South and Central America
Brazil’s markets plummet amid corruption charges against president
By Bill Van Auken, 19 May 2017
The worst fall in share prices since the 2008 global financial meltdown was prompted by fears that the government will be unable to push through attacks on pensions and labor laws.
University of Puerto Rico students protest austerity measures
By Rafael Azul, 16 May 2017
Striking students occupying the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras are defying a court order to end their protest.
The Last Day of Oppression and the First Day of the Same: The Politics and Economics of the New Latin American Left
The pseudo-left’s appraisal of the “pink tide”: A recipe for further betrayals
By Eric London, 9 May 2017
Jeffrey R. Webber’s 2017 book is an agglomeration of the worst threads of Latin American petty-bourgeois radicalism. It is worth studying as a textbook of everything socialism is not.
May Day 2017
The fight for socialist internationalism in Latin America
By Bill Van Auken, 5 May 2017
The overall impact of Castroism, and, even more decisively, that of the revisionist tendencies which promoted it, was to hold back the socialist revolution.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Anger grows among US telecom workers
By our reporters, 3 May 2017
The World Socialist Web Site urges workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature by e-mailing reports to comments@wsws.org .
Brazilian demonstrators speak out during first general strike in 21 years
By our reporters, 2 May 2017
Amid the worst economic crisis in a century, with a record 14.2 million unemployed, demonstrators welcomed the general strike.
Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism 1910–1950—a significant exhibition
By Gary Alvernia, 28 April 2017
The radicalization of Mexican artists led to the creation of powerful and engaging works that expressed the faith of the artistic community in the revolution of the masses.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Brazilian general strike set for Friday
25 April 2017
The World Socialist Web Site urges workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature by emailing information to comments@wsws.org.
US media warns of “Russian meddling” in Latin America
By Alex González, 17 April 2017
The claim Russia is looking to increase its influence in Latin America is part of a broader effort to prepare public opinion for war with Russia.
Eleven percent of Chile marches against for-profit pension scheme
By Armando Cruz and Cesar Uco, 11 April 2017
Two million people demonstrated against the for-profit Pension Fund Administrators, a pension scheme adopted under the rule of dictator General Augusto Pinochet.
Mexican president calls criticism of military “inadmissible and unacceptable” in speech before 32,000 soldiers
By Alex Gonzalez, 6 April 2017
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto adressed an audience of 32,000 members of the Armed Forces to condemn criticisms of the military.
National strike in Argentina as opposition to austerity grows
By Rafael Azul, 6 April 2017
Argentina’s trade union bureaucracy has collaborated with the government, facilitating the imposition of attacks on wages, jobs and democratic rights.
San Diego Latino Film Festival—Part 2
Conditions in Latin America, treated concretely…and more abstractly
By Kevin Martinez and Toby Reese, 6 April 2017
Films from Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia and the Dominican Republic were shown at the festival, including a tense political drama, a dialogue-free drama and two documentaries.
Colombian government ignores warnings, mudslide kills hundreds
By Andrea Lobo, 4 April 2017
The disaster in Mocoa has killed over 250 people in one of the most impoverished areas of the country.
Strike continues at Peru’s largest copper mine in defiance of government
By Cesar Uco and Armando Cruz, 27 March 2017
The Cerro Verde miners strike has now entered its third week, despite a government decree declaring the action illegal.
US Senate passes resolution calling on Trump to escalate regime-change in Venezuela
By Alexander Fangmann, 15 March 2017
Seizing on the economic crisis gripping Venezuela, the bipartisan resolution is part of an effort to oust the government of Maduro.
Amid Mexico talks, Trump calls deportations a “military operation”
By Bill Van Auken, 24 February 2017
The president’s provocative statement came as his secretaries of State and Homeland Security were in Mexico attempting to secure the collaboration of the Peña Nieto government.
Tensions mount in Chilean copper miners strike
By Cesar Uco, 16 February 2017
The walkout at Escondida, the largest copper mine in the world, follows a similar strike at Las Bambas, neighboring Peru’s largest mine.
Report reveals widespread torture of minors in Mexican prisons
By Alex Gonzalez, 15 February 2017
In Mexico, 57 percent of adolescents in prison are tortured, according to a report released by the National Center for Human Rights.
