The spatial dimension of neoliberalism and the pandemic in Latin America
May 2020 finds us going through a humanitarian crisis of a
multidimensional on a global scale. The Covid-19 pandemic—still active—continues to highlight spatial inequalities daily while exacerbating the economic situation that most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing.
The geopolitical scenario shows that some authoritarian governments, with policies that do not consider the observations and recommendations of specialized international organizations and institutions, have further deepened the crisis, making the future scenario in our region complex.
In addition to the above, there is the precarious state of public health systems and the privatization of healthcare, the dependence on imported medical supplies, budget cuts to social services (health, education, and housing), poor working conditions, and economic instability affecting millions of people. At the same time, marginalized communities, rural communities, Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, migrants, people experiencing homelessness or incarceration, and LGBTQ+ communities denounce their vulnerability, criminalization, and repression by the state.
Collective discontent is growing as the health and food emergency worsens, fueled by the inequality and poverty generated by an economic system that plunders territories and lives. The pandemic is intensifying social distancing between different groups and social sectors. The #StayHome slogan is not a measure that can be followed equally by everyone. Those who have been deprived of access to basic necessities for survival highlight the social divide that has plagued us for centuries, and which is deepening under neoliberal policies, where the freedom of some means insecurity, vulnerability, and misery for others.
In this context, the last few weeks have been complex, with the increase in cases in some countries even surpassing the most emblematic cases in Europe. One of these is Chile, whose government under Sebastián Piñera has revealed and deepened a significant social crisis that began on October 18, 20191. (1)The statements made by the health authorities of this country have shown a significant inconsistency with the reality that millions of people experience in different places.
Thus, the Piñera government has appealed during this period to individual freedom and the application of measures that have led to a greater precarization of living and working conditions in society, with a visible social and territorial asymmetry that has
favored places where the population with high economic incomes is located, to the large companies of the country and transnationals, to the detriment of the population that is in a situation of poverty.
These measures have not been successful, and the number of infections has increased. (2)which places it among the countries with the highest number of infections per million inhabitants in the world.
In addition to the above, there are the protests that began in the El Bosque district of Santiago on May 18th and have spread to other districts in the Metropolitan Region and the country (3) The demands of the population are related to hunger and the lack of work resulting from the quarantine decreed in the city, which has affected self-employed workers the most.
street vendors who live off the daily income they can generate in unstable and sporadic jobs.
In Argentina, working-class communities and Indigenous peoples have been the most affected by pre-existing inequalities. The vulnerable conditions in which they live, their lack of access to basic goods and services of good quality, such as drinking water, and their experience of gender-based violence mean that mandatory preventive isolation exacerbates the challenges to their survival. This is despite specific measures and policies.
Despite the measures taken by the national government in conjunction with various provincial and municipal administrations, the economic and social situation highlights a historic level of social distancing. In Mexico, the spread of COVID-19 has been concentrated in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area.
The urban peripheries (4These are the most vulnerable areas and those most affected by the advance of the pandemic, as they are home to more precarious workers. In addition to the above, the staggered return to the “new normal” starting June 1st, decreed by the Mexican health council, contemplates the unrestricted operation of essential activities, which will include the construction, automotive and mining industries.
In the case of the construction industry in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area, this means the return of thousands of workers to their jobs, which will reactivate the commuting patterns between the outskirts and the urban corridors where the real estate speculation is concentrated. Added to this, the situation faced by thousands of migrants and displaced people places the country in a complex scenario reflected in the increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths.
In the case of Peru, the government discourse has used the term "war" as a metaphor for the current situation, to characterize the fight against the virus. This comes after reports from an investigative media outlet. (5) Regarding the true death toll, which is believed to be four times higher, all indications are that the "war" in this country is being lost. While Peru was one of the first countries to adopt measures (6) And that's a positive thing; the government is losing legitimacy due to its negligence in dealing with the pandemic. The economic measures have favored the business class, as exemplified by the approved "perfect suspension" of employment contracts. (7) which has allowed arbitrary dismissals, non-renewals and unpaid leave.
The current announcements aim to lift the quarantine gradually. (8)reducing security protocols to the liking and approval of Confiep (National Confederation of Private Business Institutions) and big business.
The universal bonus or subsidy is not universal; errors in the data of targeted social programs have meant that after almost 70 days of mandatory quarantine, many Peruvians have not received it. The Peruvian government knows that almost 73% of the economically active population (EAP) works in the informal or precarious sector, forcing many to expose themselves to the virus to provide for their families. Precarious work is being criminalized.
