The “pink tide” has become a catchphrase for the many varied left-leaning leaders who have come to power in Latin America in the last few years. While they share a will to reduce poverty and build democratic institutions, there are significant differences in their goals, their means to achieve those goals, and their relations with the United States. In an effort to break from the neoliberal economic model, for example, Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez has diversified his country’s oil partners by collaborating with state companies from other developing nations. Brazil’s Inácio Lula da Silva, in contrast, has built coalitions within global financial institutions, like the World Trade Organization, to strengthen opposition to Washington-favored neoliberal policies.

This rise of progressive leaders reflects the demands of an increasingly vocal Latin American people who, through participation in both elections and social movements, are demanding that their governments respond to their needs. The shift is partly rooted in the decline of U.S. influence over Latin American military institutions after the end of the Cold War and with that the militaries’ hold on power. This, accompanied by the diminished Latin American dependence on U.S. financial capital and Washington’s ability to use it as leverage in its dealings the region’s leaders, has provided an opening for popular participation and reform.

The challenge for news reporters covering Latin America is to recognize the intricacies of each country and resist lumping all the “pink tide” countries into the same category.

MORE RESOURCES

NACLA NEWS

A Bank of Their Own: Latin America Casting off Washington Shackles by Mark Weisbrot
November 2, 2007

The Role of Labor in Latin America’s Left Turn by Dan La Botz
September 11, 2007

Toward a ‘Multipolar World’: Using Oil Diplomacy to Sever Venezuela’s Dependence by Steve Elner
October 16, 2007

Left Triumphs in Ecuadoran Elections, Country’s Institutions to be Transformed by Roger Burbach
October 2, 2007

Bank of the South: Toward Financial Autonomy by Raul Zibechi
July 8, 2007