Today, Marxist principles are struggling to find acceptance as more and more countries embrace the capitalist model. However, in such regions as Latin American, Marxist thought has proven appealing. One would expect that given the tremendous impact that capitalism has on poverty eradication and promoting economic prosperity, all nations would integrate this model into their affairs. While it is true that some Latin American nations have abandoned the Marxist ideals of their past and turned to capitalism, Marxist values and ideas remain popular in this region. The fact that it places power in the hands of the people and rejects imperialism is the main factor that has made Marxist thought appealing in 21 st century Latin America.
In their text, Estefane and Thielemann (2018) address the issues that have allowed Marxist thought to find favor in Latin America. The anti-imperialist underpinning of this social and economic framework is among these issues. According to Estefane and Thielemann, Marxist philosophy encourages Latin American nations to reject foreign interventions and interferences. Cuba and Venezuela serve as examples of Latin American countries which have made their opposition to imperialism clear. For instance, recently, Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Madura rejected calls from Western leaders for his resignation. The fact that Marxist thought empowers the people to reject unpopular governments and install authorities that reflect the true wishes of the people is another factor behind the appeal of Marxism in Latin America (Rathbone, 2016). This region has a long and complex history that involves overthrows of governments seen as brutal or puppets of external influences. The coups show how Marxist thought provides the people with strength to unseat governments whose agendas are inconsistent with the wishes of the people. Strong opposition to capitalism and a desperate desire to lift workers are the hallmarks of Marxist thought. This philosophy seeks to highlight how capitalism fuels inequality and allows the wealthy to amass even more wealth and power at the expense of the working poor. Furthermore, Marxist philosophy maintains that the ideal social and political situation is where workers wield power and shape their destiny. Given the focus that Marxist thought placed on people power, it is fairly easy to understand why it has found a home in Latin America.
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It is true that Marxism has dominated the social and political affairs of Latin America for much of the 21 st century. An examination of the current situation of Latin America reveals that Marxist thought will undoubtedly lose its appeal and relevance. Biting commodity shortages, runaway corruption and inflation and income inequalities are among the issues that threaten Marxist thought in Latin America. For example, in Venezuela, a sharp increase in commodity prices has been witnessed. Millions have been forced to flee to neighboring countries. In a clear demonstration of their desire for change, Venezuelans recently held protests calling for on the current government which has embraced Marxist ideas to leave office (Daniels, 2019). The situation in Venezuela shows that Marxist thought is simply incompatible with the economic, political and social realities of the present time. People seem no longer interested in political or social liberation. Instead, they wish for food for their families and employment for their sons. Unless the economic situation of Latin America improves, Marxist thought is bound to suffer rejection. Since this philosophy places little focus on wealth creation or poverty eradication, there is little chance that Latin America will successfully eliminate poverty and improve economic productivity if it remains faithful to Marxist thought.
In conclusion, Marxist thought is based on values and arguments that those who have endured oppression would find appealing. This is the main reason why this political philosophy has been accepted in Latin America. Moreover, Marxism charged the people to seize power. While this philosophy remains deeply rooted in Latin America, it faces serious threats. Economic hardships and failure by governments to safeguard the interests of the people are the main factors that could occasion the end of Marxism in the region. Since this philosophy has failed to deliver on its promises, perhaps it is time for its replacement with another thought that better serves the welfare of the people.
References
Daniels, J. P. (2019). Venezuela protests: thousands march as military faces call to abandon Maduro. The Guardian. Retrieved February 5, 2019 from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/23/venezuela-protests-thousands-march-against-maduro-as-opposition-sees-chance-for-change
Estefane, A., & Thielemann, L. (2018). Latin American Marxism and the Atlantic. In Oxford research encyclopedia of Latin American history. Oxford: OUP.
Rathbone, J. P. (2016). ‘Viva la revolucion: Eric Hobsbawm on Latin America’, by Eric Hobsbawm. Fortune . Retrieved February 5, 2019 from https://www.ft.com/content/6acc1d28-3219-11e6-ad39-3fee5ffe5b5b
