A new political dynamic has emerged on the South American continent and much of Latin America
over the past five years. That's not news. What is a bit surprising is
that the Bush administration has failed to recognize (or perhaps
“acknowledge” is a better word) the emergence of a social democratic
movement that continues to gather steam.
The Bush administration largely views these developments as a threat to
U.S. hegemony in the region. The new leadership in Latin America which
is driving these bold initiatives would probably prefer to consider the
reforms that are taking place as a counterpoint to a non-benevolent
“manifest destiny” being pushed by multinationalists.
So, it's not a bit surprising that many Latin American leaders are
balking at the U.S.'s attempt to drive the discussions at the two day
America's Summit (being held today and tomorrow in Argentina) toward restarting the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) talks.
The government of Argentina is particularly sensitive to the Bush
administration's desire to railroad FTAA, in light of the calamitous
economic events in the country during 2001.
Memories are long, and the hardships brought on by the collapse of Argentina's economy four years ago haven't abated much...
If there's only one good thing about the Bush administration's folly in
Iraq, it's that the war has distracted the attention of the policy
makers, and allowed the social democratic movements to prosper. Most
importantly, what's happening in South America is directly related to
the “laws of unintended consequences”. A failed energy policy in the
U.S. that has allowed energy companies to gouge American consumers has
financed the revolution in Latin American politics.
The populist genie is out of the bottle, and it's unlikely that any
push by the Bush administration to ramrod FTAA is going to meet with
much success. Perhaps it's time for the administration's experts to
come to terms with the new realities of true Latin American national
empowerment, rather than trying to dictate terms of a broken policy of
hegemony.
A new political dynamic has emerged on the South American continent and much of 
