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News from across Latin America

Why is every country south of Texas so screwed up? Latin America was colonized by Europeans, same as Canada and USA, yet it seems every nation in LATAM has struggles with corruption, political instability, crime, income disparity and economic crisis far worse than even in the USA, let alone Canada.

For Hispanic countries, entrenched systems of patriarchal patronage left over from the Spanish era that leads to father-knows-best leadership and sprawling systems of patronage/welfare/bribery; economic systems that are still over-reliant on extraction; and huge historic economic disparities that result in a winner-takes-all ideological battle between modern socialist and conservative forces?

It’s a strange and unfortunate fate as some countries (like Argentina) were as wealthy, if not more so than Canada and Australia at the turn of the last century.
 
For Hispanic countries, entrenched systems of patriarchal patronage left over from the Spanish era that leads to father-knows-best leadership and sprawling systems of patronage/welfare/bribery; economic systems that are still over-reliant on extraction; and huge historic economic disparities that result in a winner-takes-all ideological battle between modern socialist and conservative forces?

It’s a strange and unfortunate fate as some countries (like Argentina) were as wealthy, if not more so than Canada and Australia at the turn of the last century.
They still are, the money didn’t leave, it‘s just in fewer hands.
 
Bolivia: Jeanine Añez claims presidency after ousting of Evo Morales
  • Ex-president’s party refuses to recognise senator’s claim
  • Morales says army told him of $50,000 price on his head
Jo Tuckman in Mexico City and Dan Collyns in La Paz

Wed 13 Nov 2019 02.15 GMTFirst

 
Chile protests: hundreds of thousands take part as peso hits record low

Unrest has been ongoing for almost a month and now it is starting to hit the nation's currency. Tear gas and water cannons have been used by police as a way of dealing with protesters.

12.11.2019

 
Bolivia's interim president's indigenous-free cabinet heightens polarization
  • Rightwing Christian Jeanine Áñez vows to ‘pacify’ country
  • Disrespect for indigenous Wiphala flag stokes outrage
Dan Collyns in La Paz

Thu 14 Nov 2019 20.38 GMT Last modified on Fri 15 Nov 2019 00.35 GMT


Hundreds of Chileans blinded by police since protests began

More than 200 protesters have been blinded from pellets fired by state security agents. The National Congress has bowed to a key demand of the monthlong rallies and ordered a referendum on a new constitution.

 
For Hispanic countries, entrenched systems of patriarchal patronage left over from the Spanish era that leads to father-knows-best leadership and sprawling systems of patronage/welfare/bribery; economic systems that are still over-reliant on extraction; and huge historic economic disparities that result in a winner-takes-all ideological battle between modern socialist and conservative forces?

It’s a strange and unfortunate fate as some countries (like Argentina) were as wealthy, if not more so than Canada and Australia at the turn of the last century.

Why is this not the situation in Spain itself then?
 
Why is this not the situation in Spain itself then?

Well, there isn't really a short answer to that; it had to do w/the civil war, the Franco dictatorship, how the latter softened and migrated to democracy; and in the latter years of the former, the Spanish Miracle.


Its also important to say, for all the gains, that Spain is still a bit of economic laggard, Canada is ranked #24 in GDP per capita (we should be doing better, not taking solace in being 2 spots above the UK)........But Spain is down at #34.

- For comparison, Chile #58, Mexico #70, Brazil#82

Also that its transition into the E-U, along with the consequences of problematic banking and real estate laws has left the country with double-digit unemployment to this day, though there are some signs of recovery.

Pinochet, like Franco was a dictator in Chile, for a long period, though shorter and later in time than Franco's in Spain.

He likewise, notwithstanding some grotesque human rights abuses, made moves towards economic modernization which have in fact made Chile the relative poster child of Latin America.

However, inequality was allowed to fester to a much greater degree than in Spain; likely, in part, due to Spains presence within the E-U.

Once again, for comparison here, Canada's GINI coefficient (or measure of income inequality) is about 34, While Spain is 36 and Chile is 47 (lower number being more equal society) Finland and Norway are both at 26.8
 
Bolivia protests: five killed in rally calling for exiled Morales's return

Witnesses say police opened fire on protesters near Cochabamba, where pro- and anti-Morales supporters have clashed for weeks

Agencies
Sat 16 Nov 2019 03.45 GMT

 
Wait, what? Morales was exiled? lolsies. That's what you get for being an autocratic turd.

Chilenos are getting a new constitution, apparently. Which is good because their current one is a brutal hangover from the Pinochet disaster. So that's good.

Now just survive Bolsonaro and whack Maduro and his gang of state rapists and the place will be looking quite nice.
 
Colombia to close its borders in attempt to contain mass protests

Border closures, curfews and bans on sale of alcohol announced as tens of thousands are expected to march amid wave of turmoil

Joe Parkin Daniels in Bogotá
Wed 20 Nov 2019 10.30 GMT

 
Amnesty International: Chile using violence as a deterrent

Security forces in Chile have deliberately injured people taking part in the current mass demonstrations, Amnesty International says.

 
Colombia protests: Three dead as more than 200,000 demonstrate

Three people were killed in Colombia on Thursday amid nationwide mass protests against the right-wing government of President Iván Duque, officials say.

 
Three Colombian police killed in bomb blast as Bogotá protests flare again

Fatal explosion at police station in south-west also injured 10 officers amid 9pm curfew in capital
Reuters in Bogotá

Sat 23 Nov 2019 04.26 GMT

 

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