As promised, I'm posting a few articles during Spring Break to provide an opportunity to comment for those of you looking to improve your participation on the blog. Plus, the news isn't any less interesting during Spring Break!
I've gathered a diverse mix of stories. Each of them are similar to issues and/or cases we have already engaged on the blog. As this is an extra and 'unplanned' blog post I am not including discussion questions. Instead, I'll let commenters decide where they want to take things. The only expectations are that comments are clearly informed by at least one of the articles and make a clear point. Additionally, as always, all dialogue is expected to be polished and respectful. I would encourage you to tie the issues from these articles into the debates and concepts from previous classes and blog posts.
Enjoy!
Petrobras, Once Symbol of Brazil’s Oil Hopes, Strives to Regain Lost Swagger
Mexico vigilantes detain police
Mexico's new president: Sacred cows no more
Painful search for Argentina's disappeared
The article concerning Mexican vigilantes detaining police thought to be involved in criminal activities gave me a sense of hope. The fact that large groups of citizens are joining together to combat corruption as well as gang fueled violence and drug trafficking is great. It was nice to see that people are rejecting the status quo of rampant corruption and making their voices heard. I'm interested to see if this type of community police force can evoke any change or widespread movement throughout Mexico.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say hope is what I feel in this regard- I feel more like an old lady waging my finger at the children and telling them to use their words.
DeleteUsing violence and failing to grant the same rights for which you are fighting to your opponents is counter-productive to the cause and to the groups credibility. Like with eco-terrorism, destroying one to protect another is debasing for your cause.
"Using their words" is simply not enough. Using violence certainly isn't ideal, but in many instances it is the only option that will warrant a response, especially if the authorities who they would need to appeal to to change the situation are helping to create it. Also these people are using violence not for political reasons, but as a way of fighting back against violence.
DeleteGiven this, their abuse of power and hypocrisy is much more understandable than in the case of eco-terrorism, which is oftentimes entirely indefensible and typically involves people fighting to achieve goals that are far less important and have far less of an impact on their lives than the violence and corruption of authorities and cartels, so I don't think it's a fair comparision.
I really don't know the extent of the vigilante human rights violations, as the articles I've read about it aren't very specific about these abuses, so I can't comment much on this.
I also found another article on the situation:
http://news.yahoo.com/mexican-vigilantes-seize-town-arrest-police-033530439.html
Which says that:
"Placido said vigilantes had searched a number of homes in the town
and seized drugs from some. They turned over the ex-security director
and police officers to state prosecutors, who agreed to investigate their
alleged ties to organized crime."
So it looks like the actual investigation/enforcement/etc. will be carried out by the state.
I wonder whether such an investigation will actually be carried out. I hope so, but I'm doubtful given the levels of corruption in the police force and the fact that, even in the US, police are rarely held accountable for breaking the law.
I disagree that these vigilantes give a sense of hope. They do show that many citizens are fed up with the system and are moving in the 'right' direction but I believe that these movements will lead to more violence before change within the country. If anything these vigilantes make me fear for the city because as more people move to the streets the violence will only increase.
DeleteI agree that this will lead to increased violence, but it is hard to see any other alternatives in a nation that is so corrupt. Violence and crime within the drug cartels have been an issue for a long time and the Government hasn't done much to stop it. If the people cannot rely on the Government to keep them safe, they will then have to take matters into their own hands, even if it means they are breaking the law. Also, the increased violence with the vigilantes may create more incentive for the government to step in and take charge.
DeleteAlthough violence seems like the most natural, perhaps brutal, but most effective form of limiting cartel power, I feel that such vigilante groups are a double edged sword. It is true that since the government has stepped up it's offensive on drug cartels they have created large oligarch like cartels that often rival government in power. It's also depressing that this has lead to the disappearance or death of some seventy thousand people. I can also completely understand how many people feel so frustrated they feel the urge to act in this manner. But I worry in a country, as several of the other articles indicate, have a media controlled by the few. Which I think could lead to the easy manipulation of a great deal of people. As history reveals vigilante groups such as Los Pepes run by the Castano brothers in Colombia an opposition group to Pablo Escobar and FARC, were in turn just as bad. They claimed to be fighting the injustices done by Escobar and FARC, but used the same inhumane tactics and were funded by the Cali Cartel, Escobar's main rival.
DeleteThat being said these groups may initially seem like a viable option. But in reality like all things given power, power from violence in this case, can eventually be corrupted. I feel that they take legitimate power away from the government and will lead to future problems of regional fracturing from the federal government. This disunity in turn will only allow for other local cartels to take power through a facade of so called justice.
