Latin American Neostructuralism: The Contradictions of Post-Neoliberal Development - Softcover

Leiva, Fernando Ignacio

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0816653291 ISBN 13: 9780816653294

Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press, 2008

Synopsis

Interrogates this ascending political and economic paradigm

This landmark work is the first sustained critique of Latin American neostructuralism, the prevailing narrative that has sought to replace “market fundamentalism” and humanize the “savage capitalism” imposed by neoliberal dogmatism. Fernando Leiva analyzes neostructuralism and questions its credibility as the answer to the region’s economic, political, and social woes.

Recent electoral victories by progressive governments in Latin America promising economic growth, social equity, and political democracy raise a number of urgent questions, including: What are the key strengths and weaknesses of the emerging paradigm? What kinds of transformations can this movement enact? Leiva addresses these issues and argues that the power relations embedded in local institutions, culture, and populations must be recognized when building alternatives to the present order.

Considering the governments in countries such as Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, Leiva examines neostructuralism’s impact on global politics and challenges whether this paradigm constitutes a genuine alternative to neoliberalism or is, rather, a more sophisticated form of consolidating existing systems.

About this title

About the Author

Fernando Ignacio Leiva is director of globalization studies and assistant professor of Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino studies at the University at Albany (SUNY).

Edition details

• Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0816653291
• ISBN 13: 9780816653294
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 312