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.