In face of US threats, Mexican president calls for “national unity”
By Clodomiro Puentes, 14 February 2017
Peña Nieto’s appeal has been echoed by everyone from billionaire Carlos Slim to the pseudo-left groups orbiting the Morena party.
Top Peruvian politicians implicated in Brazil’s “Lava Jato” corruption scandal
By Armando Cruz, 8 February 2017
Among the major figures that may be targeted by prosecutors is the current Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.
“Left populism”: An attack on socialism by the Argentine pseudo-left
By Andrea Lobo, 8 February 2017
The pseudo-left FT-CI advocates “left populism” to subordinate the interests of Latin American workers to the more affluent sections of the middle class.
Italian court sentences ex-Latin American dictators for Operation Condor
By Cesar Uco and Bill Van Auken, 1 February 2017
While convicting the ex-military rulers of Peru and Bolivia, the court absolved a confessed Uruguayan torturer residing in Italy, the one defendant it had the power to punish for his crimes.
Protests in Mexico continue against gas price hike, water privatization
By Clodomiro Puentes, 31 January 2017
Protests against the Mexican government continue under conditions of rising inflation and increasing concern over the impact of the Trump presidency in the US.
Rescue attempts abandoned for seven buried Peruvian miners
By Cesar Uco, 24 January 2017
There are thousands of informal mines in Peru, with miners risking their lives working for third parties under extremely dangerous conditions.
Mexican protests continue as consumer prices rise
By Rafael Azul, 12 January 2017
Sections of the Mexican ruling class are posturing as opponents of the gasolinazo subsidy cut.
Mexican government, trade unions mobilize against protests to pave the way for Trump
By Rafael Azul and Eric London, 10 January 2017
In response to mass demonstrations against gasoline subsidy cuts, the government and trade unions are policing popular anger in order to lay out the welcome mat for Trump.
Over 100 inmates killed in wave of Brazilian prison massacres
By Miguel Andrade, 10 January 2017
Overcrowding and systematic abusive detentions expose inmates to harassment by organized crime and many forms of oppression by authorities.
Strikes spread in Mexico, thousands of police deployed to capital
By Neil Hardt, 6 January 2017
The trade unions and the National Regeneration Movement (Morena) are being mobilized to strangle the growing movement against cuts in gas subsidies.
Protests against gas price hikes spread across Mexico
By Eric London, 5 January 2017
The Mexican government’s decision to cut gas subsidies has provoked widespread demonstrations, road blockades and gas station occupations, sparking fears within the ruling class of a social explosion.
Venezuelan government backs off of demonetization scheme after mass rioting
By Bill Van Auken, 21 December 2016
The government abruptly withdrew 100 bolivar notes from the economy after the measure touched off violent protests that left four dead and hundreds arrested.
Aquarius: Personal resistance and isolation in Brazil
By Miguel Andrade, 13 December 2016
Filmed prior to Brazil’s impeachment crisis, Aquarius has since become an artistic point of reference (and a target) in the continuing political turmoil wracking the country.
Colombian government signs revised peace deal with FARC
By Andrea Lobo, 29 November 2016
The government’s unpopularity has been deepened by its attempt to employ the discredited leadership of the FARC as a left cover.
The political legacy of Fidel Castro
By Bill Van Auken, 28 November 2016
Castro’s legacy cannot be evaluated solely through the prism of Cuba, but must take into account the impact of his politics internationally and, above all, in Latin America.
Volkswagen is charged with aiding Brazilian dictatorship in torturing workers
By Armando Cruz, 16 November 2016
Workers were seized on picket lines and brought into VW plants to be interrogated, beaten and tortured.
Sandinista President Ortega gains third term in Nicaragua
By Andrea Lobo, 9 November 2016
Ortega was reelected for another five-year term, despite deepening inequality and increasingly autocratic methods of rule.
Brazil’s high school students continue occupations in face of repression
By Gabriel Lemos and Miguel Andrade, 9 November 2016
The most immediate issue underlying the occupations is a government proposal to freeze education spending for 20 years.
The Latin American pseudo-left in the mirror of the US elections
By Rafael Azul, 8 November 2016
The suggestion that workers, women and youth turn to Black Lives Matter and the SEIU to build an independent workers party has all the elements of a bad joke.
