[REUTERS/Luke MacGregor]

When French politician Pascal Lamy set the process in motion to replace himself as the head of the World Trade Organization (WTO), it was an interesting outcome that the two last candidates for the position were both from Latin America and were both from economies either from BRICS nations or that are considered as pre-BRICS nations. Brazil and Mexico in the recent past would have never been considered as having a chance at the head of one of the European or American dominated international organisations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Despite Christine LaGarde beating out her Latin American rivals to become the latest head of the IMF, there is no doubt that Latin America’s economic giants have come full circle in representing the region as being a large part of the world economic system. In the end, Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo won to become the next head of the WTO with the challenge to reinvigorate Doha with a perspective coming from a BRICS nation. Azevedo might have the natural advantage of coming from a BRICS nation as he will be able to represent both developed and developing countries’ interests as opposed to a Doha trade liberalization process born out of European or American interests. While countries like Mexico have been outperforming many of the BRICS nations recently, the ability to have a strong say in the international economic system for countries like Mexico has gone very far in officially placing them at the head table of the international economic order, even without being part of the informal BRICS designation.

The Obama administration and the previous Bush administration had done little to activate their natural relationship with Latin America after 9/11. In Obama’s second term as president, there has been an active push for President Obama and Vice President Biden to re-engage with Latin America, not as rulers of the backyard of the Americas, but as partners in a region that has a great deal of economic and political potential in the world economic order. The United States has sat back over the last ten years while China has created lucrative ties with countries like Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina. U.S. officials were unable to pivot any interest or policy initiatives away from the Middle East, despite having a wealth of resources and experts that were able to develop more than one prudent foreign policy action. The lack of interest the U.S. had showed in the recent past had left many U.S. allies in the region looking for ways to peak America’s interest in their issues and lead them to tackling many issues individually without any significant U.S. assistance. Many U.S. allies in South America took to their traditional position of diversifying trade, but instead of balancing the U.S., EU and international trade relationship, much of the new trade relations have gone directly to China with little American overtures to increase trade across the Americas post 9/11. As for the opposition to the U.S. in the region, the left in Latin America under the late Hugo Chavez had become very strong to the point where Latin American opposition to the U.S. was able to affect U.S.-Iranian relations for a short period of time. The influences of the BRICS and pre-BRICS nations have earned their respect globally, and finally it has become somewhat of a priority for the United States.

BRICS nations might be gaining intangible power in the international system, but the label of “BRICS” is not a complete solution to issues that have slowed growth in BRICS nations or challenge development of the economic system in pre-BRICS nations. Mexico’s economic boom under the previous PAN government did not save them in the last election, and even placed the past ruling party in third place despite Mexico’s historically high growth rates. Countries like Brazil has slowed their growth significantly and are struggling to reform their political system to make FDI gains accountable to national growth and not to a few wealthy and powerful individuals. India’s growth has slowed due to the systemic inability to quell nepotism and promote a reduction of red tape in creating commercial entrepreneurs in India. Red tape is also a large restriction to investment in China, a country that is trying to move from a purely manufacturing based economy into more diverse industries before its employees working in manufacturing become too old to keep up its growth rate. Any successful BRICS nation will only remain successful if stability and a healthy growth rate prevails over a addictive super growth rate and eventual bust cycle. Trying to develop the country before it is no longer possible to do so will only place BRICS in a situation that plagued Latin America throughout the latter half of the 20th century. For Brazil and Mexico to remain significant players in the WTO and worldwide, Azevedo and other policy experts assisting BRICS and pre-BRICS nations must look for stability and long term growth as policy goals above any scenario where boom and bust cycles dominate economic models.

Many Americans feel that their current system of government is unable to get anything done in any meaningful way. Conflicts between interests in the U.S. government has blocked essential legislation from being passed, and interest groups in the political system thrive off preventing the president from passing many of his key policy initiatives. While compromise is certainly needed in the United States at the moment, the American political system has done a good job in identifying and eliminating corrupt practices and in promoting policies that reflect the core ideals of the American people. When there are questions of unfair or corrupt practices in the United States, the country is able to address the issues. While many issues are not technically illegal, the U.S. will maintain the authority to challenge for equality. Any less is simply a detriment to society. The best recent example was the absurd and inequitable wait times in some areas of the U.S. that voters had to endure in order to vote in the last election. Hiding behind non-existent, inequitable or unjust laws cannot be tolerated when there is a clear breach of confidence in a society. In the end, no matter what their backgrounds are, all Americans have the same right to vote as anyone else in the country. Discouraging their rights to participate in an election is now something commonly seen as a stain on American democracy.

America’s neighbors are not strangers to conflicts in their political systems. In the Canadian Province of Ontario, the last regional election resulted in a scandal where the Provincial government that has been sitting for over 10 years wasted over 500 million dollars in order to win two seats in the last election. Information revealed this week showed that the costs of a policy move to cancel the construction of two power plants was likely done in order to secure the votes of those two seats during the election. After the opposition challenged that the government simply moved the power plants for votes by using public funds, the sitting government closed all business in the legislature in order to stop the ability of the opposition to bring inquiries onto the sitting Premier of Ontario and his party at the time. During this downtime, the governing party removed their leader and others who had direct links to the movement of the power plants, and reopened when they saw it fit to do so. After, they claimed the 500 million dollar bill only costs 40 million, but it is apparent that the government used public funds to needlessly change a policy decision to win a majority in the parliament and that they likely knew of the real costs in the process.

