South-Left America?

In the last few years, we've seen a number of elections in South America elect leftists leaders - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and most vocally Venezuela. Hugo Chavez - hated and nearly deposed by Washington, beloved by his people - has been both a vocal opponent of the "Washington Consensus" brand of globalization, and a lightning rod for all sorts of abuse from the center and right in the North American press.

I know a lot of people who I respect who think that Chavez is the next Castro, or whatever. Personally, I don't buy it. Ever since his failed coup attempt in 1992, Chavez has been a pretty loyal democrat - at least in spirit, if not always in letter. You have to remember that Venezuela, like many Latin American countries, has a social order that most closely resembles Apartheid South Africa. Of course he's opposed by the major industries and media - he's opposed to their power. Imagine the shitstorm we'd have here if Layton won an election, then multiply that a few dozen times.

Anyway, there are signs of a new, leftist, pan-Latin American ideology forming - opposition to American hegemony, and Chavez seems to be at it's head. Oh, and I wouldn't worry about Chavez making trouble when his time comes to an end - if the article makes anything clear, it's that Chavez won't lack for things to do when he leaves office.