A people left without healthcare, education, and housing—the very things the neoliberal economic model imposed in its 1993 constitution, a model dictated by the Washington Consensus and national and transnational power brokers through Fujimori. In Colombia, the initial measures to confront the pandemic through preventative isolation revealed the rift between Iván Duque's neoliberal government and the Green Party mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López. This was because, in the capital, as in other cities and departments, the decision was made to implement social distancing measures (March 20 for Bogotá) before the national government took any action. The nationwide quarantine was implemented on March 24, which has exposed profound territorial inequalities in infrastructure, healthcare services, the number of professionals per region, and the lack of job security for healthcare workers. Furthermore, the privatization of the healthcare system over two decades ago has revealed corruption and illegal financing.
The most serious and complex events have occurred as a result of the curfews, which have been combined with social isolation measures and mandatory quarantine in some departments and municipalities of Colombia, where there have been several cases of aggression by the security forces against the civilian population, including homeless people, elderly informal vendors, and cases of sexual violence against women. Furthermore,
On the other hand, the context of armed conflict has increased the murders of women and social leaders; 100 cases were registered according to Indepaz in 2020. Similarly, forced displacements have been reported in Antioquia and Chocó during April and May respectively.
In Ecuador, unjust territorial health and food distribution, along with economic measures that disproportionately affect the working class and the masses, are now a matter of public policy spearheaded by President Lenin Moreno. Through a presidential decree, he has diversified the functions of secretaries and elevated them to ministerial ranks—essentially creating a government within the executive branch. Furthermore, the hundreds of
Deaths in the streets, mass contagion, and theft from public funds were exacerbated by the rampant inflation in the prices of face masks and body bags, which persisted for over 60 days. Meanwhile, the executive branch continues to wait for the legislative branch to approve measures to combat the pandemic. The truth is that some local and provincial governments, along with Indigenous organizations, are taking action.
Andean and Amazonian communities, accompanied by NGOs fighting for the Rights of Nature and Human Rights, have faced the real pandemic in the country with agroecology and shared mobility, using their limited resources and a constant policy of bartering.
The COVID-19 health emergency exacerbated the economic crisis that had been brewing for years and further weakened the already fragile political legitimacy of Lenín Moreno's government. The virus's spread primarily affected the city of Guayaquil. The overflowing corpses in the streets laid bare the exclusion and inequality inherent in the capitalist city model, the dismantling of the healthcare system, and the incompetence of central and local government authorities in addressing the demands for healthcare. The Ecuadorian government's response to the crisis was to declare a state of emergency and implement a gradual curfew—in other words, control and security measures as a reaction to a health emergency.
In the case of Venezuela, it was one of the countries that took early measures to prevent the spread of the virus among the population and avoid the pandemic, through Decree No. 4.160 of March 13, 2020, which declared a state of emergency for the entire country. (9)These measures kept the population safe and the level of contagion to a minimum. Between March and mid-May, the rate remained low compared to other Latin American countries. However, the internal situation in the country forced communities to take to the streets. (10)due to the lack of drinking water (11)to the collapse of the electrical power system (12)due to the gasoline shortage (13) and gas, food shortages (14)and the failures in the health system (15).
Additionally, the return rate of Venezuelans from abroad has increased infections in the country. (16)This fact shows that the country is still not prepared for the wave of infections that could drastically increase the number of COVID-19 cases in Venezuela. (17) Implemented by the Venezuelan government, the Orinoco Mining Arc megaproject has exposed rural, peasant, and indigenous populations south of the Orinoco River to the disease, creating spaces for the transmission of the disease, as mining activity has not stopped.
The distance between rural areas and urban centers has posed a significant problem for the purchase of basic supplies, which, combined with the critical health situation and the mobility and movement of miners, constitutes a danger for the spread of the disease. (18).
It is worth noting that Venezuela has been subject to US trade sanctions for years, which have drastically affected its ability to resolve the crisis. The UN has spoken out against the trade sanctions, demanding that the US government lift them and that the Venezuelan government detail its plans to address the crisis in the country. (19).
Finally, in Brazil we are witnessing the surprising and unfortunate encounter of COVID-19 with Jair Messias Bolsonaro in power. Since the first case was identified in January 2020, the president has fluctuated between denial and following protocol. Alongside this, daily events are increasing political instability with significant internal and external repercussions for the country. Thus, on the 20th
In March, the state of public calamity was declared much more under pressure from governors and the health minister than by the president's own volition. Under the guise of preventing a severe economic crisis and social upheaval, he acted by denying the virus's lethality and the need for social distancing. As a result, two health ministers and a justice minister who did not support the controversial measures were dismissed, particularly regarding issues of corruption and preventative care that threatened the health and lives of Brazilians. The recent release of a recording of a private meeting between his ministers revealed an interest in political interference in the federal police, which is investigating the use of "fake news" in the presidential elections. It also revealed a speech by the Minister of the Environment that favored the criminal expansion of the timber industry and agribusiness in the Amazon.