While claiming that using this policy move was not part of their campaign plan to be re-elected and was not illegal, there is a clear violation of the customary laws prevalent in all Commonwealth countries and the legal tradition of equity when one political party can use a large amount of public funds in order to be re-elected to their own benefit. Clearly the legislature should have never been allowed to be closed and one party should not be able to have such a large financial advantage using public funds for their own political party. To maintain the legitimacy of the political system, charges ranging from corrupt practices to criminal charges should be laid on any member of the current or past government that knowingly used public funds and lied to the costs of the amount in order to be re-elected. In a legal test, any reasonable person in that position as a government minister or advisor during an election campaign would clearly know that it is unjust and illegal when one party in government has the intent of using a policy decision in the middle of an election campaign in order to secure their seat. After the last U.S. election, there was a condemnation and acknowledgement of the errors of allowing voting wait times so long that it affected American democratic values. In Ontario, an acknowledgement of the issue should be met with charges and an election. The outcome of a large scandal is that a ruling party will always be seen as corrupt in every action they take, whether it is true or not. Democracy must be reaffirmed before a society can progress, and legality must be paramount over the issue so that equity prevails and ends the ability of corruption to continue.

To see how a political system works when there is no transparency in a government’s decisions and the ruling party is seen as lacking respect for legal equity and the confidence of society, we must look at this past week in Venezuela. After the last election, Nicolas Maduro won by a very thin margin and the opposition in Venezuela took to protest the vote, and have been protesting fervently since Hugo Chavez was officially replaced. The lack of confidence in the Venezuelan political system comes from many years of Hugo Chavez and actions by his government to solidify Chavez and his presidency beyond the powers of the legislature and Judiciary in Venezuela. Claims by both the government and opposition of violence and intimidation being used is so prevalent that a recent discussion in Venezuela’s National Assembly lead to many ministers being physically beaten in a brawl on the floor of their congress. Venezuelan politics is a reflection of how power can be abused and maintained by all parties claiming guilt over their opponents. When all political groups in a country are painted as bad as the worst ones and the government denies traditional balances in their political system, there are no mechanisms that provide for transparency and inquiry into legal and illegal actions by government ministers. In broken democracies, elections can be the only form of equity when the lines between legal and illegal are no longer respected. Without a true balance and respect for legal norms and traditions along with an equitable government and a mechanism to clear out corrupt practices, a healthy democracy cannot truly exist. The valves that exist in democratic and fair government systems to defuse tensions must always be respected in order for a society to progress. It is to the benefit of very few people when a legal system will support inequitable acts simply to legitimise corruption and end progress in our society. The legal system is an outcome of democratic values, to promote inequity in a legal system is to lack an understanding of democracy as a whole.

It is no mystery that when in Mexico you are expected to eat, and as a courtesy your Mexican hosts will ensure that you will eat a lot. Mexico has one of the most unique and delicious food traditions in the world, and to ignore the food and the culture that surrounds it is to ignore a large part of the culture. Despite this, while little kids, or gorditos, are prized as cute and loved children, when they grow into adulthood there is a significant amount of pressure to be in shape and to be extremely fit. It is Latin America, after all, and there is a great deal of pride in the appearance of an individual in most countries in the region. The influx of fatty foods and sugar addiction is not locked into Mexican society for reasons of culture or proximity to the United States. Other countries with strong culinary traditions such as France also have been plagued by youth with sugar addictions and sedentary options, a trend that is affecting most countries regardless of economic growth.

When speaking with Mexicans, the difference in class is often defined in relation to diet. Food plays a large role in Mexico’s class system in that the end products that Mexicans have access to or can afford within Mexico varies among groups. There are also cultural differences in regions and groups in Mexico that may differ from the ideal body type desired in popular culture in Mexican society. While most Mexicans can have access to Coke, many in the country rely on government subsidies for milk and eggs, and base most of their diet on tortillas and frijoles and other traditional basic foods. The core elements of Mexico’s food culture are inherently healthy, based on whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables. Cheese in Mexico is not similar to the cheddars and mozzarellas eaten by their neighbors to the north and is often a healthy option. Adding too much cream and fat is something that was invented in Tex-Mex cooking, food native of California as opposed to Mexico. Tex-Mex food is often not looked upon as the best option when eating in Mexico. When living in the United States, fresh and healthy Mexican food is now readily available in most parts of the United States, and is often the best and healthiest option when dining out in the U.S.

For Mexicans living in the U.S., a truly passionate food culture where family and community dines together is strong, but the access to cheap and fatty foods in the U.S. has permeated all cultural groups living in the United States. So much is the influence of American food culture on Latinos in the United States that programs to ensure confident children that will avoid eating disorders are broadcast to Latinos living in the U.S. In the end, whether living in Mexico or the U.S., eating well and with close friends and family is a part of being a positive and happy person. With one of the strongest food cultures worldwide, an appreciation for Mexican food and all of the wealth it brings to an individual and community may be the primary reason for obesity levels in Mexico. The end result with happy and full people enjoying their meal without the obsession of weight bearing down on their thoughts each time they take a bite has value in itself. Eating properly was never an issue in Mexico; it might simply be that other options have entered into Mexican culture and have been accepted in many Mexican communities without bias.

Below is a recipe for one of the best dishes to come out of Mexico, Chile en Nogada from foodnetwork.com:

Ingredients
· 6 poblano peppers

Nogada sauce:
· 1/2 cup goat cheese
· 1 cup walnuts
· 1 cup small diced white bread
· 1 1/2 cups milk
· 1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling:
· 1 tablespoon olive oil
· 1/2 cup white onion, finely chopped
· 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
· 1 medium ripe tomato, finely chopped
· 1 tablespoon freshly minced cilantro leaves
· 1 pound ground beef
· Salt and freshly ground black pepper
· 1 cup cooked diced potato
· 2 tablespoons dried black currants
· 2 tablespoons toasted sliced blanched almonds

Garnish:
· 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
· 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped parsley leaves

Directions

Prepare the poblano peppers by heating a griddle or skillet over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles on contact. Add the poblanos, and cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until the skin is blackened and blistered on all sides, about 5 to 7 minutes depending of the size of the poblanos. Remove from the griddle as they are done and place in a plastic bag, let sit for 5 minutes, until the skins are soft enough to be easily removed. Remove the poblanos from the bag, and using your fingers and small sharp knife, peel and scrape off as much of the blackened skin as possible, (a few black specks don’t matter). Leave the tops on and cut small (2 to 3-inch) lengthwise slits in the polios and carefully pull out the seeds without tearing the flesh.

