ABSTRACT
Social actors across a broad spectrum of Latin American civil societies have demonstrated very clearly their rejection of neoliberal policies. In a post-Cold War, transnational world, the unit of analysis is becoming “the Americas". Many of the issues are cross-border in scope, linking Latin Americans to Latino and other populations in the United States. Although specific strategies remain to be developed, such coalitions will have to prioritize Latin American regional economic integration, to establish a basis for negotiating with the United States multilaterally rather than bilaterally. Ironically, just at the moment when forces mobilizing from civil society throughout Latin America are eagerly seeking new solutions to widespread social crises, progressive intellectuals and the Left are in serious disarray. In addition to its profound social crisis, then, Latin America is also undergoing monumental crises over ideas and values. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
