The New Left in South America

Abstract

This book review of Nikolas Kozloff's recent book ‘Revolution! South America and the Rise of the New Left’ questions whether the political developments in the region can or should be characterized as a revolution. Kozloff provides a timely and insightful overview over these developments, on the basis of interviews and his long time engagement with the region. But he struggles to confirm his main thesis (Revolution!). The book would have benefited from a deeper analysis of the pragmatic strategies that leftist presidents use to manoeuvre within the opportunity structures of international political and economic arenas.

Keywords:

• South America
• the new left
• Hugo Chávez
• revolution