After a series of setbacks in 2015-19 suggested to many observers that the era of leftist governance in Latin America was over, the picture today is very different. 2021’s election victories for progressive candidates in Peru, Honduras and Chile were the latest in a series of recent advances that has reinvigorated progressives around the world who are again looking towards Latin America for hope and inspiration.
With progressive candidates leading polls ahead of elections in Colombia and Brazil, the failure of US-backed attempts to overturn democracy in Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua, the continued resilience and inspiring healthcare internationalism of Cuba, and progressive governments in office in Mexico and Argentina, the left stands once again on the verge of regional dominance.
What lies behind the Latin American left’s resurgence? What challenges do leftist governments and movements face as they attempt to improve the lives of millions of people rather than serve the interests of international capital and imperialism? And how can they resist the inevitable right-wing attempts at destabilisation and intervention?
Hosted by Alborada, co-editor Pablo Navarrete chaired a forum with Daniel Chavez (Senior Project Officer, Transnational Institute and author), Nathalia Urban (Brazilian journalist) and Dr Francisco Dominguez (academic and author) to discuss these questions.