Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Lucas Leiroz, research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro…
For many years, the situation of the South American integration project has been moving slowly and with strong signs of decay. The various political, economic and social changes that have taken place in recent years – marked by a strong neoliberal shift in South America – have contributed to the weakening of the bloc.
Donald Trump recently stated that he is considering a military option in Venezuela in respect of overthrowing the popularly elected socialist government of the oil rich state. Recent months have seen increasing hostile protests against the government by US backed right wing agitators.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza has said of Trump’s remarks,
Brazil must diversify its trade portfolio to include certain industrial areas where it can truly compete on a global level [Xinhua]
Brazil’s economy has suffered a series of setbacks and pitfalls in the midst of political crises in the past two years.
Earlier this week, President Dilma Rousseff was temporarily removed from office pending a trial as the country’s leaders face down a number of corruption allegations and a barrage of negative economic news.
Pundits and commentators on the Left and Right are pronouncing ‘the end of the progressive cycle in Latin America’. They cite the recent presidential elections:
1. Argentina, where hard-right Mauricio Macri was elected;
2. Brazil, where President Dilma Rousseff has appointed a neo-liberal ‘Chicago Boy’ economist, Joaquin Levy, as Finance Minister and launched an IMF-style regressive structural adjustment policy designed to reduce social expenditures and attract financial speculators; and
By WILLIAM CAMACARO and FREDERICK B. MILLS | CounterPunch | January 2, 2015 In a historic address on December 17, 2014 on “Cuba policy changes” President Barack Obama declared, “our shift in policy towards Cuba comes at a moment of renewed leadership in the Americas.” This “renewed leadership,” in our view, seeks to gradually undermine […]
By Arlene Eisen | Venezuelanalysis | July 11, 2014 Caracas – Hundreds of people gathered after work yesterday in downtown Caracas to protest Israel’s “Operation Protective Edge” – the continuing massive bombardment of Gaza. At the rally, speaker after speaker voiced outrage at the massacre of innocent children and other civilians and called for the […]
By Arlene Eisen | Venezuelanalysis | July 11, 2014 Caracas – Hundreds of people gathered after work yesterday in downtown Caracas to protest Israel’s “Operation Protective Edge” – the continuing massive bombardment of Gaza. At the rally, speaker after speaker voiced outrage at the massacre of innocent children and other civilians and called for the […]
The world political economy is a mosaic of cross currents: Domestic decay and elite enrichment, new sources for greater profits and deepening political disenchantment, declining living standards for many and extravagant luxury for a few, military losses in some regions with imperial recovery in others. There are claims of a unipolar, a multi-polar and even a non-polar configuration of world power. Where, when, to what extent and under what contingencies do these claims have validity?
By Tamara Pearson | Venezuelanalysis | September 18, 2013
Merida – Yesterday the Venezuelan government proposed to the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) that it adopt mechanisms to prevent the United States from spying on its countries.
By Carla Stea | Global Research | August 17, 2013
“The United States appears to be destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of liberty.” Simon Bolivar