Nogada (walnut sauce):

Add all the sauce ingredients to a blender and process until thoroughly pureed. Set aside art room temperature or keep in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Filling:

In a medium-size skillet, heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium-heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for one to two minutes, stirring often. Add the tomato, cilantro and cook for another minute. Add the meat and cook stirring, until the meat is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Add the potatoes, cook for two minutes, then stir in the black currants and the almonds. Remove from the heat. Carefully stuff the mixture into the chiles through the slit, taking care not to rip the chiles. Transfer the stuffed poblanos to a serving platter. Cover with the walnut sauce and garnish with pomegranate seeds and parsley.

This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The FN chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

The optimism over Latin America’s economically mobile population has missed the large segment that remains vulnerable—not in poverty but still at risk of falling back into it. Photo: Monique Naoum.

This week the BBC was promoting a new study that redefined the traditional class structure in Britain into new modern categories. With the assistance of some U.K. universities and research institutes, they made a class calculator that can be taken online and will define in what part of British society you currently belong. You can find the link to the survey here – I suggest you take a turn as it is fun and interesting. On the BBC World Service, they compared the seven new categories of classes redefined in the study with the traditional class and caste system in India. While there were changes and movement due to certain lower classes gaining additional wealth over the generations, the class system and caste systems are still very prominent in India, affecting how people work, live, socialize and define themselves politically.

Latin America is not a stranger to a ridgedly defined class system, and some conclusions from the discussion on Britain and India could be easily applied to many countries in the region. One issue that was raised by the expert on India’s caste system was that while some lower castes enjoyed some economic success, their identity in their caste system defined much of their political support in the greater political system in their region in India. It could be the case that a wealthy entrepreneur could also support a social left leaning party in such a conflict among classes, even if the party they support is not considered business friendly. So much was the divide among classes that political support may be secured not for a positive policy approach, but an approach that reasserts the divide among classes even if some from the lower class had the funds and mobility to become part of the top economic percentile of the population. In this case, class systems could result in possible “entrepreneurial socialists” due to a narrowly defined class structure.

In the upcoming election in Venezuela, the strategy that may define how much the opposition wins or loses in the election may not be solely based on the popular support Hugo Chavez’s base has for the party and Maduro. While many socially oriented voters in Venezuela supported Chavez, the balance of the vote may depend just as much on how they see the opposition as coming from a different class in Venezuelan society and how they see those classes supporting social goals in the next presidential term. If the Venezuelan opposition ends up being defined as a different class that can never be permeated or become accepting of hard working and innovative lower class individuals, then those classes that have no opportunity to grow will inevitably choose and change or revolution over promoting elites into power. This underlying narrative in Venezuelan and Latin American society may keep the leftists in the region around for a long time, even without their natural leaders being present in future debates.

The inherent problem with strong class systems is that it solidifies traditional systems that may not work to benefit the nation as a whole. The result is that the best and brightest that should come out of fair and healthy competition in society are stifled at the whims of a few powerful elites. Without a way to benefit from hard work and innovation, a country can never move forward or grow because the elite structure that benefits from current and past contradictions in society will keep the nation from innovation and growth in order to maintain the awards of a system that keeps them in an elite posture. One of the best examples illustrating the errors of class limitation in Latin American society is the progressive and organised nature of the non-documented worker community in the United States. Most undocumented workers in the United States come from Mexico and Latin America to the U.S. due to a lack of jobs in their own countries and a limitation on their ability to grow and prosper in society in the region. Despite not having the legal rights to work in the United States, many undocumented workers earn and save to such a great degree that they have rebuilt many of their communities back home and now have ownership of one or more homes in their community as well. Funds coming from lower class undocumented workers in the United States compete with the levels of national revenues in Mexico that come from Mexico’s oil industry, placing Mexico’s illegal émigrés in direct competition with Mexico’s upper classes that run much of PEMEX and Mexico’s energy sector.

Despite having a legal limitation to earn and work in the United States, the opportunities for undocumented workers to rebuild their own communities in Mexico and Latin America grew from nothing into Mexico’s largest source of national revenue. This socially orientated industry came from innovation, hard work and growth, separated from class limitations. The rebuilding of Mexico’s hinterlands through the work of socially oriented entrepreneurs comes from a group of individuals limited in both Mexico’s class system and America’s legal system. The only lesson to be learned in their class is that an entrepreneurial spirit will come naturally from innovative individuals when they find an opportunity for a better life for themselves and their communities.

Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on March 13, 2013. (Dmitry Lovetsky/Associated Press)

Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Pope from outside of Europe for nearly a millennium, reflecting the reality of a church that has the majority of its followers in Latin America and the strong connection with society and social justice that churches have had in the developing world. Pope Francis I is a native of Argentina and comes from a background where the social awareness of the problems in a society torn by poverty and deep issues of historical inequality and corruption permeates every decision by leaders in the region. A conservative, he has been challenged by issues in Argentina related to same-sex marriage as well as a history of the church’s cooperation with the former military regime in Argentina that had scarred Argentine society as a whole. Pope Francis I will have to also provide guidance to a part of the world that bases much of their lives on their faith, but is also is turning away from the Catholic Church towards other Christian churches in Latin America.

The issues that will be challenged by Francis I will be reflective of the issues that he had faced in Buenos Aires and Argentina in general, those of poverty and social justice in an unequal society. The Catholic Church in Latin America is an integral part of society and helped form much of the modern systems of social welfare in the region. Where systems of social assistance often did not function in the region, churches and organizations started by many churches are often the only source of guidance and assistance to many in Latin America. With one of the worst levels of inequality in the world, many in poverty in Latin America have little power to improve their own lives. In many countries in the region, the grassroots of poverty reduction and systems that became part of national strategies to reduce poverty and inequality came from programs of the church. While many believe the church does not affect their lives in the developed world, the church in Latin America and the developing world is often the only source of help and kindness in societies that have failed to support everyone living inside it. Pope Francis I will bring his strong focus to help the poor to the Papacy, already becoming an example of frugality in the first days of his election as Pope.