Increased violence is inevitable. The formation of this vigilante group is evidence that Mexico's war on drugs is not working. 70000 people have died over the past six years. Mexico's response? Put more money into drug enforcement. This perpetuates the violence creating competition within cartels for for the displaced upper officials positions. The vigilante group success will be seen in the governments response to the inevitable bloodshed between vigilantes, cartels, and law enforcement. Hopefully it causes them to reevaluate their position.
DeleteI don't think the people of Guerrero have to accept a dysfunctional police force and a disgustingly high rate of violence. The situation isn't ideal, but people shouldn't have to wait around for a feckless government to respond
DeleteRegardless of whether or not this gives people a sense of hope, the fact that the actions of the community led to an investigation is definitely a positive. For the community to come together and show that they are fed up, and that they won't allow complacency is great. If not for their actions, it seems likely that the potential problem would have gone completely unaddressed.
DeleteArticles, such as the one on the BBC, call attention to the different data concerning the number of disappeared Argentinians during the Dirty War, which is anywhere from 20,000 (a figure advanced by the government) to 30,000 (a number most Argentinian human rights groups present). Despite statistical minutia, anyone can say that those numbers are large. And to have only found fewer than 600 bodies in the last 30 years is disheartening for all the victims of the war. There are groups like the Madres de Plaza de Mayo who are still fighting to learn the whereabouts of their children and lost ones.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me wonder how the government sees these victims of the Dirty War and if it has any plans to address them and the disappearances. It also makes me wonder how the aftermath of the Dirty War affects Argentinians' opinion of their government today. Something like this is not easy to talk about, especially when you're in the wrong.
Even if the government has no idea where the disappeared are, would it be easier for them to admit that then to keep this scar open? I think that these people need some closure that only the government could initiate. Without closure the victims and their families will be left living in the past instead of looking to move forward.
The BBC article regarding the disappearances in Argentina during the "Dirty War" brought up many similar questions for me as well. Though it is impossible for the current government to know the location of all 20-30,000 missing bodies, they must have more knowledge than they are giving to the public. By hiding it and essentially ignoring the destruction that was caused from 1976-83 they are holding their citizens in a state of limbo. Until more information is made public about the mysterious disappearances of the "Dirty War" I would not think that there would be any way for the citizens living in the Parana Delta, those family members of victims in particular, to have any faith or trust in their government. Fabian Magnotta's book to me seems like a great first step in bringing to light information regarding the horrors that took place. By taking that first step to expose the truth, he encouraged more and more people to come out and tell their stories who otherwise were too afraid. It is important for these people find the strength to speak out and put any information and knowledge they have out into the public for the sake of distraught families as well as exposing the true crimes committed by the military government in order for the citizens of Argentina to truly be able to move forward.
ReplyDeleteBrazil and Petrobras
ReplyDeleteIt scares me to read this article and think about the future of Brazil’s symbol oil company, but also what it means for the country and economy of Brazil. As stated in the article as fuel prices rise that will case inflation to increase, with the increase in fuel prices people will not be able to spend money in other places of the economy, which in turn could further slow the economy. I feel that the Brazilian government has been to involved in Petrobras and their decision making. I feel if Petrobras is going to return from this slump they need to take a step back and let the company do what they need in these hard times to keep their head above water. It also scares me to think that Brazil who taught many other nations about the power behind Ethanol is now importing from the US. I don’t understand why they are not producing more of it within their country and I feel that Brazil’s dependence on other nations for fuel could lead to a further slow down within their boarders. I also hope this down turn and increase in fuel prices that Brazil could possibly face does not run parallel to what could happen in the US if gas prices continue to climb over time.
I agree with the comment above in regards to government involvement with Petrobras - to successfully exist and thrive in a global market economy the Brazilian government must get their hands out of this sector to an extent. The article states that "Petrobras remains...much less constrained by political ideology than some other large national oil companies." However the only two comparisons are made are extreme ones: Mexico and Venezuela, where oil is nationalized. Of course, compared to these two countries the Brazilian government seems much more hands off.
DeleteIn my opinion, Petrobras' failure to meet the high expectations of domestic and international actors is only another argument in support of the idea that Brazil is perpetually on the verge of becoming an international power. It seems we constantly look to Latin American countries (especially Brazil with it's sheer geographical size and population) to be a rising power. However it is the continuity of situations like this, as with Petrobras, that inhibits a country's potential to fully make it in the international scene.
