Updates with analyst quote on 19th paragraph. In Chile, 2,500 injured and least 20 dead in weeks of unrest. Wit… And yet, despite the turmoil, the country has been one of the strongest economic performers in Latin America. In Ecuador, unrest blew up after President Lenin Moreno ended fuel subsidies. Agence France-Presse . Visiting Professor of Political Science Orçun Selçuk presented a lecture on “Unrest in Latin America” in the CFL Recital Hall on Nov. 13. Brazil has been disturbed by political agitation over economic questions and Communism. In Argentina, Macri is under pressure after being trounced in a primary on Aug. 11. The International Monetary Fund projects a 14% decline in GDP this year. “Presidents are caught between the need for adjustments and their inability to put them in place.”. Viviana Balan, research relationship manager for the Americas at Mergermarket, said: “Following two shaky years of political unrest, Latin America saw weak activity in its first quarter of 2020. Hot campaigns are now in progress for presidential elections in Mexico (July 6) and Chile (Sept. 4). Targets Gas in Next Fight Against Fossil Fuel Pollution, Meadows Suggested Hahn’s Job in Danger Over Vaccine, U.S. Lifts Sudan’s Terror-Sponsor Listing After 27 Years. In Venezuela, more than 4 million people have fled hunger, political repression and a dysfunctional economy under Nicolas Maduro. Paraguay has been experiencing massive protests against President Mario Abdo. Failed narco-states are beginning to appear in Central America. The turmoil began on October 18 with student-led protests over a metro fare increase. Google Services Including Gmail, YouTube Suffer Major Outage, Merkel Seeks to Regain Grip on Virus With Hard Holiday Lockdown, Billionaire Survivor of Ransom, Terror Attacks Rivals Ambani, Sweden’s Covid Workers Are Quitting in Dangerous Numbers, Stocks, Futures Set Bullish Tone as Pound Surges: Markets Wrap. The economy barely missed recession during the first half of 2019, and growth prospects for 2020 remain at just 1%, after repeated forecast cuts. Mass protests in the US have taken recent headlines for good reason, but further south civil unrest is about to boil over in countries across Latin America as the full economic impacts of the pandemic take hold and simmering grievances resurface. Pinera’s retreat on Saturday failed to immediately halt looting and riots, which prompted the first state of emergency since General Augusto Pinochet was dictator. His running mate, Christina Fernandez de Kirchner, is the standard bearer of Juan Peron’s legacy and oversaw what became a closed-off economy during her two terms as president. Ferment in Latin American Politics Disquieting propaganda continues to radiate from Buenos Aires. “The root of the protests lies in this dissatisfaction, which can trigger intense social consequences.”. That was enough to trigger a historic market sell-off, leading the government to reimpose capital controls and unilaterally push out debt maturities. Despite Mexico’s economics strengths and its position as Latin America’s second-largest economy, businesses must be aware of heightened risks in the country in 2020 – including sluggish growth. Argentina, meanwhile, is back in the grip of capital controls after voters revolted against President Mauricio Macri’s budget-cutting agenda and handed his opponents a commanding lead ahead of presidential elections on Oct. 27. “There is a widespread perception in the region that the quality of public services is inadequate," said Itau Unibanco chief economist Mario Mesquita. UN chief ‘deeply disturbed’ by political unrest in Peru . Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal. Why? Why Argentina Shuddered at Prospect of Change at Top: QuickTake. Politics and Socio-Economic Development. The unrest in Latin America this fall cannot be attributed to any single factor, and it is unclear how effective the Russia-linked influence campaign on Twitter was. In addition to Venezuela, where political and economic criseshave resulted in a humanitarian disaster known around the world, there has been recent turbulence elsewhere in South America. Yet Nelson A. Rockefeller, who served as wartime Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, has noted that “disunity and unrest in many parts of Latin America are far more widespread and serious than most people of the United States realize”. Profiling Latin America Latin America had just experienced an unusually high level of social unrest towards the end of 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic upended daily life there. Investors are already pricing in the return of political risk. The only outlier was Chile. While each country has specific flash points, the likely outcome in each case is eroding government support for a pro-market agenda and less stamina to rein in spending. Popular. Other challenges to governments’ authority aren’t helping. Obstacles to Stable Democratic Government In Central America, oligarchic systems of governance prevailed at the end of the 19th Century. United Nations ... and ‘urges all stakeholders to work towards a prompt and institutional solution to the current political crisis... through inclusive dialogue with full respect for the rule of law.’ ... More Stories from Latin America. Pandemic and Political Unrest in Brazil and Nicaragua. Because of the impressive development under the Good Neighbor policy of numerous mechanisms for inter-American cooperation, based on the affirmation of democratic and peaceful purposes, the solidarity and mutual goodwill of the 21 Western Hemisphere republics is easily taken for granted. Take our survey to help us improve CQ Researcher! The Argentine ambassador to Ecuador recently was declared persona non grata for interfering in the tense campaign which led up to the Ecuadorian elections of June 1. In Honduras, a lack of economic stability, high levels of violence, corruption and criminal activity among politicians are the main reasons why citizens are demanding the resignation of President Juan Orlando Hernández. Latin America, the traditional poster child for political risk in financial markets, is back as a source of concern for investors. Chile has seen several weeks of unrest, including street protests, riots, and vandalism, that