Whether speaking about Latin America, Africa or Asia, the issues of inequality and social justice will resonate with a non-European Pope speaking about issues in which he has personal experience. Social justice was one of the major issues that created the ideas of Hugo Chavez’s campaign during his election campaigns and maintained his presidency until his recent death. Whether a socialist or a pope, social justice and dignity in poverty is an issue that may never disappear in Latin America. A strong individual that leads by example in tackling social justice issues will always be a mark of leadership in Latin America. Social justice is needed worldwide, and with a strong tradition of fighting for equality by Chavez and Francis I, social justice issues will challenge governments in Latin America and global inequality over the next few years.

One of the issues with many leftists in Latin America is that while there are a lot of supporters that will never disappear as long as inequality is at one of the highest level worldwide, left-wing leaders often are successful in applying their policies because they are charming and popular individuals. Despite many criticisms of corruption in leftist administrations in Latin America, continued support and the election of leftist leaders comes from their ability to speak to the minds of many in the region who live at the spear’s end of existence in their daily lives in the cities and towns in Latin America.

So who will replace the Castros once they retire? It had been thought that Hugo Chavez in Venezuela would be the natural successor in the region, but recent months has revealed his health as an issue that cannot be avoided, and Venezuela’s ruling party is struggling to keep their hold onto power without the main ingredient that put them in power in the first place, that of Chavez himself. Yesterday, Hugo Chavez met his eventual death, and while expected, it is really the official beginning of the next era of the future of the left in Latin America.

The Economist recently published two interesting articles on Chavez and recently re-elected President of Ecuador Rafael Correa that might shed some light on how the future of the left may develop in the region. The author speaks in great detail about Chavez’s return from his treatments in Cuba. The unnamed author goes into a brilliant discussion on how the parties will deal with the ill president and the division of powers laid out in the constitution. He claims that for the most part the constitution is being ignored in order to keep Chavez in control. It is a wonderfully laid out article, but my final assessment of the situation regarding the presidency of Venezuela after studying many years of Latin American politics and studying constitutional law is that the president was simply very sick, he had aggressive cancer and needed to rest in order to be as healthy as he can be considering his awful illness. He passed away yesterday at 58, leaving his revolution to the party in power that faces an election in 30 days. During his illness, he was extremely limited in being able to stay at the head of government and as the de facto leader of this generation’s left in Latin America.

One of the left’s main weaknesses is its link to populism as a method of support. It is hard to say who will gain power in Venezuela or Cuba now that the leaders of the cause will no longer be available to support it in the future. In a separate Economist article, the victory of Rafael Correa in Ecuador’s election with 57 percent of popular support shows that leftists do not lack support in the region and that their policies can have a future in a country like Ecuador. It is uncertain whether or not Correa or someone like Evo Morales can become the new Castro or Chavez, but if populism can go beyond one person and become a political party with a strong mandate and leaders, it can avoid the eventual collapse of leftist popular movements that are always expected in government and by investors. Populism often creates a revolutionary situation in a country, but chaos at the end of one person’s life does not always have to end ideologies on the left in Latin America. Ideas on the left exist in all countries in Latin America to a very large degree, and populism does not always have to bring an end to social ideas for Latin Americans. For the future left, another populist voice may be needed to further expand a leftist revolution, but the left will always be at the core of social ideas in the region.

In the past, countries like Mexico sought to link itself not to the U.S., but to the EU. Dependence on the U.S. economically for Mexico was frowned upon before NAFTA, but with European interests and funds being focused on Eastern Europe in the early ’90s, Mexico accepted it would have to make an agreement with the U.S. and Canada for NAFTA. The rest of Latin America sought a comprehensive trade agreement with the United States under the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas that effectively died after 2001 when the U.S. turned its focus to the Middle East after the 9/11 attacks. The result of these bouts of trade agreements were that NAFTA partners sought out many bi-lateral trade agreements with the rest of Latin America and Asia, and now with Europe. The EU-Canada agreement currently being negotiated is an outcome of years of stalled collectively ambitious trade agreements since FTAA in the Americas, and is the best example highlighting some of the issues that might come about in a EU-U.S. agreement.

Since 2009, Canada has been negotiating a FTA with the EU. With the economic collapse of many economies in Europe and worldwide, the concerns of past agreements between competing developed economies becoming a method to undermine the US economy were no longer a main concern. As a result, Canada took the opportunity to expand its own bi-lateral trade relationship with the EU. As always, agriculture issues are a barrier to all FTAs, and this is no exception between the Canadians and the EU. Agreements like the FTAA made the agro sectors in the U.S. and Canada nervous to the prospect of South American agricultural products overwhelming their own, reflecting concerns from the French agro industries during EU expansion that thought that the large Polish agro sector would effectively eliminate France’s unique agro industry. The result was that Poland had to give up some of its power as a EU member state to gain some approval from France during the admission process. As for the, FTAA, it never came to fruition.

One of the sticking points between the Europeans and Canadians, as well as a recognized point of interest for the Americans in dealing with the EU, are the agricultural trade boards on both sides that predetermine the level of production in some agro industries. Competing with foreign agro products that might also have a predetermined level of production will cause serious legal complications related to fair market practices. Calculated market value will likely cause many clashes and will establish many lawyer’s careers. Please see the 28.00 min in the video in the link here.

A major issue related to agricultural products between the Canadians and Europeans is one that might hold up a U.S.-EU agreement as well. Genetically modified products in the EU, whether it be fruits or beef, are restricted to some degree and are labelled as modified products if it is allowed in the EU. In North America, there are no concrete regulations to label genetically modified products (called GMOs), and under EU regulations, those products would not be able to be sold in the EU without consumers in Europe knowing what has been done to their food. While agricultural companies will protest this regulation for years under the agreements between the U.S. and Canada and the EU, speaking as someone who has lived in all the aforementioned regions and considering the rights of consumers in a legal perspective, I believe that GMO labels should be standard in the EU as well as everywhere else. There is some evidence that GMO foods might be a cause of some long term illnesses, and with the EU label on GMO products consumers would have a legal right to know what has been done to their food. This trade issue may become one that expands past the negotiators, as agro consumers will likely give little support for the companies that promote GMO in their food.

