Suchergebnisse

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE ACTIVITIES OF DEYSI CHEYNE, A ONE-TIME LEFTIST REBEL WHO NOW HEADS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF WOMEN IN EL SALVADOR. IT FINDS THAT WHILE CHEYNE AND HER COHORTS ARE DOING GOOD WORK, HER ATTITUDE TOWARD POLITICS AND THE STATE ILLUSTRATES HOW MANY "ON THE LEFT" IN LATIN AMERICA HAVE GONE FROM A CONSUMING PASSION FOR SEIZING THE STATE TO A VIRTUAL ABANDONMENT OF INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT. SUCH A TREND IS DISTURBING BECAUSE THE FLEDGLING DEMOCRACY IN EL SALVADOR NEEDS DEMOCRATS. THOSE WHOSE COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL WELFARE PREVIOUSLY LED THEM TO SEEK REVOLUTION NOW NEED, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, TO PARTICIPATE EN MASSE IN DEMOCRATIC POLITICS.

The Inter-American Development Bank's (1998/99) monograph on economic & social development in Latin American nations is reviewed to illustrate the extent of economic inequality in the region. It is stated that the monograph has underestimated the problem of income distribution in Latin American nations; ie, the lack of adequate education for poor people & the relatively large size of poor families has exacerbated the effects of economic inequality. The monograph's assertions concerning the spread of economic inequality across Latin America -- such nations are experiencing the effects of early stages of development, & abundant natural resources increase inequality -- are rejected. Rather, it is asserted that the Washington Consensus's support for & the Latin American governments' acceptance of neoliberal economic policies has intensified the inequality problem. Despite nations' calls for education, health care, & income reform, it is maintained that such social policies are not imminent for Latin America. J. W. Parker

ALTHOUGH DATA ON CRIME ARE OFTEN PROBLEMATIC, FIGURES PUBLISHED BY THE WORLD BANK CONFIRM ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT CRIME IS A SERIOUS AND GROWING PROBLEM IN LATIN AMERICA. IN ADDITION, MANY HARBOR SUSPICIONS THAT THE POLICE OFTEN COLLABORATE OR EVEN PARTICIPATE IN VIOLENT CRIMES AND KIDNAPPING. EXPLANATIONS FOR THIS INCREASE RANGE FROM THE LEGACIES OF CIVIL WARS, GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS AND MILITARY GOVERNMENTS TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE FAMILY. SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM SEEM DIFFICULT TO COME BY.