Political changes in Lat-Am not to affect bilateral ties with China
- By Jiang Shixue
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 17, 2016
However, the United States was concerned that the Latin American left-wing might unite with the former Soviet Union's communist influence, and supported the right-wing groups in these countries, banning the Communist Party and other left-wing parties, trade unions and student organizations. On top of that, the dissolution of the Soviet Union was also a heavy blow to the left-wing.
When Chavez assumed the Venezuelan presidency in 1999, the world interpreted it as the comeback of the left-wing in Latin America, followed by the rise in left-wing power in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chili, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Uruguay. These countries account for more than 70 percent of the area of Latin America and more than half of its population.
The left-wing parties in Latin America have three features, particularly, the emphasis on national intervention, the advocacy for accelerated social development and the banner for opposing the United States.
Take Venezuela as an example. Since Chavez came to power, he nationalized many economic sectors, and tried to limit the independence of its central bank. The country exercised strict control on prices and foreign exchange, resulting in various distortions. But Chavez subsidized the lower-income class with huge revenues from oil exports, and managed to win these people's votes in following elections. In the international arena, Venezuela dared to cause friction with the United States both on political and economic issues.
Trend to political plurality
The Latin American left-wing's pursuit for a new development pattern deserves both encouragement and acknowledgement, but their exploration could hardly be recognized as flawless.
Take Chavez's Venezuela as an example. The government's excessive intervention in the economy remarkably crippled the market mechanism, shadowing enthusiasm in economic activities. The recent plunge of international crude oil prices kept shrinking Venezuela's revenue from oil exports. The crime rate climbed as the economy fell, and the scene of prosperity in Chavez's "socialism of the 21st century" did not emerge.
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