Brazil and the rest of Latin America were always focused on trade with both the U.S. and EU. South American trade flows are not reflective of those of Mexico, with the U.S. and EU trade taking similarly large portions of the region’s trade percentage. Chinese trade has been gaining ground to the detriment of the U.S. via the purchase of agricultural products from South America. A unique trade situation that has impeded trade between the EU and South America has been the fact that the EU was reticent to South American agro products blighting out similar products in France. In addition, the countries in Mercosur wished to move beyond being a sole commodities producer and benefit from R+D and increased manufacturing production in South America. Agreements for trade often seek to promote increased manufacturing industries in Latin America, with agro products being sold at high demand linked to the market value. While bi-lateral agreements with the US and Canada and has made some progress for countries like Chile and Colombia, the agro issues between emerging markets and Western nations are a massive barrier, ones that cannot be handled as simply as the GMO issues between similarly developed economies. Unlike China, Brazil will likely not be treated as a threat to either the US or EU manufacturing base because of the destiny it holds as an agro exporter that may allow Brazil to enter into a comprehensive, yet bilateral treaty with the EU and the U.S. With the new EU-U.S. Agreement, the floodgates to bi-lateral trade in the Americas with Europe will be a likely future outcome.

Recently I had a conversation with a civil engineer from Greece. He asked me directly if my country accepts economic migrants. As someone who has worked in the immigration system and has followed recent changes to the system here, I had found it odd that people who apply to immigrate would use the term economic migrant, a term that was only used by policymakers in previous years. With economic issues in Southern Europe, many highly skilled citizens of countries like Greece, Spain and Portugal have been moving to places like Germany, Canada and Latin America for work. In a BBC report this past weekend, Spanish citizens moving to Germany for steady employment were interviewed regarding the situation in Spain. None of the candidates wished to leave their family in Spain, but many took to moving to Germany, taking six hour a day German intensive language courses and working jobs well below their skill set in order to not become a lost generation for Spain. With EU membership, EU citizens have the right to work anywhere in the EU without restrictions as long as they can fulfill the main requirements of the positions offered. For my country, I had to tell the Greek civil engineer that economic migrants are often not accepted for work visas unless there is a deficit in a specific employment sector in the country. Recent changes to the immigration laws re-enforced the limitations on economic migrants for all employment sectors.

In a recent AP article, the situation for many Spaniards moving to Latin America was highlighted. While thousands flock from the Iberian Peninsula to the healthier economies in Chile, Brazil and Mexico, the system for accepting European migrants into the Latin American economy has not been able to keep up with the relatively new demand for employment. Getting permits for legal work visas is a highly convoluted process according to the author of the article. Many are limited to working under the table, a situation that promotes a lack of stability and lack of pay in their new employment situation. This becomes even more absurd for newcomers, especially when the jobs are available but the legal status is not for many Spanish in Latin America. Often such a problem could be limited by the employer, and with nearly 43% of South America’s trade being linked to the EU, it would be logical to assume that a company that operates in Spain and Chile would be able to facilitate employment in both countries and both immigration systems. Since 2010 however, the number of émigrés from Spain has increased and changed the flow of migration, resulting in many young Spaniards moving to Latin America without a systemic shift to accommodate the new demand. While one source of the problem could be the recent shift in migration patterns and immigration systems in Latin America that have not been tested since the early 20th century, it might also have something to do with the last few years of Latin American immigration to Europe, Spain and Portugal, where the system in Europe has failed to respect many Latin Americans coming to live and work in the EU. With such a large shift in migration patterns in such a short period of time, any resentment and problems felt my Latin American migrants to Spain recently could be reflected in the Latin American immigration systems for Spaniards coming to the region. As a result, talks between Spain and Latin American leaders will have to take place so that both systems become efficient and respectful of citizens working between nations.

To be a successful economic migrant, there are a few simple things one should know when trying to make their big move to another country. In the summit between Spain and Chilean leaders there has been a recognition of education and skills across borders. The recognition of skills is extremely essential, as it promotes a healthy competition of skills so that the right people fill the right positions and reduces bias against skilled foreign workers in a modern economy. In that way, citizens of a community benefit from the best skilled professionals, and are not forced to go to poorly equipped local talent while the highly skilled foreign talent drives their taxi between appointments. It is essential for an individual to find out what training will be valued in the new economy, and it is also the responsibility for local agencies to be fair and equal in the treatment of foreign skills. If possible, a good method to move to employment in another country is to get a formal transfer from your country in a multinational company to a position in the same company in the new country. Often larger companies who value their skilled workers will also facilitate legal assistance for their employees in the new country and get them settled and working quickly after the move. In addition, become aware of the job market in the sector you wish to work in as much as possible, as in many countries there are many informal barriers to new immigrants in the employment sector that only become apparent after a move, and leaves immigrants for years without employment or the means to survive economically. What this means is that you should find work before moving if at all possible, and if not, make sure there are no informal barriers to employment in the field you desire before moving and immigrating to a new country. Even some legal services who claim to assist new immigrants often take more money than offer any real assistance, or charge for services the new immigrant could easily do on their own. Even the best countries can result in a very poor living situation for new immigrants; never assume great success just because a country has a good reputation, even if the country is a rich one with great opportunities.

The ongoing conflict in Syria has been treated very differently from the one in Libya after the Arab Spring movement took hold in the region. The lack of support for Syria’s government might have to do with the lack of trade and ties between Syria and many European countries and the U.S. Syrian oil does not have a large effect on major industrialised countries, so it has received less initial attention than Libya, who supplies much of the oil and gas production for some European countries. Another theory is that Syria’s ties with Iran have made assistance for Syria’s government a quagmire for many foreign policy experts in the West. While rebel forces in Syria are strongly laced with Al Qaeda, Syria’s secular government is seen as closely tied with Iran’s government and is a major source of conflict in the region. For tying itself to Iran, even though Syria’s government has little in common with the Iranian government, it has shut out any support its government might have had if it had taken a neutral position in the region.

