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Latin American Neostructuralism

The Contradictions of Post-Neoliberal Development

2008
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Author:

Fernando Ignacio Leiva

Latin American Neostructuralism

Interrogates this ascending political and economic paradigm

This landmark work is the first sustained critique of Latin American neostructuralism, the prevailing narrative that has sought to replace “market fundamentalism” and humanize the “savage capitalism” imposed by neoliberal dogmatism. Fernando Leiva analyzes neostructuralism and questions its credibility as the answer to the region’s economic, political, and social woes.

This work seeks to rekindle the Latin American tradition of radical political economy and helps us imagine a Latin America that finally leaves behind its elites’ obsession with modernity. Fernando Leiva’s analysis is precise, concrete, and daring.

—

Arturo Escobar, University of North Carolina

This landmark work is the first sustained critique of Latin American neostructuralism, the prevailing narrative that has sought to replace “market fundamentalism” and humanize the “savage capitalism” imposed by neoliberal dogmatism. Fernando Leiva analyzes neostructuralism and questions its credibility as the answer to the region’s economic, political, and social woes.

Recent electoral victories by progressive governments in Latin America promising economic growth, social equity, and political democracy raise a number of urgent questions, including: What are the key strengths and weaknesses of the emerging paradigm? What kinds of transformations can this movement enact? Leiva addresses these issues and argues that the power relations embedded in local institutions, culture, and populations must be recognized when building alternatives to the present order.

Considering the governments in countries such as Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, Leiva examines neostructuralism’s impact on global politics and challenges whether this paradigm constitutes a genuine alternative to neoliberalism or is, rather, a more sophisticated form of consolidating existing systems.

Latin American Neostructuralism

Fernando Ignacio Leiva is director of globalization studies and assistant professor of Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino studies at the University at Albany (SUNY).

Latin American Neostructuralism

This work seeks to rekindle the Latin American tradition of radical political economy and helps us imagine a Latin America that finally leaves behind its elites’ obsession with modernity. Fernando Leiva’s analysis is precise, concrete, and daring.

—

Arturo Escobar, University of North Carolina

Latin American Neostructuralism is an original and important work on contemporary political economy theory in Latin America and a major contribution to knowledge in English of these important conceptual innovations and debates.

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Peadar Kirby, University of Limerick

There are few books in the English language that have undertaken an analysis of neostructuralism with the passion and seriousness that is found in Leiva’s contribution. Given its singularity, Latin American Neostructuralism will remain a very important source of analysis on development and economic strategies in the Latin American region.

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Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies