Latin american relationships Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Latin american relationships - Essay Example The George W. Bush presidency brought a new type of foreign policy to the United States, no doubt tempered by the events of September 11, 2001. The if youre not with us, then youre against us temperament of this policy did not play well in Latin America. One nation after another elected leaders firmly dedicated to left leaning policies such as nationalization of key industries, direct welfare relief to the impoverished, and increased taxation on the wealthy. This skewing of national governments to the left side of the political spectrum has affected Latin Americas relations with the United States and the world as a whole. A mistake many on the outside make when looking at these left leaning leaders in Latin America is to fail to recognize the dual nature of this group. Castaneda argues that there are actually two separate groups of leftist leaders exercising power today in Latin America (3). One group has grown out of the old Communist and Bolshevik movements in the 1920s and 1930s. They have experience and have seen what has worked and failed in the past. This group, represented by Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Tabare Vazquez of Uruguay and to a lesser extent Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva of Brazil has moved to strengthen and uphold existing ties with the United States, the world at large and international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund. Lula welcomed president Bush on his visit to Brazil and expressed his determination to keep his economic initiatives within the bounds suggested by the IMF. Bachelet has remained close to the United States, despite his open opposition to the war in Iraq. A free trade agreement was signed by Bush and ratified by congress between the two countries, establishing mutually beneficial economic partnerships. In Uruguay, Vasquez has shown himself to support globalization and stood in league with the United States by protesting