Latin American spring

This chapter examines historic developments in Latin America (especially South America) over the past twenty five years that have been underreported in the United States but that have helped to transform the region and hemispheric relations. Beginning in 1998, voters in Latin America began to elect a series of leaders who ran on platforms explicitly opposing neoliberal economic policies. These left-wing governments (often referred to as a Pink tide) have pursued some policies that departed from those of the previous two to three decades. The rebound in economic growth, poverty reduction, and other changes in these countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela, are examined in turn, as well as recent economic problems. These countries’ political choices have also led the region to become more independent of the United States than ever before, and the change in hemispheric relations is also examined.[3]