The Political Divide in South America
South America faces increasing political polarization, showing an increase in leftist support in recent years. The rise of leftist governments is partly due to leader promises to tackle poverty, inequality, and the unfulfilled promises of the right.
Argentina’s shift left occurred in 2019 when candidate Alberto Fernandez defeated his conservative counterpart, Mauricio Macri. Last year, Pedro Castillo, a radical leftist with no previous experience as an elected official, became the President of Peru. Most recently, Chile elected progressive Gabriel Boric as the youngest president to take office, and Gustavo Pedro became the first leftist president in Columbia. Venezuela is an extreme case where socialist pursuits have sent the country into an economic and humanitarian crisis. Conservative and center-right governments still exert control in Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
This wave of new leftist leaders proves it is “easier to criticize than govern.” Many countries in South America face systematic struggles related to security, drug trade, economic development, and corruption that government officials have failed to address adequately. South American voters face difficult decisions in electing governments that can handle current and long-term needs.
There are several internal and external factors causing political instability in South America. The rise in unprecedented events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war, have affected prosperity by setting back living standards, education levels, and life expectancy in the global South. These setbacks exacerbate inequalities and further polarize political aims. The climate crisis concurrently aggravates the social and political regional landscape.
Furthermore, with the United Nations warning that the climate plans from governments worldwide are insufficient to limit rising temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius, there is increased urgency for political leaders to establish long-term ‘green policies’. The uptick in the Amazon’s deforestation, droughts in Brazil, and increased landslides in Venezuela highlight the direct consequences of climate change on people living in South America.
Although recent external events may have inflated uncertainty, contributing to instability, South America has demonstrated historical instability due to its political and socio-economic factors. In the 1990s, most Latin American states dealt with the negative impacts caused by the financial crises in Mexico, Argentina, Russia, Asia, and Brazil. Although the region sustained annual growth between 2010 and 2012, political instability and the pandemic have placed South American countries among the slowest growing in the world. These issues have divided Latin American societies, as recent elections have shown. Latin America also faces extreme violence. Several interconnected factors, such as high impunity and low-quality education, affect increased crime in South American regions. Venezuela is the country with the highest murder rate in Latin America with 40.9 murders occuring per 100,000 individuals. The poor economic progress coupled with high dissatisfaction suggests that the switch between the right and left during various electoral cycles will continue and hinder sustainable, long-term regional growth.
Brazil exemplifies the perpetuation of political volatility. After the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in 2016, Prime Minister Michel Temer managed a ‘strategically-erratic’ government until Jair Bolsonaro’s election in 2018. Under Bolsonaro's leadership, the economy shrunk by 4% in 2020 and rebounded at a growth rate of 4.6% in 2021. Currently, Brazil is witnessing the divide of political parties in the run-off between former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and current president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro’s religious conservatism, poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and involvement in the worst deforestation of the Amazon have led to an increase in global and local criticism. Comparatively, former president Lula was praised for aiding with poverty issues; however, he was later sent to jail after a series of corruption scandals emerged. Support for both leaders shows the rift within the Brazilian population and the unfortunate choice voters must make between the lesser of two evils. While Lula gained 47% of Brazilian votes during the first round of voting, his right-wing opponent won 43% with significant support in the Senate and lower house. The political divide threatens to incite violence, as President Bolsonaro stated that he would not accept defeat.
How can the political landscape improve for South American countries in the future? Governments urgently need to work together to address the numerous systematic challenges they face, such as organized crime, environmental degradation, and stagnating economic growth. While the pandemic and political instability hinder prosperity, countries have several opportunities to ensure sustainable development. A greater focus on building infrastructure for subnational players can increase cooperation regarding climate change, urban security, transport, and migration. The C40 initiative, which gathers the mayors of the world’s largest cities to tackle prominent issues, is an example of the benefits of regional cooperation.
Focusing on the nongovernmental sector is pivotal in changing the divided South American landscape. The media, academic community, and public organizations influence the unity of South American societies. Civil society groups should seek to connect with emerging policymakers and further their ascent into South American politics to make changes from within. The cooperation and voices of regular people can significantly impact the future. A leader’s political ideologies and personal ambitions must come second; countries need to instill a deeper sense of urgency to tackle fundamental issues that South Americans face daily, and find support for vital initiatives. The humanity and well-being of millions of individuals are at risk if leaders continue to place themselves before their people.