The pseudo-left and Brazil’s municipal elections: A trial run for mass betrayal
By Miguel Andrade, 2 November 2016
The crushing defeat for the Workers Party, amid record abstention rates, has exposed the crisis of the entire political establishment, particularly Brazil’s pseudo-left.
Workers Party suffers major defeat in Brazil’s local elections
By Miguel Andrade, 18 October 2016
The vote, coming barely one month after the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, saw record levels of abstention and spoiled ballots.
Thousands of teachers strike in Brazil as government prepares attack on education
By Gabriel Lemos, 3 October 2016
In addition to cuts in the education budget, teachers protested against President Michel Temer’s proposals for pension and labor “reforms.”
Brazilian teachers speak out on education cuts and social attacks
By our reporters, 3 October 2016
WSWS reporters spoke to teachers during a September 22 rally called by the APEOESP (Sao Paulo’s State School Teachers Union) and the CUT (the Confederation of Workers).
Top Workers Party former minister arrested in Brazil
By Bill Van Auken, 27 September 2016
The fate of ex-finance minister Antonio Palocci sums up the historical trajectory of the Workers Party itself.
US to deport thousands of Haitian workers
By John Marion, 27 September 2016
The policy, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on September 22, is a brutal denial of workers’ rights to live and work where they choose.
Two years since the kidnapping of the 43 Ayotzinapa students in Mexico
By Rafael Azul, 26 September 2016
Two years after the disappearance of the teaching students from Ayotzinapa, Mexico, the Peña Nieto administration continues to shield the real culprits.
Brazilian prosecutors charge ex-president Lula as “commander” of Petrobras bribery racket
By Bill Van Auken, 16 September 2016
Coming on the heels of Rousseff’s ouster as president, the charging of Lula further deepens the crisis of Brazil’s Workers Party.
Salvadoran ex-president flees corruption charges for Nicaragua
By Andrea Lobo, 15 September 2016
While US imperialism exploits these corruption scandals, both the Sandinistas and the Salvadoran FMLN are seeking a better deal with Washington.
US triples special operations deployment to Latin America
By Neil Hardt, 14 September 2016
From 2007 to 2014, the US drastically expanded its training programs of Central and South American death squads.
After the impeachment: Brazil’s pseudo lefts shift further rightward
By Miguel Andrade, 13 September 2016
Uniting around the slogan “fora Temer” (down with Temer), the pseudo left groups are attempting to prevent the drawing up of a balance sheet of Workers Party rule.
Thousands of teachers strike as Costa Rican unions suppress struggle
By Andrea Lobo, 7 September 2016
About 5,000 workers marched last week against the government’s austerity measures, even as the union leaderships are sabotaging their struggle.
Brazilian military police attack mass protest against Temer
By Bill Van Auken, 6 September 2016
Sunday saw up to 100,000 people demonstrate in Sao Paulo in opposition to the right-wing government of Michel Temer.
The ouster of Brazil’s Workers Party government
By Bill Van Auken, 3 September 2016
The downfall of the PT marks the end of a political era, posing sharply the need for a new revolutionary leadership in the Brazilian working class.
Mexican government prepares crackdown against striking teachers
By Clodomiro Puentes, 1 September 2016
As Mexican teachers continue their struggle, union officials are collaborating with the political forces that helped bring about the right-wing education “reform.”
Brazil’s impeachment crisis provokes split in Morenoite PSTU
By Miguel Andrade, 31 August 2016
The split reflects the deep crisis and broad realignments taking place throughout the Brazilian pseudo-left due to the debacle of the Workers Party (PT) government of President Dilma Rousseff.
Socialist Equality Party (US) 2016 Congress Resolutions
For the unity of the working class in the United States and Latin America
27 August 2016
This resolution was passed by the Fourth National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (US), held from July 31-August 5 in Detroit, Michigan.
Brazilian students return to the streets over classroom censorship laws
By Gabriel Lemos, 26 August 2016
New “schools without parties” laws would allow the firing of teachers for teaching anything from history to evolution to sex education.
Venezuela opens border with Colombia in order to alleviate growing social tensions
By Alexander Fangmann, 20 August 2016
The border, which has been largely closed since last September, is being opened gradually in order to stem anger arising from shortages of medicine and other basic necessities.
Lopez Obrador reaches out to Mexican ruling elite
By Don Knowland, 19 August 2016
Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador announces that if he wins the presidency in 2018 he will not investigate or prosecute prior office holders and their accomplices for corruption.