The loss of Chavez might have its greatest effect on leftist ideals in the region. The popularity of Hugo Chavez might have been stronger than his reforms, and when populism dominates socialism, the risk of policy change becomes great when the popular figure is no longer available as the tip of the spear to push the movement beyond its initial revolution. For Venezuela’s foreign policy, it was likely Chavez himself that pushed for intervention in Colombia and it was Chavez who sought to create strong ties with Iran. While Venezuela’s new leaders will still maintain ties to Iran, the brotherhood among populists that brought Chavez so close to a conflict so far away may be tamed down, especially if the conflict in the Middle East becomes hot. Without Chavez, oil exports will not be a source of funds for housing for the poor, but simply a source of revenue that will be heavily scrutinized by the opposition. Pressure on Venezuela’s left will have pressure brought on it indeed, but unbearable pressure would come with continued strong ties to countries like Iran and the security threats that peak the gaze of American officials in its wake. With no Fidel in Venezuela to take the reigns of Chavismo, a more passive left and its supporters will remain, albeit for a long time.

Recently in my own community, one branch of the government has taken to openly violating some enshrined rights under the constitution using their own legislation that clearly violates the rights of the people. The acceptance in using the legal system to remove the rights of citizens that are governed under a constitution were surprisingly permitted. Allowing the legal system to take two years to decide on an issue of immediate concern has become a standard tactic in denying democratic rights in this democratic society. In order to quell any open protests by the community, both the government and group of affected individuals have accused each other of not being at the table to discuss the issue. One of them are likely not being truthful, but again there is no one who is holding them accountable for actively not compromising in this open disrespect of our constitutional rights. In response, the government said they will remove the law after it is applied. This useless symbol of a faux respect for democracy simply disrespects the spirit and laws of the constitution further as it shows that the government will create a law to deny citizens rights whenever it feels the need to ignore constitutionally protected laws.

The birth of the modern republic can be traced back to the fall of the French monarchy and the creation of over a hundred years of political infighting in the French Republic. The numerous smaller and larger revolutions and deaths due to political disagreements at the time had eventually formed a model of democracy that was able to avoid continuous violent change and maintain a strong contiguous state. Under a democratic and representative republic, governments were created that were able to form a system of compromise that displaced political violence in modern society. The French Republic had become the model for the United States as well as several other states including many in Latin America. Unfortunately, the lesson learned from a century of small conflicts in the streets of Paris seems to have been forgotten recently. No one who knows violence would choose it as a first best option, compromise is the only way to conduct political affairs in a republic, parliamentary democracy and all other systems based on constitutionally protected rights.

Over the last decade in Venezuela, leftist leader President Hugo Chavez was able to take popular support away from his right wing political opponents in general elections. In order to continue his social revolution in Venezuela, he held several referendums in order to maintain himself in power, changing the constitution so that the office of the President would have direct financial control over some government run industries as well as having the ability to expropriate private companies in Venezuela, including those run by multinational companies. In one of the most hotly contested referendums, Hugo Chavez was able to change the law so that he could run for re-election indefinitely, a right he wished to obtain in order to fulfill his goals of social revolution in the country. While Chavez is not Napoleon and has not declared himself as the Emperor of his country, opposition activists have claimed that he is making Venezuela less democratic by enshrining more legal powers to himself and taking actions to silence his critics in political opposition and the media. The claims by the opposition that Chavez is trying to make himself into a dictator may never be proven however, as Mr. Chavez has been increasingly ill after his re-election as President in 2012.

Venezuela has had a very divisive political environment that has lead to a polarization of its political system and eventual election of an overtly strong president. The office of the President in Venezuela has gained increased presidential powers in their constitution, beyond that of any other modern republic. The lack of compromise and claims of political violence on either side has created a situation of violence and a President that has so much power in their current system that his illness has paralyzed their active political system. Currently, Venezuela’s government is fighting a confused process of administrative law that will likely dominate Venezuela’s future for years to come. Even if Chavez survives his latest round of treatments, Venezuela would likely do better with Chavez resting than remaining as a President with increased powers and a weak legislature that is dependent solely on the President. Balance and compromise is needed in either case, as even if the opposition in Venezuela wins a new election, they still need to pay close attention to those who supported Chavez and felt they had little rights and justice during the pre-Chavez era. While Hugo Chavez has created a strong left in Latin America, it cannot last without him. Ironically his social revolution may not be able to continue past his own personal health, as he is the only one who was able to push through his laws past his strong opposition. In the end, the ones who will lose in this political conflict are the people themselves, a lesson learned long ago in the streets of Paris.

It is hard to imagine a similar situation to Venezuela occurring in the world’s largest republic, The United States. With the political wills of Americans locked in so deep that they cannot agree to simple matters of finances due to a severe lack of political compromise and the ability to only change a policy at the end of a tragedy, the lack of compromise has unnecessarily weakened the United States. The world’s largest republic cannot function as a republic if the constitution is not respected, if laws do not reflect the rights of everyone and if compromise is not recognized as a reality of a healthy political system. Before the fall of France in 1940, a divisive political environment dominated France to such a degree that many historians claimed that the apathy and malaise in French society at the time was a large contributing factor to the fall of France to the German army. While such a military threat is not a current reality for the United States, the lessons learned on how to maintain a balanced society through justice, law and political compromise was a hard lesson learned by France in the 19th and 20th century. All governments in democratic countries need to respect our political inheritance. Compromise is an essential part of democracy, without it there will be nothing left of a country beyond bloody debates and a weak nation.

