South American Hopes

there is more than a hint of Burton Albion versus Manchester United when South America looks to take on Bush & CoMany of us are aware of Brazilian coffee, Columbian drug cartels and the Inca trail.  Even more will remember Argentina as the upstart nation which dared to defy ‘our boys’ and the Iron Lady in the Falklands.  Sadly, I fear that few may be aware of the emerging rise of democratic leaders willing - to varying degrees - to oppose US hegemony, neo-colonialism and the continuing marginalisation of the continent’s indigenous peoples.

This is a shame for at least two reasons.  Firstly, our woeful ignorance of potentially world-changing events right across a continent almost twice the size of Europe.  Secondly, because we love a good underdog and, despite the popular local support, all of Chavez’s rhetoric and the huge numbers gathered at the World Social Forum in Caracas in January, there is more than a hint of Burton Albion versus Manchester United when South America looks to take on Bush & Co.

In considering how this state of ignorance and imbalance might be addressed, four key requirements spring to mind.

Media Spotlight

The British media needs to turn more of a spotlight on events in South America.  Compare the limited attention given to this whole continent with the column inches and screen minutes which the UK media lavished on the Iraqi elections in celebration of democracy.  Admittedly, this change of focus may need to be led by the independent, alternative and online media, but it must start somewhere.  Recently even the Guardian has been prone to lapses into journalistic laziness, occasionally regurgitating the US line on Chavez, helping to depict him as a slightly deranged despot.

Media Balance

The British media and the British public must resist the temptation to entertain a new McCarthyism which might write off or oppose genuinely elected democratic governments by tagging them as ‘socialist’ and thus representing some vague but nonetheless real threat to our own democracy.  Such an option would be hugely ironic in the light of the popular support enjoyed by Bachelet, Chavez & Morales compared to the minority support for the likes of Blair (35.2% of a 61.3% turnout in May 2005).

Leadership Integrity

Even if more of our media begins to focus positively on South American affairs, this is only a part of the battle.  We must hope that the governments of these nations act with honesty and integrity, avoiding the sort of scandal which almost engulfed Lula in Brazil.  Any hint of impropriety will be brutally exploited by the mainstream UK media and arouse the sort of prejudices that many Europeans hold about African leaders (“they’re corrupt, we shouldn’t support them, we should go in and sort things out”).  You can almost see the headline now, “Castro’s Venezuelan Chum is on the Fidel”.

continental Unity

With a large proportion of its military personnel busy imposing democracy elsewhere, “divide and rule” may well be the US strategy in South America in the immediate future and the emerging leaders – especially Chavez and Morales – need to be wise in choosing which battles are worth fighting with their opponents and neighbours.  The success of a Bolivarian revolution depends more on the unity of a majority of the South American countries and peoples than on one or two flamboyant leaders.  In the face of threats of financial reprisals and the increasing numbers of US troops in places like Columbia and Paraguay, it will take much diplomacy between nations and great courage reinforced by solidarity in order to continue to defy the USA.

The Future

It is not too difficult to imagine circumstances in which the USA would collaborate with powerful reactionary forces within one of these nations to foment civil unrest and then ‘respond’ with armed interference resulting in the fortuitous arrival of a new regime with a much friendlier attitude to George Bush, Pat Robertson, Ronald MacDonald and Colonel Sanders.  And if there is any unfortunate collateral damage, no doubt Halliburton and other corporations would come riding to the rescue with its army of colonial consultants and subcontractors.

It is not too difficult to imagine circumstances in which the USA would collaborate with powerful reactionary forces

Sadly in the current media climate, such undemocratic interference and even the death of a democratically elected leader would leave the Great British public almost cold.  There would probably be more people hanging about outside the Celebrity Big Brother House than protesting outside the US Embassy.  And in years to come, perhaps Lord Blair might take tea with a new Pinochet and politely overlook to mention ‘the disappeared’ over a drop of Earl Grey.  I hope you’re shuddering at the thought. 

South America is enjoying a flash of colour and a dash of hope.  The colour is provided by Chavez’s gradual morphing into a beret-wearing, red-bedecked older Che.  Morales’ wonderful extension of the corporate idea of ‘casual dress day’.  Bachelet - female, divorced and with a child born ‘out of wedlock’ leading a strongly conservative Catholic nation.  I can’t help but smile.

So many seeds of true democracy have been sown on this continent in recent years that it’s almost too easy – from a safe distance – to forget the days of military dictators in dark glasses, imposing harsh totalitarian regimes in the name of fighting communism / drugs / corruption while the Western governments pretended nothing was happening or issued an occasional slapped wrist.

the people themselves are working to improve health, to increase education, to improve work conditions and to reduce poverty

It has been heartening to celebrate the people of Cochabamba’s defeat of Bechtel in the Water Wars and encouraging to watch gradual electoral shifts to the left.  It has been exciting to watch Bolivian experiments with shopfloor co-operative management and Venezuela and Cuba’s creative exchange of oil for doctors.  The leaders, but even more importantly the people themselves are working to improve health, to increase education, to improve work conditions and to reduce poverty.  The money from national resources is being redirected from the profits of global corporations to vital services for the poor.  Who can fail to applaud their efforts?

I hope that we can buy them enough time to develop a truly democratic continent which can offer support and encouragement to other emerging democracies to follow suit and be free from the grip of powerful outsiders with little if any interest in the wellbeing of their people.  Let’s hope for a renewed and balanced media interest in and public support for a deserving underdog.  As Jimmy Greaves used to say, “It’s a funny old game.”  Here’s to extra time!