has so far killed twenty people and injured more than one thousand others. Political crises are erupting across Latin America, compounding the difficulties of a region already struggling with massive migration and economic troubles. Mexico is emerging from a disappointing first year of the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). Riot police fire tear gas during a protest in the Historic Center neighborhood of Quito, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. In 2013, a bus-fare hike in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro set off Brazil’s biggest protests in more than two decades and shook politics in the region’s biggest economy. Recent political tensions in Latin America have by no means been confined to Chile. Egypt’s Economic Pivot Takes Shape as Army Firms Up for Sale, Why an ‘Electoral College’ Chooses the U.S. President, Nordic States Set Electric-Planes Pace After Green-Cars Push, U.K. Latin America, as other regions around the world, is getting increasingly polarized. A metro station burns during a protest in Santiago, Chile, on Oct. 19. As the global death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 600,000 (Johns Hopkins University, 23 July 2020), few states continue to downplay the severity of the crisis. After a strong 2019, a decent 1Q20 was expected. Read more: On the Streets, New IMF Is Getting Same Pushback as Old One, “Investors excited about the region’s turn to the right were underestimating the challenges,” said Daniel Kerner, Eurasia Group’s managing director for Latin America. CQ Press is a registered trademark of Congressional Quarterly Inc. Obstacles to Stable Democratic Government, Mexico's Election and the Continuing Revolution, Export Surpluses and Import Needs of South America, Protection of American Interests in Mexico, Relations Between Mexico and the United States, Imperialism, Colonization, and Independence Movements, Regional Political Affairs: Latin America and the Caribbean, CCPA – Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Environment, Climate and Natural Resources. Diagnosed With Cancer After Using The Weedkiller Roundup? SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (CN) — With political unrest in Chile, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia, virtually the entire continent of South America is in the throes of drama unseen for a generation. Despite striking differences among the individual republics, certain basic and substantially common factors are discernible behind much of the current disunity and unrest. Latin America in particular experienced greater social unrest than at any time in recent memory. Bouts of civil unrest are common in Latin America, but 2019 saw a serious bucking of the regional trend. That familiar dilemma for the region’s leaders is sharpened by the end of a commodities boom, slowing growth and rising government debt, which jumped in South America to an estimated 78% of gross domestic product this year from 51% a decade ago, according to IMF data. Democracies have been rocked by repeated crises of disaffection and civic unrest, with uncertain outcomes. Photograph: Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters T he popular protests that erupted in 2019 and have continued to rumble – from France and Spain in Europe to Hong Kong and India in … Latin America’s tensions played out as finance chiefs concluded the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington over the weekend. Nonetheless, some political trends may still be recognized. History of Latin America - History of Latin America - New order emerging, 1910–45: The advances in economic growth and political stabilization that were evident in most of Latin America by the early 20th century came up against an array of challenges as the century wore on. Political turmoil in Paraguay and Peru. In Ecuador, a government besieged by protesters forced to flee the capital. Economic malaise behind Latin America’s year of unrest. Protesters from Chile to Ecuador derail austerity measures, Wealth gap, slower growth and rising debt making a potent mix. Latin American Summary Much of the history of 20th Century in Latin America has been characterized by political instability and turmoil. Today, the political landscape is quite different. The forthcoming goodwill visit to Rio de Janeiro of Secretary of State Acheson is a fresh reminder to the people of the United States of the basic strategic, economic, and political importance of the Latin American region in the world struggle against Communist imperialism. Hernández came into power in 2013 after what was widely considered a fraudulent election, and then ran for an unconstitutional second ter… Latin America has some of the highest COVID-19 death rates in the world. Latin America’s Wave of Protests Was Historic—Then the Pandemic Arrived The coronavirus and lockdowns have worsened the region’s economic divides—and set the stage for more political upheaval. While austerity has a history in South America, including by force under military governments in the 1970s, the commodities boom that began around 2000 opened up spending leeway that has now evaporated again. Chile, where a growing wealth gap has left many citizens struggling to get by, may be the most jarring case. Source: IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2019, General government gross debt/GDP for 12 South American countries. For outsiders, much of the discussion of COVID-19 in Latin America has focused on Brazil and the errors of President Jair Bolsonaro. An indigenous woman wears a mask during a protest in Quito, Ecuador, on Oct. 9. “There is a clear sense that it is important to assure some sort of economic development that also tackle inequalities, which may get amplified in a moment of global slowdown and trade uncertainties,” Mexican Finance Minister Arturo Herrera said during the meetings. Most demonstrations have been peaceful, though, with one drawin… ©2020, CQ Press, An Imprint of SAGE Publishing. