International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Notes on the Political Situation in South America

Ana C. Carvalhaes, Israel Dutra — 2026-05-28T06:34:16Z

“In these notes, we address South America, where the complexity of societies, scandalous socioeconomic inequality, the presence of a so-called “middle” economy with its own influence in the region (Brazil), a tradition of struggle and organization on the left, and governments less subservient than the liberal right (such as those of Colombia, Brazil, and Uruguay), imperialist interventionism faces more obstacles and has to moderate its attacks. In light of important electoral processes and tests in the class struggle posed by far-right and right-wing governments, such as those in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador, it is worth considering the commonalities across national contexts in the region in the coming months.”

- IVP616 - May 2026 / United States (USA), Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Cuba, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia

Key Points About the Failed Military Coup and its Aftermath

Pablo Stefanoni — 2024-08-11T10:22:47Z

Images of the military forcibly entering the Government Palace (the Palacio Quemado) have been broadcast around the world, sowing confusion in Bolivia. The failed coup by a faction within the Army, repudiated nationally and internationally, took place in the context of the erosion of Luis Arce's administration, itself large the result of internal discord within the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. Despite its swift failure, the military rebellion will have political repercussions.

- IV595 - August 2024 / Bolivia

Bolivia Update: Arce's First Year

Bret Gustafson — 2022-01-11T06:28:37Z

“Even with all of these challenges, the scenario in Bolivia is much better than it might have been, and the wider trajectory of Latin America seems promising as well.”

- IV564 - January 2022 / Bolivia

Region's dilemmas reflected on the streets of Colombia

Ana C. Carvalhaes, Israel Dutra — 2021-07-30T08:24:32Z

“The path will be neither linear nor easy, there will be ups and downs, defeats and victories. The big challenge is to be in the struggles, with this new combative generation fighter, to build with it (and not for it) our programme of rupture.”

- IV558 - July 2021 / Brazil, Colombia, Latin America, Ecuador, Bolivia

“Latin America has once again entered a period of strong social and political turbulence”

Franck Gaudichaud — 2021-04-13T07:35:14Z

In this interview, Franck Gaudichaud considers the social and political dynamics of the recent period, and also current issues in the region.

- IV555 - April 2021 / Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Bolivia

Bolivia's coup plotters in jail as elections loom

Patrick Guillaudat — 2021-03-21T17:10:18Z

“In such a context, the Bolivian people, who have been able to mobilize despite the repression against the Añez government, show that they do not give a blank cheque to anyone.”

- IV554 - March 2021 / Bolivia

The Return of Democracy and an Uncertain Future

Bret Gustafson — 2021-01-16T10:06:11Z

“Wherever one stands on Evo Morales, and despite the challenges ahead, it is clear that at least for the moment, Bolivians continue to challenge capitalism and its orthodoxies.”

- IV552 - January 2021 / Bolivia

Dead ends and limits of progressive governments

Franck Gaudichaud — 2020-11-14T08:42:02Z

With the collapse of the USSR, the end of history was announced without delay. Nothing seemed to be able to stem the neoliberal global tidal wave, when the Zapatista uprising in Mexico erupted in 1994. Five years later, Chávez took power in Venezuela : it was the beginning of a long process of rupture, through the ballot box, on the Latin American continent - Lula in Brazil, Morales in Bolivia, Correa in Ecuador, Mujica in Uruguay… part of the Western radical left then turned its gaze, not without hope, to the other side of the South Atlantic. Two decades later, what balance sheet can we draw? Successes and limits, contradictions and specificities.

- IV550 - November 2020 / Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Argentina, Latin America, Ecuador, Mexico, Bolivia

Bolivian Trade Union Leader Orlando Gutiérrez Gave His Life for Democracy and Socialism

Olivia Arigho-Stiles — 2020-11-03T07:45:07Z

The death of Orlando Gutiérrez comes amid a surge in violence directed against the trade union and campesino movements in the wake of the coup in Bolivia last November.

- IV550 - November 2020 / Bolivia

“It's a message from the peoples to the world: dignity conquers fascism”

Adriana Guzmán, Karina Nohales — 2020-11-01T09:05:30Z

On Sunday 18 October 2020 presidential elections were finally held in the Plurinational State of Bolivia. With 52.4% of the votes (against Carlos Mesa's 31.5%), the MAS (Movimiento al Socialismo), led by Luis Arce and David Choquehuanca, was the clear winner. The overwhelming victory of the MAS has already been recognized at home and abroad, and even by the architects of the coup d'état of November 2019.

- IV550 - November 2020 / Bolivia