Latin America: A disenchanted society
The whole continent is struggling between the ashes of a screaming crowd because of a clear social convulsion. Many argue a possible participation from Venezuela and Cuba in this scenario, in terms of taking advantage of a tired society that has taken too much and exploded.
Let’s take a closer look at this panorama. In the case of Colombia, President’s Maduro intentions of infiltrating his political ideals are clear as The Colombian guerrillas are protected by Maduro’s regime and the two countries are separated by only 2 kms. Also, there is no political alliance between the two governments. But this is not the case for the rest of the continent, even if there are more than 4 million Venezuelan migrants in the whole region
Another theory for Latin America’s social struggle is related to the same reason that other societies around the world are doing the same during the past few months: examples of similar international movements like in Paris, Barcelona, Beirut and Hong Kong. Important issues have been present for some time now in different countries like: rage against corruption, enormous inequality but most of all the idea that democratic governments only protect the interests of the richest.
There is also a new middle class emerging in America Latina. This group of people managed to leave poverty during the past couple of years and they fear that this democratic institutions could make them poor again: the fear of an emerging middle class. Also, The FMI affirmed that the region will have the lowest economic growth of the world this year.
Negative economic results also add up to increase the flames: after many years of good prices for Latin American exports, the last 6 years have been a standstill together with the deterioration of economic and social indicators.
It all blends down to a big disappointment towards democracy, because the people who have managed to escalate their social class fear to lose that new status. This is why governments seem so surprised towards the protests and demonstrations throughout the continent, they don’t understand this social reactions because they didn’t see it coming.
Experts attribute the riots around the world and Latin America to specific local aspects but they all share similarities like the distance between the citizens interests and government’s decisions, as these seem to be more focused on macro-economic factors and not in the wellbeing of the population in general.