The BBC article on disappeared citizens in Argentina is a bit horrifying. Dead bodies being thrown from a plane? That is disgusting. It seems to be an issue that military governments have, finding a place for all the dead bodies. There are so much disappearances and killings when a military junta has been in power in the past. Pinochet held many killings in Chile just as this junta did in Argentina. These juntas have been a significant part of Latin American political history and the violence these juntas carried out is one of a kind. I think when stories like this are published it motivates the people of Latin America to never have a government be run by the military or any other oppressive force that seeks out the opposition to murder them. What a sad and horrifying reality these people have to live with. I couldn't imagine knowing a relative of mine was taken by a force that was in power of the nation and never seen again.
ReplyDeleteAs Matthew Phillips said the article regarding vigilantes in Mexico, it's hard not to feel a sense of hope for the people and future of Mexico. It is a bit concerning that there is essentially a militia that had the ability to overtake the police in their town. It is concerning because as we talked about in class today, anything that prevents political participation or undermines the political structure isn't a great thing for democratic institutions. If the motive for the militia really was to try and mitigate drug violence and police corruption then at least the internal goals are positive directed.
ReplyDeleteThe other article regarding Mexico and the reforms of Enrique Pena Nieto also helps contribute to a optimistic forecast for Mexico's future. Not only are we seeing a shift in the public's attitude toward corrupt police, but with these new reforms we should see a more efficient and prosperous society. The article pointed out the detrimental effect that the monopolistic industries in Mexico are having on competition and growth, and in order for Mexico to move beyond these issues it must take these reforms in stride and make the most of them by enforcing them and continuing to explore more possible changes.
Regarding the Economist article about Pena and the recent reforms done by the PRI party, it seems easy to applaud Pena and hi supporters on their antitrust reforms. While these do seem to be in the best interest of Mexico, I question the motive of the PRI party. The article says that the PRI, given its size, contributed to pressure that did not allow President Calderon to pass similar antitrust reforms under a different political party. So it seems that while the PRI's reforms will potentially benefit Mexico, they will only be passed because they are in the best interest of the PRI party.
ReplyDeleteMexico and its structure
ReplyDeleteMexico is a country with great beauty, natural resources, and a strategic location for economic and political reasons. Through the years, it has been through many adversities and struggles that have slowed or stopped it from improving and achieving its true potential. Now with the new president, Enrique Peña Nieto, it seems that Mexico is starting to take steps towards improvement and economic development. Peña Nieto has shown glimpses of increasing industries’ competitiveness and the elimination of monopolies. These ideas sound good on the surface and seem to be what is needed for improvement but in reality this is more of a superficial fix rather than a deep change from the roots. Economic reforms can definitely help but no country can move forward and improve the well-being of its citizens when a big part of it is controlled by illegal business, corruption or just pure violence. This is a key consideration investors and/or foreign companies avoid due to pure fear of being inflicted.
Therefore, I believe that in order for Mexico to truly start improving, there has to be an all out attack and neutralization of the illegal drug business, which has more firepower than the current Mexican military itself, leading to the conclusion that Mexico needs to ask/guarantee foreign help in order to be able to eliminate this problem. A country where over 70,000 people have been killed over the past 6 years is a country that will not be able to become a truly advance, first world, modern country.
I think what Peña Nieto is doing is extremely positive for Mexico, regardless if its simply a political move. Decentralizing these big industries (telecommunications, oil, electricity, etc) will allow the opportunity for job creating though private investment. I think this would all allow for more transparent business and corruption would be decreased. The idea of nationalized resources is that the population would benefit economically from it, when in reality only few through corruption are stealing this money. I was opposed to Peña Nieto as he did not simply seem as smart due to his mishaps during his campaign (the book question, his wife being a novela actress, daughters calling the people "prole", etc). I'm not ready to label him as a great president, but these recent moves are something that Mexico really needed.
ReplyDeleteBrazil's energy problem, which has its roots in the significant drop in Brazil's growth rate over the last year, has many people thinking that BRIC is ready for a respelling. The possible restructuring of Petrobras could end an era of social spending in Brazil that has been particularly strong under President Rousseff's administration. There was also an interesting comparison between the Venezuelans petro-socialist regime and the that which the Brazilian government has been trying to domestically. There is of course one problem! Brazil's oil reserves don't compare to the ones currently being exploited in Venezuela. I don't think that Brazil can depend on oil revenues to support the current administrations social spending. With the World Cup, X-Games and Olympics all in the next 5 years, Brazil will have to solve many of these issues in the short run. In the long run, alternative solutions to issues facing Brazil's growing society will need to be addressed.
ReplyDelete