Promises Of Capitalism, Surges Toward Democracy

…Tired of poverty and indifferent governments, villagers [in Tacamara, Bolivia] are being urged by some of their more radical leaders to forget the promises of capitalism and install instead a community-based socialism in which products would be bartered.

…In the burgeoning cities of China, India and Southeast Asia, that might sound like a hopelessly outdated dream because global capitalism seems to be delivering on its promise to transform those poor societies into richer ones [for elites].

…Uruguay has been pragmatic on economic matters, but has had increasingly warm relations with Venezuela.

…What these leaders [Humala, Chávez, Kirchner] share is a strong emphasis on social egalitarianism and a determination to rely less on the approach known as the Washington Consensus, which emphasizes privatization, open markets, fiscal discipline and a follow-the-dollar impulse, and is favored by the I.M.F. and United States officials.

…With the new policies of the 1980's came a surge toward democracy, a rise of technocrats as leaders and, in the last 20 years, a general acceptance of stringent austerity measures prescribed by the I.M.F. and the World Bank. Country after country was told to make far-reaching changes, from selling off utilities to cutting pension costs. In return, loans and other aid were offered. Growth would be steady, economists in Washington promised, and poverty would decline.

Juan Forero, “Latin American Looks Leftward Again,” New York Times, 12/18/05. [emphasis added]

...For the Bush administration, the prospect of Mr. Morales in the presidency is seen as a potentially serious setback in the war on drugs, one which could jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars in American anti-drug, economic and development aid. ...

Juan Forero, “Presidential Vote Could Alter Bolivia, and Strain Ties With U.S.,” New York Times, 12/18/05.