With the first signs of a structural crisis of the world-economy
in the 1970s, the global powers turned to neoliberalism, and the
International Monetary Fund became an instrument to impose
structural-adjustment plans on the world in the 1980s and 1990s. The
peoples of Latin America, Africa, and Asia, already impoverished as a
result of colonialism and neocolonialism, found their currencies
devalued, social programs cut, and subsidies for necessary services
eliminated.
In response, there has emerged since 1995 social movements in
opposition to neoliberalism and neocolonialism. In Latin America,
Leftist and socialist parties have come to power, and a new generation
of charismatic leaders, such as Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, Rafael
Correa of Ecuador, and Evo Morales in Bolivia, has been lifted up.
This year, Bolivia serves as President of the Group of 77 plus China;
next year, Venezuela will be President of the Movement of Non-Aligned
Nations.
In his address to the 69th Session of the General Assembly on
September 24, Evo Morales affirms the need to live in harmony with
Mother Earth; the social and economic rights of all persons, including
the rights of access to water, electricity, telecommunication,
nutrition, education and health services; the right of the nations of
the Third World to sovereignty and true independence; and the right of
Third World nations to control their natural resources. He maintains
that capitalism undermines these rights of persons and nations. He
calls for a fundamental reconstruction of the global financial
architecture. He proposes the development of mutually beneficial
relations among nations, based in the principle of solidarity; and he
applauds the steps taken in Latin America and the Third World to this
end.
An English translation of Evo Morales’ address to the United
Nations can be found in the Global Learning Website at:
http://www.globallearning-cuba.com/address-to-un-general-assembly-september-24-2014.html.
Who is Evo Morales? What are the fundamental historical and
social facts of the history of Bolivia? For answers to these
questions, see the blog post of September 30, 2014:
http://www.globallearning-cuba.com/blog-umlthe-view-from-the-southuml/archives/09-2014.
Charles McKelvey
Professor Emeritus
Presbyterian College
Clinton, South Carolina
Section on Political Science from the South
Division of Philosophy and History
University of Havana
Havana, Cuba
Global Learning, LLC
http://www.globallearning-cuba.com
See the blog at the Global Learning Website, “The View from the South:
Commentaries on world events from the Third World perspective.” Find
it at http://www.globallearning-cuba.com/blog-the-view-from-the-south.html
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