This neoauthoritarianism could be the new political paradigm in Latin America. It is bringing back the military as a main political actor that takes the place of political parties in supporting the regimes.

Consequences of Solitude

The United States and Europe are busy combating terrorism. Latin America is only an object of attention in regard to its contribution to fighting terrorism or some specific issues, like the economic crisis in Argentina. There is no long-term partnership with the region to promote a full recovery of democracy and economic growth.

For the United States and Europe to ignore Latin America, either because the region’s support is taken for granted or because it cannot contribute much in the international arena for the purposes of defeating terrorism, would be an enormous mistake. A good example can be seen with what has already happened in the Muslim world. Policy-makers did not understand this region in its complexity; they saw it as a series of isolated problems to be solved, but no one paid attention to the people and to their real circumstances.

There is no risk that Latin Americans will be converted to the support of terrorism. Their close relationship with the United States and sharing of important democratic values will not lead them down such a path. In fact, the response all over the region has been widespread disagreement with terrorism and sympathy for the United States. However, this is an emotional reaction because the region at the same time appears to have a growing disaffection with democracy and with the leadership, culture, political parties, and social systems that some leaders collectively term “neoliberalism” and to which they attribute their poverty.

Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina are illustrations of the kinds of risks Latin American democracy faces. Without doubt, most of the people are against terrorism, but many of the same people are probably also against those who lead their countries and whose voices condemn international terrorism.

Latin America should not be the very last priority of the United States and Europe, as it is now. To shunt the region aside, even for a short time, could create a growing threat to democracy. A new strategic vision, even within the struggle against terrorism, has to take the region into account, if not for its immediate value in the war then because of the very clear risks that a future of deepening turmoil represents to democracy.

Responsibilities

Latin America is not a region that requires the attention of an eccentric international actor that must be dissuaded from crazy behavior. Even so, it is in the interest of the world that is emerging after September 11 to have this region contributing to the creation of the new international environment.

At the same time, Latin America also has responsibilities in this regard, and their fulfillment depends on leadership. The renewal of democracy, the reform of the state, the struggle against corruption, the modernization of political parties and other institutions, and the launching of opportunities for the participation of civil society are tasks for ambitious and imaginative leadership. Without these commitments, discontent with democracy will increase, societies will become progressively more divided, and various types of fundamentalisms masked as revolutions will seduce citizens.

Latin American leaders have the greatest responsibilities in this mission; nevertheless, it is a shared obligation with the most developed countries, whose help is needed. There will be no opportunity for stronger democratic values without deep and extended political and institutional reforms, and reforms require relief of mass poverty. These are tasks for regional leaders and for world leaders. A stronger democracy in Latin America is a task for the globalized world.

It could be an enormous mistake for the United States and Europe to take the alliance with Latin America for granted. Although the people of the region sympathize with the United States regarding the terrorist attacks, a new widespread threat could emerge from the region. Democracy and its institutions are under attack as neoauthoritarianism mesmerizes important portions of the citizenry with its promises of revenge and wealth. This happened with Fujimori in Peru and is happening with Chavez in Venezuela.

The challenge for Latin American leaders is to conduct the reforms for improved democracy while tackling poverty and corruption. The challenge for both the United Sates and Europe is to consider the countries of the region as necessary partners, not quiet followers. It is only in this way that the problems within Latin American societies can be identified and fixed before it is too late.