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Saturday became the second leader this month to declare a state of emergency, his hand forced by violent protests in South America’s wealthiest country after an increase in transportation costs. In Honduras, political unrest will persist over the next few years as the country's opposition tries to resist unpopular government moves. Protests and violent riots throughout the United States, nominally expressing outrage over the death of Minnesota man George Floyd, attracted Latin American leftist iconography this week – not a coincidence given months of violent riots throughout South America, observers told Breitbart News. Last year, truckers went on a paralyzing strike after increases in the diesel prices. Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to slow to 0.2% this year from an average 0.6% in the previous five years, according to IMF data. However, recent protests in Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador have fulled a wave of uncertainty.” Finally, following the killing of social and indigenous leaders, Colombia is expecting a general strike on Nov. 21 – opening fears of further unrest. Concern Over Signs of Disunity and Unrest The forthcoming goodwill visit to Rio de Janeiro of Secretary of State Acheson is a fresh reminder to the people of the United States of the basic strategic, economic, and political importance of the Latin American region in … It all suggests an array of risk factors with no quick solutions. The disappointing results can be attr… U.S. As Ecuadorian protesters infuriated by rising fuel prices invaded government offices and oil fields, the president and his administration fled the capital, warning of a coup. Signs of political tension are evident in the prolongation of a “state of siege” in Colombia, the controversy over Communist influence in Guatemala, and the alleged discovery of plots against the ruling junta in Venezuela. The authoritarian stain has spread, adding Venezuela and Nicaragua to the list of closed autocracies. Unrest in Latin America is putting the region’s soldiers back into the public eye. Challenges to the political order The economic and social changes taking place in Latin America inevitably triggered demands for political change as well; political change in turn affected the course of socioeconomic development. That leaves leaders in the tight spot of needing to cut back yet knowing that doing so is likely to spark political upheaval or even their ouster. It soon escalated as rioters burned buses and metro stations, looted businesses, and clashed with security forces. For all the market shocks, Latin America has a history of exploding unrest when prices go up for essential services and products, which are often subsidized and subject to price distortions. Every living former Peruvian president is being investigated or has been charged with corruption. According to the Latin America Risk Report, the situation in Latin American is only set to worsen in 2020. For all the market shocks, Latin America has a history of exploding unrest when prices go up for essential services and products, which are often subsidized and subject to price distortions. Of the remaining holdouts, two are in Latin America: Brazil and Nicaragua. “Reforming the economy is tough -- you can win the argument and lose the elections,” Chilean Finance Minister Felipe Larrain said in Washington just before violence erupted in his country over the weekend. Paraguayans are angry about an agreement with Brazil on the Itaipu hydroelectric power plantthat’s considered detrimental to the smaller country. Have a confidential tip for our reporters? The United Nations has accused the government of using a strategy of instilling fear in its population to retain power. Report Outline “In almost all of South America, we have unpopular governments with fiscal problems facing angry voters tired of corruption, bad public services and the lack of economic dynamism,” Eurasia’s Kerner said. At the onset of the year, nine of the region’s 10 largest economies sat in the extreme- or high-risk category of our Civil Unrest Index. The Haitian Revolution, a bloody but successful uprising of enslaved people against their French colonial enslavers (1791–1804), terrified landowners in the Caribbean and northern South America, and as the situation worsened in Spain, many feared … The pandemic, however, has thrown Peru’s economy adrift. These factors are also fueling their mass migration out of the country. Peru swears in nation’s third president in just over a week after political upheaval, protests November 17, 2020 LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peru swears in nation’s third president in just over a week after political upheaval, protests. Mexico’s struggle to exercise state control were on display last week when President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s government ordered the release of the son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman after cartel members overpowered Mexican forces. Presidential contender Alberto Fernandez has promised relief, suggesting Argentina may be headed for a renewed populist turn that could unwind economic reforms and push the country toward renegotiating its debt. The successful garrison coup of Gen. Fulgencio Batista in Cuba in March and the forceful overthrow of the junta governing Bolivia in April are vivid warnings of how uneasy is the political situation in many countries to the south. The upshot is that Latin Americans are yet again rejecting austerity sought by investors and the likes of the International Monetary Fund, arguing it does little to reduce income inequality or improve social services. Agencies Hit in Brazen Attack by Suspected Russian Hack... Biden Nod From Electors Could Seal His Win With Some in GOP. Political crises are erupting across Latin America, compounding the difficulties of a region already struggling with massive migration and economic troubles. All Rights Reserved. In contrast to the Andean countries, the elections of Argentina and Uruguay on Oct. 27 and the liberation of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from prison on Nov. 9 were tame. The lecture covered recent social uprisings in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela, and was organized by the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement and the student organization Latines Unides. Year, truckers went on a paralyzing strike after increases in the return of risk. 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