Class Struggle in Latin America

Henry Veltmeyer is Professor of development studies at the Universidad  Autónoma de Zacatecas (UAZ), Mexico, and Professor Emeritus of  international development studies at Saint Mary’s University (Halifax, Canada). He is the author or editor of over 40 books on issues of Latin American and global development, and critical development studies.James Petras is Professor Emeritus of sociology at Binghamton  University in New York, and Adjunct Professor in international development studies at Saint Mary’s University (Halifax, Canada). He is the author of over 60 books and numerous other writings on issues of world and Latin American developments.

"This is a very important book. Without economic reductionism Petras and Veltmeyer expose the astonishing level of greed, exploitation and inequality, associated with the world capitalist system. They also provide a sharp and much-needed class analysis of the contradictions of both capitalism and imperialism, and the propensity towards crisis that has assumed global proportions and undermined the foundations of the system as well as generating powerful forces of resistance and class warfare." – John Saxe-Fernandez, Professor of Latin American Studies, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; author of inter alia, Crisis e imperialismo, La energía en México. Situación y alternativas, Economic Imperialism in Mexico: The Operations of the World Bank in our Country."The particular value of this timely book is that it provides a critical perspective on the destructive impacts of a world capitalist system in crisis. It not only addresses the worldwide dynamics of capitalist development, but also the forces of resistance generated by these dynamics as well as proposals for alternative futures advanced within both the popular sector and academe. It is an analytical tool of vital interest to both academic researchers and students within the broad field of international development studies, political economy and sociology." – Richard L Harris, Professor Emeritus of Global Studies at California State University, Monterey Bay. Managing Editor, Journal of Developing Societies and Director of the Transpacific Project."This timely book superbly analyzes in class terms US interventionism, the faltering of Latin America's progressive reforms, right-wing comebacks for neoliberalism in Brazil, Argentina, and elsewhere, and the combined anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist class struggle in Venezuela. Theoretically and politically acute, it is a must acquisition for libraries, journalists, academics, and activists." — James Cockcroft, Honorary Editor Latin American Perspectives, USA"This book is a lively, engaging and lucid analysis of the diverse practices of the class struggles taking place in multiple sites by indigenous peoples, unemployed workers, landless peasants, local communities and students. It powerfully illuminates the demise of the ‘pink tide’ as well as the rise of, and turn to, the right; always persuasively stressing the centrality of class struggle. Required reading for those wishing to gain an understanding of the class forces shaping contemporary Latin America." — Cristóbal Kay, Emeritus Professor of the International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam; and Professorial Research Associate of the Department of Development Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.‘In this stimulating book James Petras and Henry Veltmeyer analyse recent social transformations in Latin America. They highlight how despite continual elite opposition, the region’s poor attempt and succeed in generating progressive social change. The authors argue, moreover, that struggles from below have the capacity to generate further and more profound transformations in the future. This book will be of great value to anyone interested in contemporary Latin America.’ — Professor Benjamin Selwyn, University of Sussex, UK

• IntroductionChapter 1 Class Struggle Back on the AgendaChapter 2 Extractivism and Resistance: A New EraChapter 3 Accumulation by Dispossession — and the ResistanceChapter 4 The Progressive Cycle in Latin American PoliticsChapter 5 Argentina: The Return of the Rightwith Mario HernándezChapter 6 Brazil: Class Struggle in the CountrysideJoão Márcio Mendes Pereira and Paulo AlentejanoChapter 7 Democracy Without the Workers: 25 years of the Labour Movement and Mature Neoliberalism in ChileSebastián Osorio and Franck GaudichaudChapter 8 Mexico: Dynamics of a Class WarChapter 9 Paraguay: Class Struggle on the Extractive Frontier Arturo Ezquerro-CañeteChapter 10 Peru: The Return of the Class Struggle from Below Jan LustChapter 11 Venezuela: In the Eye of the StormChapter 12 The Return of the Right Conclusion