Conference: Latin America 2006: making another world possible (2 Dec 2006, Congress House, London)
On Saturday 2nd Dec 2006, a conference entitled ‘Latin America 2006: making another world possible’ was held at Congress House, organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, Justice for Colombia, Venezuela Information Centre and the T&G Latin American Workers Association. The conference brought together trade unionists, academics, NGOs and progressive movements from Latin America and the UK to explore recent political and social developments across Latin America. In particular, it explored the effects of US policy on the region and the current wave of progressive changes seen most notably in Venezuela and Bolivia.
Speakers at the conference were:
WAYNE SMITH: Former Head of US Interests Section, Havana
DOLLAN CANNELL: Director of the documentary: 638 Ways to Kill Castro
AIDA AVELLA: Former Colombian Congresswoman, Patriotic Union
CESAR NAVARRO: Head of the MAS group in the Bolivarian parliament
HAROLD PINTER: Nobel Prize Winner, author, playwright, political activist
TARIQ ALI: Broadcaster, author, (Pirates of the Caribbean and Axis of Hope), Telesur advisory board
BARRY CAMFIELD: Assist.Gen.Sec.T&G
VICTORIA BRITAIN: Journalist and playwright
COLIN BURGON MP: Chair, Labout Friends of Venezuela
JOHN CRABTREE: Oxford University Centre for Latin American Studies
FRANCIS O'GRADY: Deputy General Secretary, TUC
HUGH O'SHAUGHNESSY: Journalist and author
JEREMY CORBYN MP: Vice-chair, All Party Latin American Group
KEITH SONNET: Deputy General Secretary UNISON
RUTH WINTERS: President, FBU
The discussion centered around the so-called ‘leftist swing’ in Latin American politics, which many of the speakers saw as signaling a rejection of the neoliberal policies of the past two decades and of US imperialism more broadly. The electoral success of radical leaders such as Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales and the progressive reforms they have implemented was heralded as evidence that ‘another world is possible’ and many speakers expressed their solidarity with these governments.
Tariq Ali described how, following the decomposition of the left wing in Europe and the US, neoliberal regimes had been imposed all over Latin America, beginning with the coup that brought Pinochet to power in Chile. Recent developments, he said, meant that Latin America no longer fitted within this American Empire. New left wing governments challenged the current global political consensus, for example, regarding the role of the state in social provision and the distribution of wealth. Other speakers agreed with this analysis; for example, Francis O’Grady referred to ‘a pan-Latin American social and political movement’, while Zelyse Dominga Cortina claimed it was the moment for a ‘second independence for Latin America’. (To see ODI work on the state, public policy and governance follow links below)
Several speakers referred to the importance of Cuba as a beacon of resistance and an inspiration to progressive forces across the region. Jeremy Corbyn MP described Cuba as ‘a threat of example’ of an alternative society, which he said explains the hostile response of the US. Zelys Dominguez Cortina of Cuba highlighted the country’s achievements, which she said was illustrated by the fact that it now sends doctors and teachers allover the world and has provided military aid to governments in Africa. Wayne Smith, who was Head of the US Interests Section in Havana during the late 1970s and 1980s, gave a brief overview of US policy towards Cuba, from the ‘good neighbour’ policy of the Carter administration to the hard line policy under Reagan.
Aida Avella from Union Patriota (UP) in Colombia commented on the continuing human rights abuses taking place under the US-backed Uribe government in Colombia. She referred to the history of violence against social movements in Colombia, which have cost the lives of thousands of trade unionists, indigenous leaders, lawyers and human rights defenders. The UP has been a particular victim of this violence - 3,800 of its members were assassinated in the 1980s.
There was also discussion of other current global developments and their implications for Latin America. Tariq Ali argued that the centrality of the Middle East to the current global situation meant that Latin America has ‘space to breathe’. He also speculated that Latin America could provide an example to the Arab world of an anti-imperialism that was not based on religion; in particular, Venezuela’s example of how an oil-rich state could use its wealth for promoting social justice. Wayne Smith claimed that US’ current embroilment in Iraq meant that military intervention in Cuba or other Latin American countries could not currently be contemplated.
A number of seminars were also held, which covered the following themes:
Bolivia, with Cesar Nevarro from MAS (Click here to see summary)
Venezuela: Democracy and Social Progress (Click here to see summary)
Cuba and the War on Terror
The Bush Plan for Cuba: - what next?
Neoliberalism’s attack on Colombia
Brazil: threats and challenges facing Brazil in Lula’s 2nd term
Nicaragua: what will the electoral victory of the Sandinistas mean for Nicaragua and the region?
Violence against women in Latin America
Musical activism in Latin America
Click here to read a comment on this conference by Penelope Anthias
To see ODI work on the state, public policy and governance follow these links:
http://www.odi.org.uk/PPPG/index.html for Poverty and Public Policy work
http://www.odi.org.uk/speeches/states_06/index.html for the Rebuilding Developmental States ODI meeting series
http://www.odi.org.uk/whats_next_portals/governance/index.html for ODI's governance portal
