Latin America Speaks Up
Latin American mainstream press coverage of the recent Summit of the Americas, held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, devoted most of its coverage to regional economic integration, the counter-summit led by civil society groups and the varying positions on the United States’ leadership role. Less attention was paid to efforts to reduce poverty and unemployment and strengthen democratic governance.
There was a lot of talk about the Bush Administration’s insistence on promoting the FTAA, which many see as a bad deal for developing countries.
“The United States seeks an agreement for the free circulation of merchandise without thinking of common policy for the free circulation of people, without changing the juicy subsidies it gives its agriculture, without talking about compensation funds for the poorest countries. President Clinton understood these aspirations a little bit better and during his administration the Summit took place in a climate of hope.” El Tiempo, Colombia. Nov. 8, 2005
“In the Summit’s opening [Kirchner] said that Washington’s policies in the region “only generated poverty and the fall of governments.” Kirchner alluded directly to the American president: “I think that in terms of leadership, the United States has an unavoidable responsibility in ending the continent’s asymmetries.” He did not reject integration, but he said that it would have to include “safeguards and compensations for nations that are less developed.” La Nación, Argentina. Martín Rodríguez Yebra. Nov. 8, 2005
There is no consensus among Latin Americans over which country, if any, left the summit triumphantly.
“Once again, Latin America appears as a regional block that is divided, conflicted and weak…The hemisphere’s integration cannot be accomplished through meetings . . . [which], besides being disorganized and representing a great expense to each participating country, have as an obstacle the always debated presence of the United States.” El Universal, México. 5 Nov. 2005
“The IV Summit of the Americas showed a White House backed by 28 governments . . . in its intentions to include the FTAA as a main point on the continental agenda, which points to a dramatic geo-political shift. . . . Washington scores its first victory against the bidireccional blockade of MERCOSUR and the revolutionary one of Chávez.” El Universal, Venezuela. Alberto Garrido. Nov. 8, 2005
The Counter-Summit, or Summit of the People, received significant coverage. The counter-summit was attended by thousands of Latin American activists, including Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, Bolivian candidate Evo Morales and Argentinean Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Pérez.
“At dawn, all the way from Buenos Aires [came] important political, social and cultural leaders . . . who joined the march to the Summit of the People, to show a ‘pluralistic, peaceful and strong presence.’” La Jornada, México. Stella Callón. Nov. 5, 2005
“It is legitimate and democratic to differ with Bush’s policies. To do it only because he is the American president contributes little to the reflective debate. This is the difference between the rationality of arguments and the irrationality of prejudice.” La Tercera, Chile. Nov. 2, 2005
“The marches, speeches and slogans of the Anti-Summit . . . were like a postmodern stereotype of the anti-Yankee protests of the 60s in Latin America..” El Tiempo, Colombia. Nov. 5, 2005
“Something like this had not been witnessed on this stage since 1981, when the British band Queen gave a concert there. . . . “One minute of silence for the FTAA which has died” and “Bush, you fascist, you are the terrorist” were the chants that were repeated the most at the event.” La Nación, Argentina. Dario Palavecino, Nov. 5, 2005
The Latin American press noted a series of events that have weakened the Bush Administration’s image.
“The Bush who arrived at Mar del Plata is very different to the one who only a year ago . . . had proclaimed: “I have won capital in this election and I am going to dedicate myself to spending it.” This capital, if it ever existed, appears to have evaporated.” La Nación, Argentina. Mario Diament, Nov 5, 2005
“[The Bush Administration] has pending legislation against torture . . . from which the White House, with the leadership of vicepresident Dick Cheney, is trying to exempt the CIA.” Clarín, Argentina. Nov. 8, 2005
More and more Latin Americans are unhappy with their neighbor to the north.
“Most of the current generation of South American leaders . . . came of age when the region was controlled by military dictatorships. . . . Because the United States backed many of those dictatorships . . . many of today’s leaders have long questioned and criticized U.S. intentions. . . . A recent survey of Latin American professionals conducted by Zogby International showed that more than 80 percent . . . had a negative opinion of Bush.” The Washington Post, Monte Reel. Nov. 6, 2005
“If George Bush is expecting some respite from his troubles at home during a four-day visit to Argentina and Brazil . . . he is in for a rude awakening. Polls show Mr. Bush to be the most unpopular American president ever among Latin Americans. The greeting from his fellow heads of state . . . does not promise to be especially warm either.” The New York Times, Larry Rohter. Nov. 2, 2005
The Summit of the Americas was wrapped up without establishing a cohesive position on regional economic integration. The final Summit report included the positions of the two main factions in the integration debate – those who support the US-proposed FTAA, and those who favor a horizontal approach to the economic and social integration of the Americas. The meeting was also an opportunity to see that many Latin Americans are not only questioning and criticizing the US, but are also presenting real alternatives to US policy. Meanwhile, the poor and the unemployed who were supposed to be the benefactors of this high-level summit and who typically are skeptical of political rhetoric, continue to wait for concrete policies that will improve their standards of life.
