Trajectory and Key Factors of the Transformation Process in Latin America

Abstract

The aim of the work was to trace the trajectory and to identify key factors of social transformations in Latin America. Among the main tasks included analysis of major political and socio­economic processes underway in the region in the 20th­21st centuries. In the article the historical growth model, showing the conditions under which they become the obstacle on the way of development and modernization. The structure of the thesis reflects the tasks: the evolution of the role of the State in the politics and economy of the countries of the region reflects the stages of neoliberal reforms, listed three causes of populist waves are particularly modern period. The study authors found that transformational process in Latin America is extremely fragile. Statecentered (populist) and market (neoliberal) modernization models succeeded each other in the logic of the “negation of the negation”, with fierce regularity course on building an open economy was substituted by dirigisme policies and vice versa. Because of this, reform cycles are short­lived, being replaced by other conversion politico­ideological content. Currently, the trajectory of public transformations came to new milestone: the region has accumulated considerable potential for change, but it is controversial, it reflects different motion vectors. Adequate assessment of the historical experience of modernization is essential in the current difficult circumstances. The third decade of the 21st century can be a turning point in the economic and social development of Latin America. In case of implementation of the optimistic scenario, in these years will be drawn the contours of the future place of the region in world economic and political system; will rise its role in global affairs.

Keywords

• latin america
• development trajectory
• models of modernization
• “lost decade”
• globalization
• neoliberal reforms
• crisis
• populism
• a new growth strategy