Credit: PAL 1970 via Flickr

Many who believe the Mayan calendar’s predictions are factual see December 21st as the last day of days. Recent worldwide events might make many feel that his could be the case. With political strife in the Middle East, the murder of children in both the U.S. and China, ongoing economic problems in Europe and the general global malaise, the world might not be ending for all, but for some it surely must feel that way. Yesterday an index of global happiness was released and the results were that many countries in Latin America were the world’s happiest. Panama, Paraguay, El Salvador, Venezuela, Guatemala, Ecuador and Costa Rica were all at the top of the survey of the world’s happiest people. Colombia was ranked 11th, and Mexico and Brazil ranked around 20. While the world has become a better place than six decades ago when we were entrenched in wars, a negative view and high rates of personal depression makes many believe that life is not what it should be and that a possible Mayan explanation can provide those answers. Perhaps it is not and end predicted by the Maya, but a way of joie de vivre experienced by life living in the South.

Explanations on the results of the survey are interesting indeed, with some explanations surrounding the resilience of many in Latin America to look beyond immediate problems and live a life day-by-day despite what is going on externally. The suggestion that constant problems make people adapt and become positive in living their life could be one of the main reasons people are positive, perhaps because it is difficult to lament the worst constantly and live a productive life. Other explanations cite  certain cultural aspects that teach Latin Americans to keep a positive face on things, even if there are personal problems internally. These are both interesting suggestions, the fact that less might make someone feel as if they have more to be positive about could come from an appreciation for the smaller things in life. This could also be a reason why countries like France and Germany did not do so well on the survey, as if you are higher up, you will hit the ground harder if you do happen to fall. Regarding having a positive attitude on the face of things, I think the cultural nature of being from Latin America does not just place a happy face on every situation, as people who are family or close friends do have constant, open and honest discussions of a positive and negative nature. It might be that the support one gets in difficult times from those around them helps lift up everyone in general, while honestly and negative things do happen, it is the support that makes it more bearable. In addition, it is also a culture of support and not assuming the other individual is free therapy or promoting a culture of negativity with every aspect of life. Being constantly negative may not thrive when a community of open and honest individuals are there for support as there is simply no time to seek out the worst case scenario when you have so many in your corner.

While not exclusive to Latin America, I think the culture of family, support and living your life to spend time with your family is an important part of Latin American culture that keeps people positive. Being with those close to you and finding other friends and partners that value that way of life is a key part of Latin American culture and might be the main reason people can not only be positive, but stay positive as they are never truly alone. Interestingly, many discussions and documentaries about immigrant groups to the U.S. show that there is an internal conflict for many who move from their countries of origin to the U.S. as they do not wish to lose their supports to their new culture rooted in individualism. While being motivated and entrepreneurial is valued, a life of being with your family and enjoying a life where you are never truly alone is the basis for many cultures from many parts of the world. Many new Americans frown upon the thought that a child can detach themselves from their family at 18 years of age, and families can only truly thrive in a positive manner as a family. This might be one of the main factors of being happy, not by region, but from family to family.

Issues surrounding sex slavery will become one of the most evasive and complicated legal and societal issues over the next decade. Often legal issues are complicated by the fact that issues surrounding human trafficking are committed across borders, where legal jurisdictions are limited to defined countries and even regions. Many jurisdictions limit legal actions to be taken on behalf of individuals who are committing a crime themselves, and with involuntary prostitution still being seen as a crime in many places it makes it exceedingly difficult for these girls to get out of their situation. Compounding the standard legal issues, many of the girls who end up being taken often are foreign to the countries in which they are present or are part of minority groups that sometimes can be ignored by greater society. Along with being in a foreign land, the legal status of immigrants and new citizens in many countries are slow to become understood and implemented in legal reforms that would lessen the burden on foreign nationals residing in many countries. Often many types of laws do not address the reality of non-citizens in a country and even if help is sought, it could result in charges being placed on the individual who simple needs help. Because of the legal limitations and societal taboos, these agents of shadows are often very successful in trafficking women, telling the girls that their families would be threatened if they cause problems. It is common for these agents to take the girl’s passport and identity documents, taking their legal identity away from them in the process of taking their identity altogether.

Human trafficking operates in a similar way to narcotics trafficking, as the problem exists because there is a market for it, usually in places where disposable income fuels the use of the narcotics or service. Canadian journalist Victor Malarek published his book The Natashas on the subject of the global sex trade, often citing incidences when perfectly respected institutions with people that are respected in their countries and communities would be the source of funds for the agents in the shadows. In one interview, he described how NATO soldiers in the former Yugoslavia would take use of the services, and Malarek went to investigate. He discovered that many of the girls were taken from other parts of Eastern Europe, and in one serious case he personally worked hard to get one girl returned home who was taken from her family. Weeks later she returned to her kidnappers servicing the NATO soldiers after being threatened, simply to keep her family safe back home.

Brazilian author Paulo Coelho pulled away from his usual focus on writing on spirituality in his book Eleven Minutes. Eleven Minutes was written in order to shed some light on the lives of girls who have been trafficked from Latin America to Europe. Based on the life of a real person he had met in Switzerland from Brazil, Coelho tries to show what someone in that position can feel and how she can move from being controlled by strangers to having a real full life. While the novel gives a positive outcome for the main character, the reality is that in most cases these girls live and stay under society’s radar as prostitution and prostitutes are not considered as legal equals, even if the laws exist to balance their rights. In many Latin American countries sex tourism is highlighted by trafficking of these girls to places where they can be bought and sold. Increasingly these girls are being trapped in developed countries and in smaller and smaller communities, with few effective laws being put into place and even less charges being laid in the even a case makes it to a courtroom. Not until an acknowledgement of human trafficking taking place in our communities and an understanding by society as a whole will any effective solutions result from legal reforms on the issues surrounding sex slavery. Until that time, girls will continue to be taken into the life of shadows.

For President Obama, Democrats and Republicans, the issue of demography may be the missing key to pushing through comprehensive immigration reform. The immigration issue is one that is not only in the minds of Americans, but is an issue close to the hearts of many in Mexico. A large number of Mexicans have some ties to the United States with relatives living there permanently or working there to support their families back in Mexico. Often Mexico’s greatest export floats between oil and people, people who fund many households and communities in Mexico through remittances from their employment abroad, most often coming from the United States. Any conflict coming out of the immigration debate in the US will affect Mexicans greatly, even if US immigration is not one of the main policy initiatives of Pena Nieto’s new government. While Latino’s may decide many future elections in the US, their voting power and financial influence may also shape policy inside Mexico itself, out of the direct control of both respective governments.