This makes us realize that, amidst the quarantine decreed by state governors, the destruction of natural resources in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado is advancing systematically and destructively, followed by the targeted assassinations of Indigenous, Quilombola, and peasant leaders, especially women and young people. Yes, on the one hand, the historical hatred of the class that constitutes society prevails; on the other hand, we have responses in the form of affirmative and autonomous actions spread throughout the country, such as: 1) the Small Farmers Movement (MPA), which has organized the distribution and marketing of food from family farms in medium-sized cities; 2) the Central Única das Favelas (CUFA), which has been using information technologies to raise awareness of the need for protection and care in relation to the new coronavirus in the low-income communities of large metropolitan areas like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Recife, and Salvador. As a result of this predicted tragedy, we have 375,000 infected and 24,000 dead, and South America and Brazil become the epicenter of COVID-19 in the world.
This is why the Latin American Working Group on Critical Geographical Thought issues this statement to denounce the lack of empathy and awareness shown by various governments in addressing the most serious problems this crisis is revealing: cases of abuse of power by law enforcement, the absence of prevention protocols, the lack of protection for healthcare workers, the lack of support for vulnerable populations, among many other measures that exacerbate territorial inequalities and spatial injustices that our region has experienced for centuries. This is compounded by budget cuts in public education and science and technology.
In summary, we believe it is necessary and urgent to address the following problems that affect Latin American countries across the board:
- Violation of the human right to food, especially for the most vulnerable populations. People living in densely populated urban areas face greater difficulties accessing food. In rural areas, the overexploitation of resources and the monopolization of land by large corporations also hinder access to healthy food.
This would allow us to cope with the lockdown. Considering solidarity and cooperative economies, as well as small farmers, would help address the economic crisis and foster new marketing channels and alternative economic models. - The decline in the living conditions of those who rely on daily income for their survival. In this regard, it is essential to ensure the coverage of government policies for workers affected by unemployment.
- Guarantee of decent employment with income levels that allow people to cope with quarantines in Latin American countries. Government policies have worsened working conditions in the region, and there has also been an increase in layoffs and violations of labor laws. There is also a significant burden on workers who are complying with
Long working hours and the lack of consideration for leisure and rest periods can negatively impact people's mental and physical health. Therefore, it is important to give greater consideration to the measures being implemented by governments that may affect international labor treaties. - The restriction of access to public spaces and recreational areas is having significant consequences for social relationships and community practices. Proper management and territorial planning of the pandemic could, where possible, allow for community-based confinement, enabling residents to access basic services within their neighborhoods, towns, and communities, thus reducing travel for essential supplies. This would also facilitate greater economic activity in these areas.
- The lack of access to education that considers the multiculturalism of the Latin American population means that teaching and learning processes are not ensuring the transfer of territorial and ancestral knowledge developed through practice and in relation to nature. It is important to consider the worldview of Indigenous and tribal peoples, as well as their practices.
ceremonial practices, which are necessary, must be ensured by States and governments so that they are carried out safely, without affecting the spirituality and traditions of the indigenous, tribal and Afro-descendant population of the region. - Discouragement and imminent deterioration of the peasant economy due to regulations authorized in the midst of the emergency for the importation of food.
- Genocide of our Amazonian indigenous peoples and peasant communities, who are in imminent danger due to the historical neglect and limited capacity of the region's health systems. Caused by the historical oblivion surrounding these peoples.
- Attention must be paid to the cases of domestic violence experienced by millions of women, children, and the elderly, exacerbated by the confinement and overcrowding prevalent in millions of countries across the region. A greater capacity for response and improved reporting channels are needed to address the increase in cases.
- Control the militarization and violence of the police forces towards the population that demonstrates in the different territories, considering the multi-regional crisis that is being experienced in Latin America.
- Pay attention to the freezing of our countries' external debt, because with the cessation of economic activities, the living conditions for the poorest people in Latin American countries have been declining.
Thus, as the Latin American Critical Geographical Thought Working Group, we denounce the genocidal measures adopted by various governments in the region that are leading millions of people to death or to live in undignified conditions. The lack of attention to
The collapse of basic services, the health system, and food security has revealed structural flaws in a system that has reached the point of collapse. Analyses, both internal and external, of the effects on the living conditions of Caribbean, Andean, Amazonian, and southern populations are similar, pointing to severe impacts on their territories that could substantially affect the survival of traditional and ancestral cultures.
We urge transparency regarding the figures and processes being implemented by governments and demand that the necessary measures be taken to control the health crisis affecting our countries, taking into account international treaties and respect for Universal Human Rights.
May 31th 2020
CLACSO Working Group
Latin American critical geographical thought
This statement expresses the position of the Latin American Critical Geographical Thought Working Group and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.
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