low purchasing power. More so, limited financial muscle has adversely influenced the effectiveness of the left-wing movement.
Although there have been challenges facing the left-wing movement in America to achieve the desired social and economic change. To a certain extent, these movements have played a key role in enabling radical change in the political arena. The changes have resulted to the Latin American enjoying the fruits of globalization. This is evidenced by the US firms investing in Latin American economies like Chile.
Works cited
Chasteen, John C. Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. Print.
Frens-String, Joshua. A New Politics for a New Chile. NACLA Report on the Americas, Vol. 46.3 (2013): 28-33.
Wood, James A, and John C. Chasteen. Problems in Modern Latin American History: Sources and Interpretations. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2009. Print.
