Notes on Latin America

Abstract

During the last three weeks of January and the first week of February, we visited six Latin American countries (Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Venezuela). We had a very specific objective, to discuss the possibility of a Spanish language edition of MR (see full report next month), as well as the more general objectives of establishing contacts and improving our understanding of Latin American realities. We met and talked, often at great length, with dozens of people, mostly political leaders, economists, sociologists, political scientists, and students in these and other fields. For obvious reasons, it was easier for us to establish relations with people of the Left; and, given the very short time available, we made few efforts to go outside these circles, which in any case are very broad in Latin America and undoubtedly include the best and most stimulating minds. What we were seeking throughout was not to accumulate knowledge of facts—for that purpose four weeks in a good library would have been much more productive—but to get a better "feel" for the situation and to develop a more assured perspective within which to place the facts not only of the past and present but of the future as well.

This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website, where most recent articles are published in full.

Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.