Contemporary Latin America and the Role of the State

    The role of the state is a big one in current Latin American politics and policies. More and more countries are gaining more individual perspectives and roles for themselves as states on the international stage. Instead of regarding Latin America as more of a coalition of states that share the same role and power in current world politics, more and more Latin American states, such as Venezuela, are taking the role of the state to higher level.

Latin American countries, such as Venezuela, use their state power in the way that they can–through diplomacy and diplomatic relations with other states. Venezuela has been using methods of diplomacy in order to strenghten its own role in global politics as well as try to tarnish the role of the United States. As seen in class, Hugo Chavez has met with many other state leaders across the globe in an attempt to have the voice of the Venezuelan state heard on a more global spectrum. In this sense, Chavez is using his power to enhancethe role of the state and its influence on the international scene.

Venezuela, and Chavez in particular, is a big proponent on the weakening of hegemonic powers such as the US, which use imperialistic methods to infringe upon and influence other states. He is fighting for state sovereignty as well as the role of the state in global politics indead of more globalized coalitions.

State power in Venezuela also comes from how other states view it, and how its people view it. If the people of a country do not view their own state as powerful, then the state’s power source is duly affected. Venezuela has a strong leader who is attempting and somewhat succeeding in placating its people and making them see their nation as more powerful. Other states on the world scene, whether they want to or not, also recognize the Venezuelan state as powerful. Just the fact that the Venezuelan leaders and politics appear in the news and media sources of hugely powerful states such as the US shows that other states are recognizing the role of the Venezuelan state and its effect in world politics.

How have different views of the International System influenced the present of Latin America?

 

The different approaches to the International System, or the different perspectives of the international order, are such –Liberalism, Realism, Radicalism, and Constructivism- given the plurality of contexts each state finds itself in. If we view how the United States is playing its role in the International context we will see as prominent the importance they give to maintaining certain order, control, through first hand intervention in territories or other states where the situation is directly interfering with their interests. The current state of affairs will lead us to think of their presence in Iraq or Afghanistan; or even a more recent case involving NATO missiles in Ukraine which provoked the direct reply in discomfort from the Russian government.

How is this of importance to South America? In the bipolar world of the Cold War, the Communist and Socialist thought was spreading in South and Central America; the exemplary case would be the Cuban revolution. Having more Communist states was all but what the United States wanted in the American continent, thus leading to to the economical blocking of the previously referred island. Inspired in Cuba and the Marxist writings the revolution was fermenting in the South American countries. Many communist groups were acquiring power and spreading through Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil -to mention some. As a direct response to the state of affairs of the time, military dictatorships came to power in the aforementioned countries. Some a couple of years later than others, but most occurred around the same time. In Uruguay, for example, the dictatorship lasted since the parliamentary chambers were dissolved by President Bordaberry in 1973 until 1983 were the military regime ended for the country to reinstall Democracy in 1985. It has not been until a some years ago when the different governments disclosed the files and archives from the military times that the United States involvement was proved certain. The most famous case is the “Plan Condor” which had the military governments from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, allied with the CIA acting in concert to cover each other’s backs and maintain the power. This would be an example of how the United States does not hesitate in intervening where it sees that what goes on affects its power-seeking interests.

I find that the actions undertaken by the United States can clearly be understood if viewed through the Realist perspective of the International System. In an Anarchic world the strongest remains in power as long as it keeps the power, in which case if threatened it has to secure. In the other hand, there were the revolutionary groups which intentions can be understood from the Radical perspective of the International System. For example, Cuba which insists on the righteousness of their political system since they are against the stratification the International System brings along with and hope to change it.

But what it is clear nowadays is that South America does not hold, as a general body, any of the two views previously mentioned, if not that it is, instead, going trough its most important process in the twentieth century; that of forging its own identity after centuries of control, domination, and external intervention.

 

Theories seen in Reality? A Look at Venezuelan Foreign Policy

Currently, the situation in South America is very much so coinciding with the readings that we have been discussing in class. This is especially true in what has been happening in Venezuelan foreign policy under the leadership of Hugo Chavez. After many domestic problems and occurrences being resolved under his presidency in Venezuela, Chavez decided to move his focus to foreign policy, especially regarding the US in 2004. Chavez’s influence and stance in world politics exemplifies the theory of radicalism on a world scene that’s dominated by the neoliberal ideology of the US. This just goes to show that what many political theorist seem to think as a growing hegemonic power (the US and neoliberalism) has not squashed all opposition yet. Chavez’s Venezuela is yet another example of multipolarity on the world stage with regard to foreign policy.

Chavez is opposed to the neoliberalist, capitalist foreign policy of the US. He shows the influence that Marxism has in his politics in this way, and takes a page from Lenin’s book in opposing any form of imperialism. He has spoken out in UN conferences and has made quite clear to the world his intentions to restore power to the indigenous peoples of South America starting in Venezuela. As stated earlier, he is against neoliberal globalization. In my opinion, he is definitely catalyzing changes internationally in increasing subtle and not so subtle opposition to US foreign policy to the chargrin of US political leaders and interest. International theorists and the like should definitely keep an eye on the Venezuelan leader, because it seems to me that he is inciting an opposition to US policy and politics and threatening the possibility of a neoliberal hegemon at least in the Americas.

Chavez’s goal in his reforms domestically is to move Venezuela into a completely socialist nation through social and economic reform. With regard to international relations, this is very significant because it shows, contrary to some articles that we have been reading in class, that socialism and other radical theories were not crushed in reality when the Soviet Empire fell. In fact, it seems to me that the world is not so much moving towards a complete liberalist globalized hegemony because nations like Venezuela are showing that there is indeed opposition to the ideals of some Western countries like the US. Venezuela is playing her oil card in dealing with international relations as well. Chavez knows the power he holds and intends to use it. I think that Venezuela’s influence on other Latin American countries is significant as well because the opposition to neoliberalism is growing as Venezuela’s influence is growing.