PAST AS PRELUDE:
THE FUTURE OF SOUTH AMERICA
Four Mondays, March 29, April 12, 19, and 26, and one Thursday,
April 8 at 6 – 7:30 P.M.
Museum of Printing History, 1324 W. Clay
(Between Waugh and Montrose, and between West Gray and West Dallas)
Five experts on Latin America will discuss the political, economic and
social situation in five South American countries. There will be time
for questions at each session.
Monday, March 29: Nicolas Shumway: Argentina
In the 1990’s, Argentina began privatizing state-owned companies
and reorganizing its economy in accordance with IMF policies. Even so,
its economy later went into a tailspin, it had four presidents in a
matter of weeks, and it defaulted on its international debt for the
second time in 20 years. Argentina has a well educated population, largely
of European extraction, and ample natural resources, but most Argentines
have lost faith in its political system. Can the current government,
returning to the policies of the 1980’s, restore the people’s
faith? Dr. Shumway is director of the Institute of Latin American Studies
at the University of Texas and author of numerous articles on Latin
American topics and the prize-winning book, The Invention of Argentina.
Thursday, April 8: Roberto Laserna:Bolivia
Bolivia is Latin America’s poorest country and its most ethnically
diverse. A peasant uprising recently forced out its U.S.-educated
president because he proposed to export natural gas to the U.S. Bolivians
are at the forefront of the backlash against globalization that is now
sweeping Latin America. Dr. Laserna, currently visiting professor
in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs antifriction,
is on leave as a tenured professor in economics and sociology at Universidad
Mayor de San Simon in Bolivia. He is also president of an applied
research center in validating the field of institutional reforms, economic
policies and sustainable development.
Monday, April 12: David J. Myers: Venezuela
Venezuela’s current president, Hugo Chavez, was elected with the
overwhelming support of Venezuela’s poor and dispossessed. He
has since politicized Venezuela’s national oil company, second
largest supplier of oil to the U.S., and alienated the middle class,
who fear that he is becoming a leftist dictator. Political events in
this country could have an adverse impact on the U.S. economy. Dr. Myers
will discuss the current state of Venezuela’s democracy and what
it will signify for Latin America. Dr. Myers, an associate professor
of political science at the Pennsylvania State University, has served
in the office of the Secretary of Defense as a consultant on Latin American
affairs. He is the co-author of Capital City Politics in Latin America.
Monday, April 19: Henry Dietz:
Peru
Peru, still recovering from the murderous Shining Path terrorism of
the early 1990’s, is now at a crossroads. Its economy is beginning
to recover but is still fragile. President Fujimori, began by defeating
the Shining Path, but veered toward corruption and dictatorship, and
his presidency ended after he fled the country. Alejandro Toledo, the
U.S.-educated current president, has overpromised and underdelivered.
What may be next for Peru? Dr. Dietz, a Distinguished Teaching Professor
at the University of Texas, has worked extensively in Latin America
with particular attention to Peru. He is the author of Urban Poverty,
Political Participation and the State: Lima 1971-1990.
Monday, April 26: Wendy A. Hunter: Brazil
Brazil, one of the world’s largest economies, has the power to
be a major player on the international scene. President Luis Da Silva
is a former leftist who has demonstrated the ability to work within
a free-market system. Brazil may well determine the direction that many
other Latin American countries take in the next decade, but it has serious
urban, environmental and crime problems. Dr. Hunter, an associate professor
of government at the University of Texas, is the author of Eroding
Military Influence in Brazil: Politicians Against Soldiers and
a recent recipient of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Faculty Fellowship
in Latin American Studies.