Pena Nieto had made some statements on future policy development, but he was not known for going into any great detail on his policy initiatives during his campaign. Recently his detailed policy focus has been put out to the public, focusing on poverty reduction, energy, transparency and drug violence.

Mexico’s economy has been doing surprisingly well over the last few years, but Pena Nieto was able to use the lack of trickle down opportunities to gain a strong foothold in Mexico’s election. His policy seeks to have the benefits of Mexico’s economy go to communities that have not seen any direct benefits. It is unclear how wealth distribution could be conducted without causing some major rifts in Mexican society, but he may be able to keep this promise if Mexico’s economy stays healthy and the trickle down sinks into the rest of Mexican society with employment and investments for all Mexicans growing for everyone’s benefit. Often economic policies cannot be attributed to one governmental term, like in Brazil; economic successes spanned two or three different presidential terms, even if Lula was seen as the one who produced the eventual economic boom.

Transparency and narco violence will be a major challenge over the next few years for President Pena Nieto as well as President Obama. With the US wars in the Middle East coming to a close (for the moment), the focus on other parts of the world has become a priority for the Obama Administration. Mexico’s drug violence and government efforts to end control by the cartels is directly linked to demand for narcotics over the border into the US and cartels that run throughout North America. In reality, more violence has come about on the US-Mexico border than the last few years of US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq combined. The next four years will determine the next twenty years of drug policy between the US and Mexico. Formerly, Nieto’s PRI party left the cartels alone and many officials would not challenge their control in the regions where the cartel’s operated. With the election of the PAN and former President Cardenas, the government went to war with the cartels, but also created a war against corruption in Mexico’s government and police as well. With no assured policy solution to drug violence in Mexico, it will be difficult for Pena Nieto to rally the country to fight a war so drugs do not enter the US, especially since it comes from a policy that was started by a different President and a different party. Even former PAN President Vicente Fox has made statements supporting the legalisation of narcotics in Mexico as a tool to depressurise the violence. In the end, the result of Mexico’s uncontrollable drug violence will be one that neither Pena Nieto nor Obama can predict, but should be ready for as any policy outcome may be possible over the next four to six years.

There has also been a cease-fire attempt in Colombia recently with talks in Havana between the Colombian government and the FARC leadership seeking a permanent state of cold peace. The FARC over the last few years have taken many hits, losing top leadership, members, cash and reputation in fighting with Colombia’s government. In the past, a demilitarisation lead to aggressive moves by the FARC, even kidnapping political candidate Ingrid Betancourt in 2002 and creating a permanent mistrust of the FARC by Colombia’s government. The FARC announcement of a two month unilateral cease-fire a few days ago was not reciprocated by the Colombian government, partly due to mistrust, but partly because the government sees itself as not dealing with a partner that has much leverage after years of assaults by the government against the FARC. Balance in diplomacy may be more difficult in the Colombian example because if the government sees itself in a stronger position and able to eliminate the FARC militarily, it would not save face for Colombia’s government to bargain with a side it could feasibly eliminate. While this would not be so simple, it places the FARC in the position to bargain to save face or lose more assets and control in the regions where they are based.

Cease-fires are necessary to build peace between two opposing sides, but for a long term cessation of firing there must be face saving measures where both sides may lose, but must look as if they gained a victory in some form. Humiliating one side may lead to their elimination, but may also backfire as the issue may not disappear and a Treaty of Versailles situation may result where you leave the weaker opponent with no option but to attempt to regain their pride and control in the long run. Right now, former opponent of Israel, Egypt, is the one negotiating peace in a region where they used to have a war every ten years. Even with the new government in Egypt, there could not be a better result of an end to a conflict in and eventual peace agreement between two conflicting sides.

The best analysis I have come across post-election is from Fareed Zakaria from CNN in his Washington Post article “The emerging America.” Mr. Zakaria takes a sensible and balanced approach to how over the next four years and beyond, Americans can improve their lot if they so desire. Democracy in the U.S. is likely as strong as it has been in a generation. Fareed Zakaria makes strong points in his article on how the U.S. can remain to be seen as a land of opportunity as it was seen in the imagination of Indians in the ’70s. Many outside of the United States do not take the negative view of the U.S. often held by many citizens. While waiting several hours to vote would likely render most people part of the same group with negative views, the U.S. still remains a symbol of hope and growth even if none of those who believe it are citizens of the United States.

So what will happen now when moderate Republicans and many Democrats need support from its largest minority in order to remain in office? It seems that issues such as immigration reforms and other issues affecting the Hispanic community may become as status quo as this week’s banter in U.S. media. In reality, Senator McCain and other Republicans who have experience with immigration and border issues might be put at the forefront of policies to court the Hispanic vote for the Republicans and tie into many policy approaches from across the aisle. Democrats and their policies on immigration reform will likely get a lot of attention in 2013 as an opportunity for discussion has been created by the demographic realities of the 2012 election.

An issue such as accepting illegal immigrants is one that should not be accepted without serious debate, but with a discussion that leads to a positive solution. Beyond the lengthy voting issue, policies like the Dream Act should be readily passed in order to approach more complex and serious issues like a path to citizenship. The drug war should also be addressed, and not just over a few grams of pot. There is a serious drug conflict on America’s border that needs a serious solution. The drug conflict is one that is extremely violent and linked to almost every community in America. Many south of the border have discussed legalising hard narcotics in order to save their own generation from a drug conflict approaching the seriousness of a civil war. This issue will become a stark reality very soon, whether the Republicans and Democrats decide to approach it or not. It is hoped that illogical policies like “self-deportation” can disappear so a concrete discussion affecting Latinos, Latin America and Americans can be broached for the benefit of the Americas as a whole. It seems to be elected requires such an approach in 2012 and beyond. The next election may count on it.