UN admits role in 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti
By John Marion, 19 August 2016
The statement from the office of the secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, follows five years of stonewalling in which the UN denied any responsibility for the deadly outbreak.
Cuba shuffles heads of ministries in response to economic slowdown
By Alexander Fangmann, 19 July 2016
Just days after outlining austerity measures, including reductions in energy consumption and imports, the Council of State announced that several ministers would be replaced.
Report exposes deaths in US immigrant detention centers
By Khara Sikhan, 15 July 2016
Immigrant detainees in the US face substandard medical and mental health treatment with fatal consequences.
Brazil’s interim president vows to carry through “unpopular” austerity measures
By Bill Van Auken, 7 July 2016
The agenda of the interim government is to place the full weight of the country’s economic crisis onto the backs of the working class and poor.
Government’s “plan for safe El Salvador” fuels death squads
By Andrea Lobo, 28 June 2016
El Salvador's state and gang violence and its strong relation with stagnant poverty, have led one-fifth of Salvadorans to emigrate.
The Oaxaca massacre and the eruption of class struggle in Mexico
By Neil Hardt, 25 June 2016
The resurgence of class struggle expressed in the protests of Mexican teachers is part of a growing radicalization of workers internationally.
The Venezuelan working class at a crossroads
By Neil Hardt, 16 June 2016
The pro-capitalist, bourgeois nationalist policies of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela have produced a social catastrophe for Venezuelan workers.
Wall Street’s candidate wins elections in Peru with support from pseudo-left
By Armando Cruz, 16 June 2016
Decisive in the narrow victory of the former IMF official was the unconditional support granted by the Broad Front of the Left (Frente Amplio).
Mexico’s national teachers strike enters second month
By Don Knowland, 16 June 2016
Efforts by teachers to roll back the regressive federal education reform face increasing government repression.
Strikes and demonstrations spread in Venezuela amid deepening food crisis
By Neil Hardt, 14 June 2016
There is fear of social revolution in both the pro-Maduro “Chavista” faction of the ruling class and the opposition, led by the Democratic Unity Roundtable.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
31 May 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Wave of budget cuts throughout Latin America
By Neil Hardt, 27 May 2016
The cuts are an intensification of anti-working class policies already implemented by the so-called “pink tide” governments.
Teachers in widespread walkouts in Mexico
By Don Knowland, 19 May 2016
The strike is in opposition to a 2013 law that gave new powers to the government to monitor, test and fire teachers en masse.
Maduro government imposes state of emergency in Venezuela
By Bill Van Auken, 17 May 2016
While the Venezuelan president said that the decree was aimed at “international and national threats,” the most pressing challenge to his government comes from the working class.
Brazil Senate vote ousts Workers Party President Dilma Rousseff
By Bill Van Auken, 12 May 2016
The government being formed by Michel Temer has been brought to power to carry out a frontal assault on the Brazilian working class.
Leader of Brazil impeachment drive sacked over corruption
By Bill Van Auken, 6 May 2016
The removal of Eduardo Cunha, second in line of succession to the presidency, raises the specter of a constitutional breakdown.
May Day 2016: The US-China conflict and the political crisis in Latin America
By Bill Van Auken, 5 May 2016
Bill Van Auken, Latin America editor of the WSWS, delivered the following speech to the International Online May Day Rally.
US backs police purge in Honduras
By Andrea Lobo, 23 April 2016
The purge in the National Police is in line with increased militarization and more repressive measures in Honduras.
Thirteen Mexican oil workers reported killed with toll rising at Pemex plant
By Bill Van Auken, 22 April 2016
The plant was turned over to Mexichem as part of the government’s privatization drive, and workers reported that safety and maintenance had been neglected.
Brazil’s impeachment crisis and the debacle of the Workers Party
By Bill Van Auken, 19 April 2016
The vote to proceed with the impeachment of Rousseff marks the end of a political era and the opening up of a new period of intense class struggle in Latin America’s largest country.
Brazilian congress votes to impeach PT President Rousseff
By Miguel Andrade, 18 April 2016
The PT’s inability to counter the reactionary alliance of forces with a “there will be no coup” campaign leading up to the vote is an indictment of the party and its politics.
