Why does it seem that much of Latin America is left wing, or there are many left-wing countries there? (country, place)
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I'm not that knowledgeable about Latin America, or know the political history but why does it seem there is a history of more left-wing movements in Latin American countries, be they Cuba, Venezuela or Ecuador, compared to the US, or other Anglo countries?
I'm not that knowledgeable about Latin America, or know the political history but why does it seem there is a history of more left-wing movements in Latin American countries, be they Cuba, Venezuela or Ecuador, compared to the US, or other Anglo countries?
The class differences were far more stark, coupled with the lack of an "American dream" type philosophy.
Mind you, the US is far more to the right politically than just about every developed nation on earth. No other country has continuing debates about the merits of socialised medicine or public education.
I personally think this is the result of two major influences.
The first part is that in the early to mid-20th Century Spain was under the Franco dictatorship, which was a right-wing dictatorship that severely attacked the Spanish left-wing, especially those in the extreme left or socialists/communists. At that time many countries in Latin America were welcoming to Spanish immigration and to Spanish refugees, and among the many that moved to Latin America were hardcore socialists and communists. With their arrival this influence begins to take a major increase in many countries.
The second part is the very success of the Castro regime in Cuba, success in the sense that it hasn't fallen out of grace and its still in power. Cuba has been the source of communist and socialist propaganda throughout the region. With Venezuela falling under their spell and the vast oil resources this country has, an added push was given to expand socialism and effectively did so to countries such as Nicaragua and Bolivia, which have been receiving huge economic donations and political support from Venezuela. Right now there is a huge billboard in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, honoring the legacy of Hugo Chavez, if that says something to you. Another example of the Venezuelan influence is that in Haiti they even named their second most important airport in Cap Haitian as Hugo Chavez International.
Not all countries are affected by this. Colombia has successfully avoided going down the socialist/communist path, mostly because the guerrilla movement there, which has displaced and killed thousands of innocent people, was originally backed by Fidel Castro and then by Hugo Chavez. In Chile the General Pinochet put an end to the socialist government of Allende and ensured U.S. backed free trade to take place, which in the long run did more good for the Chilean people than many of them want to accept. In Peru they suffered a horrible period of leftist supported terrorism with the Sendero Luminoso and has now shed its socialist past and look how that country is progressing.
Brazil has a left leaning government, but its much more in tune with reality than the one in Venezuela. Hence, Brazil has seen real improvement in the well being of its people, because they mix some socialism with capitalism to make it work for the Brazilian culture. A similar situation is taking place in Ecuador, but slightly more backwards in nature.
Another thing to keep in mind is that many Latin American countries are quite right-wing. In some of them, like the Dominican Republic, they are so far to the right that even their left-leaning groups would be considered right wing in many other countries, for example in Western European countries.
The reason was the foreign policy of the United States of America.
The US government supported right-wing military dictatorships in most of Latin America in 60's and the 70's
Those military regimes killed, tortured, and imposed terror and censorship.
Add to that the IMF-backed "austerity" governments in the 90's, and you will understand why Latin America leaned towards the left after the year 2000.
And we have nothing to regret, in most Latin American countries. Economy boomed, and social inequalities were reduced, in most countries administrated by the left-wing in Latin America.
By the way, left-wing has nothing to do with "socialism". Left-wing is capitalism with social responsibility.
The reason was the foreign policy of the United States of America.
The US government supported right-wing military dictatorships in most of Latin America in 60's and the 70's
Those military regimes killed, tortured, and imposed terror and censorship.
Sounds like Cuba throughout the last 50 years or like Venezuela today. Argentina and Bolivia are just about there as well. Don't see American interference there.....
Sounds like Cuba throughout the last 50 years or like Venezuela today. Argentina and Bolivia are just about there as well. Don't see American interference there.....
Just because you repeat a lie one thousand times, it doesn't become truth.
Venezuela is not a dictatorship, you like it or not. It's a country that held free elections, according to all the international observers. And it's a country were several opposition newspapers with heavy criticism of the government are freely sold every day. And a country were many local level governments are in the hands of political parties that oppose the national government.
I bet Fox News didn't told you about those "details", uh?
I don't like Nicolas Maduro, but it's very far from the truth to call him a "dictator" or to call Venezuela a "dictatorship".
Just because you repeat a lie one thousand times, it doesn't become truth.
Venezuela is not a dictatorship, you like it or not. It's a country that held free elections, according to all the international observers. And it's a country were several opposition newspapers with heavy criticism of the government are freely sold every day. And a country were many local level governments are in the hands of political parties that oppose the national government.
I bet Fox News didn't told you about those "details", uh?
I don't like Nicolas Maduro, but it's very far from the truth to call him a "dictator" or to call Venezuela a "dictatorship".
Dictator might not be the correct word, but spouting off a bunch of crap about "Fox News" does not make you appear any more intelligent.
Just because you repeat a lie one thousand times, it doesn't become truth.
Venezuela is not a dictatorship, you like it or not. It's a country that held free elections, according to all the international observers.
It is a dictatorship. The elections are not fair as the thug dictator Chavez, who died a billionaire (and now Maduro) have used the thug power of big govt. against their political foes. Shut down opposing media while forcing state media to spend hours broadcasting their propaganda. They have also stolen away assets and used those assets to further cement their power.
Those elections were not fair. Venezuela = a fascist dictatorship. As happens with all fascist/socialist despotic regimes, the people suffer. Venezuela is mess right now. Food shortages, power outages, lack of toilet paper.
Just because you repeat a lie one thousand times, it doesn't become truth.
Venezuela is not a dictatorship, you like it or not. It's a country that held free elections, according to all the international observers. And it's a country were several opposition newspapers with heavy criticism of the government are freely sold every day. And a country were many local level governments are in the hands of political parties that oppose the national government.
I bet Fox News didn't told you about those "details", uh?
I don't like Nicolas Maduro, but it's very far from the truth to call him a "dictator" or to call Venezuela a "dictatorship".
Why did the Chavez-Maduro regime felt the need to confiscate all non-government controlled television media? Care to explain that?
Elections when the presidents gets 99% of the time in the media is not quite 'free.' If it was a right wing government that did that to make sure the left stay out of power, the left would be crying foul.
What about the time Hugo Chavez held an election and once the results were against his stance, he declared the results to be sh*t. That was his word (m*erda in Spanish, he says it slightly after 4:05 in the video and repeats it like two or three times):
Then he did another election in which he won and suddenly he considered that a 'free and fair election.' LOL
This opposition candidate was almost killed in a government backed shooting targeting her. This is the moment it happened when she was happy on the day the election campaign started. Doesn't seem like something that happens in a real democracy with free and fair elections.
I believe that one extreme breeds another, years of ultra right wing governments have given rise to these leftist movements in Latin America, there is very little middle ground. That is starting to change but it is taking way to long.
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