Well, in the case of Argentina, I think it is quite clear when it stopped
developing: March 24, 1976. That was the date of the military coup that
introduced neoliberalism for good into the country
(it is also not a coincidence that this was the bloodiest coup in the
country's history, as people on this list are well aware). This isn't just
rhetoric either. The absolute lack of government development policies,
coupled with indiscriminate opening of goods and capital markets, has
resulted in de-industrialization and job loss. Of course, the latest
chapter of de-development (which hopefully ended last week) started in
April 1991 with the implementation of the convertibility law.
David Felix's article is very interesting and generally acurate, but I
think he leaves out a key component: Cavallo and de la Rua were overthrown
by a massive, spontaneous popular uprising. I am not sure at this point
what the US and IMF response will be, but I am quite certain that more
such protests are in store if neoliberalism comes back. People on the
street have a pretty good understanding of what "ajuste" (adjustment)
means, and there isn't much patience for those policies any more. IT is
true that the uprising was not organized, and that most of those who
participated do not belong to any political organization. This makes
future uprisings hard to predict, since there is no convoking group or
coalition. However, my sense from talking to people on the street is that
"we have had enough, we will not tolerate more". Another "cacerolazo"
(protest where pots and pans are banged) is entirely possible if the
preception becomes that changes aren't for real.
Alan
At 09:26 PM 12/26/2001 -0800, you wrote:
----- Original Message -----
From: "michael pugliese" <debsian@xxxxxxxxxxx>
It would also increase opposition within
> the IMF
> directorate to U.S. dominance of IMF policy toward the developing
>
> countries,
===========
Just when do countries stop developing? Didn't Arturo Escobar write
something about the uselessness of development discourse?
Ian
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