Ecuador earthquake kills hundreds
By Tom Eley, 18 April 2016
Hindered by an absence of earthmoving equipment, desperate residents dug through debris with their hands, as those trapped under rubble called out for help.
Eighteen teachers jailed as police crack down on protests in Mexico
By Neil Hardt, 18 April 2016
Thousands of teachers mobilized across the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacán and Veracruz against President Peña Nieto’s education reform plan.
FMLN government escalates repression amid civil war-level violence in El Salvador
By Andrea Lobo, 14 April 2016
While most of the violence terrorizing Salvadoran communities is linked to the government, FMLN in power has consistently used it to justify greater austerity and militarization.
Mexican Nissan workers in two-day strike
By Shannon Jones, 5 April 2016
The walkout by more than 5,000 workers brought production to a halt at the Nissan plant in the industrial City of the Valley of Cuernavaca.
The Brazilian “More Doctors” program’s dilemma
By Pablo Gomes, 4 April 2016
The Brazilian government’s solution to the lack of health care in the small towns and rural areas was to “import” doctors from overseas, mainly Cubans.
Mexican government obstructs investigation into disappearance of the Ayotzinapa 43
By Don Knowland, 4 April 2016
The Mexican government is threatening to shut down an investigation by independent experts of the disappearance of the student teachers and seeks to buy off their parents.
The drive to impeachment and the dangers facing the Brazilian working class
By Bill Van Auken, 1 April 2016
The attempt to oust Rousseff and the PT over corruption is driven by the demand of Brazilian and foreign capital for an acceleration of ongoing attacks on workers’ living standards.
Obama hails Macri’s attacks on Argentine workers
By Rafael Azul, 24 March 2016
Obama’s trip is aimed at cementing closer military and economic relations with the right-wing Macri government.
Obama in Cuba
By Bill Van Auken, 22 March 2016
Obama’s “human rights” masquerade is aided and abetted not only by the slavish US media, but also by the Castro government itself.
Castro government welcomes Obama, US corporate heads to Cuba
By Alexander Fangmann, 21 March 2016
Leading a delegation of over 1,000 US politicians and business executives, Obama’s visit represents a substantial move to bring Cuba under the direct sway of US imperialism.
Argentina: President Macri’s first 100 days
By Rafael Azul, 19 March 2016
The antidemocratic and austerity measures enacted by the Macri administration are in continuity with those of the Videla junta 40 years ago.
Millions join protests in Brazil demanding ouster of Workers Party government
By Bill Van Auken, 15 March 2016
The mass demonstrations came as new figures showed the country’s economy sliding deeper into depression.
Peña Nieto joins Mexican ex-presidents in denouncing Trump
By Bill Van Auken, 8 March 2016
The right-wing representatives of the Mexican bourgeoisie fear that Trump’s campaign will interfere with their collaboration with Washington.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
8 March 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature
Bolivians reject fourth term for Evo Morales in constitutional referendum
By Neil Hardt, 24 February 2016
The “no” vote, which prevents Morales from running in 2019, took place in the midst of escalating social and geopolitical tensions in the impoverished Andean country.
Obama to make March trip to Cuba
By Bill Van Auken, 19 February 2016
Emphasizing Obama’s intention to meet with “dissidents” and “entrepreneurs,” the White House made clear that the trip is part of a policy aimed at restoring US control over Cuba.
Coup threatened in Venezuela amidst deepening economic crisis
By Eric London, 15 February 2016
In the midst of skyrocketing inflation, food scarcity and economic stagnation, the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable is maneuvering for the removal of Maduro.
World Bank documents growth of “ninis” in Latin America: Youth neither working nor in school
By Kevin Martinez, 1 February 2016
At least 20 million young people in Latin America and the Caribbean are neither studying nor working despite the region being touted as a economic “success story.”
Brazilian government represses Sao Paulo fare hike protests
By Armando Cruz, 25 January 2016
The fare hikes are part of a year-long attack on the living standards of the population, designed to placate the international banks.
Supreme Court to rule on Obama immigration program
By Bill Van Auken, 20 January 2016
The court’s announcement came amid rising anger and fear over the roundup and deportation of Central American refugees.
Pentagon calls for “pivot” to target Latin America
By Bill Van Auken, 13 January 2016
The calls from within the military envision a struggle with China over domination of the hemisphere.
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