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This collection focuses on the multiple consequences of neoliberal policies in Chile and places its "showcase" status and its re-democratization process into serious question. The volume argues that breaking the status quo is possible, urgent and necessary.

In Latin America, the severe flaws in post dictatorial representative democracies and the constitutional principles originally designed to facilitate the exploitative governments of landed and capitalist elites, begin to be questioned and emerging emancipatory processes point towards the development of participatory democracies. In order to redirect national development the peaceful way, several of these processes have resorted to the transformation of the existing legal order in favour of the dominant classes, redirecting their vision of the future in favour of popular interests. The recovery and transformation of the role of the State and public policies with budget allocation in consonance with the new constitutional and social change projects, become indispensable for the success of these processes. In this scenario, concerted social movement action in the struggle for a post neoliberal future and for liberation regarding imperialist designs, constitute the most powerful force towards change. The recent constitutional processes in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador have benefited from a combination of effective and charismatic popular leaders as heads of government and the pressure from popular bases with demonstrated capabilities for uniting, organizing and mobilizing towards their own agenda towards justice and sovereignty. ; Las severas limitaciones de las democracias representativas postdictatoriales en América Latina y los principios constitucionales originalmente diseñados para facilitar el gobierno explotador de las élites capitalistas y terratenientes comienzan a ser questionadas y surgen procesos emancipadores que buscan encaminarse hacia la formación de democracias participativas. Para reencauzar las vías de desarrollo nacional por la vía pacifica varios de estos procesos han recurrido a transformar el orden legal que servía a las clases dominantes, redefiniendo el proyecto de futuro en favor de los intereses populares. Imprescindibles al éxito de estos procesos, como elementos garantistas ...

The current global crisis is not merely a speculative financial crisis that has impacted the real economy in the form of overproduction and demand contraction. It is also a social, environmental and energy crisis; a crisis of democracy, of multilateralism, of neoliberalism and ultimately a crisis of capitalism. In large measure, it is an ethical crisis where a few have been allowed to freely engage in speculative and predatory practices while jeopardizing the interests of humankind. This article focuses on several countries in Latin America where hope is building, creative solutions are being tested, a popular response to crises is emerging, and the basis for an alternative to capitalism is being drafted. These proposals, uncharted elsewhere, are only possible within the context of an alternative, solidarity-based regional integration. They constitute the first steps in the process of development of socialism from the base — a socialism of the 21st century.

The imposition of the neoliberal capitalist model in Latin America remains the principal obstacle to development with dignity and rights. This model immerses poor countries into debt, loots their natural resources and imposes public policies that contradict genuine social development. The pursuit of global development goals through increased social investment could help make payment on the social debt, but this process is vastly limited, especially by the external financial debt. Developing countries cannot manage both debts while their own resources are compromised by privatisation, de-nationalisation, heavily conditioned development assistance, and free trade agreements. A global human rights perspective on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) helps us to anticipate their limitations and contradictions. In Latin America, the MDGs fail to adequately reflect the social debt posed by the region's enormous social inequalities. Those who most owe are really those who most benefit from the debt of others. Those who most pay are the excluded and vulnerable segments, namely, African descendants, indigenous peoples and the region's children. Current trends indicate that time is running out for reaching the MDG targets set for 2015. Neoliberalism's inability to comply with existing global commitments illustrates the urgent need of constructing an alternative development model. The moment may be ripe for change in Latin America because there are hopeful signs of cracks in the imperial order.

Latin America after the Neoliberal Debacle looks at the sharply declining legitimacy of liberal democracies in the region and the new array of popular forces working for social transformation. In particular, the authors analyze the failure of neoliberal policies and the growing demand for expanding participatory democracy and achieving more genuine regional cooperation. This interdisciplinary study will be useful for students, scholars, and general readers concerned with how past and present policies shape the future of this important region of the world