Second Time Around

Thus far the students have regaled the readers of this blog with their impressions of their first visit to Peru as a part of this year’s Latin American Study Abroad program. Mine is a little different-–I was here last year, and this year I bring the comparative analysis of the differences and similarities between visits to the foreground. It has also been quite notable just how much my own reality at home has changed in such a short period of time as well. These two factors serve as my point of departure.

First, the sensory overload of the trip is not as dominant as the last time around. I remember being clearly angered by the lack of North American functionality to this urban center-–oh, how provincial of me-–but the clogged streets and traffic congestion, the pollution choked air and the seeming endless squalor lying next to environmental refuge, archeological sites and very tony neighborhoods are all still there. This may be a bad thing, that one quickly gets used to this and begins to look for other signs of progress and disorder under their nose-–and it appears that this has happened to me. Second, this group of students is far better prepared-–in terms of history and context, analytical acumen and intellectual curiosity, the group as a whole is much better suited to grind through the busy and sometimes astounding revelations of their time “in country.”

Third, I had a bit of a friendly go around with Dr. Celle last evening regarding my contention that "in the wake of the economic crisis in the U.S., elements of the problems that had plagued Latin America were now becoming evident in the North American experience." Serial boom and bust economic cycles devastating specific market sectors, growing pockets of fabulous wealth a mere stone's throw from deepening and terminal poverty, the impact of economic displacement and human in-migration overwhelming the ability communities of all sizes to deal with its impact, crumbling national infrastructure, the outright effort of a nation’s leadership to subvert the rule of law and the constitutional basis of governance to advance the flimsy foreign policy objectives aimed at taking the attention away from real problems, glaring deficiencies and demagoguery, all while conjuring an external or internal bogey man in its place. It has all felt very “banana republic.”

Dr Celle and I agreed that many of the elements are indeed present and growing, but she argued in return that by terming the process of a “growing Latin American-ization” of the U.S. economy that I perhaps would allow others to conflate the changes with the mere presence and cultural influence of Latin American migration to the north. You know, the increased number of taco trucks, Salvadoran dishwashers, Spanish language radio stations equates with Latin America. That is not the rationale or logic behind the categorization. Rather, I look to the manner in which neoliberal economic modalities may have run their course in the global economy-–simultaneous expanding markets and eliciting “creative destruction” on economies of all types because of the forces that have been unleashed upon the world because of trade liberalization, privatization and massive de-regulation. She suggested that a third world-ization might be better.

Here is an illustration: you take a two year old to the beach and are marveling at its ability to scamper at the shore. All are pleased by its new found confidence at the edge of such a powerful force. No one would think of placing that same child in the breakers. That will come with time, growth, knowledge and experience. Because even if they are small breakers for an adult, there is no way that the two year old would be able to keep its balance and could very likely be badly hurt or drown. Yet, this is what we have been extolling--no demanding--of developing economies for the past generation, and we wonder why they can’t get their act together. If you add the self inflicted sins of greed, avarice, corruption and a lack of political will it is all too easy to see why they are destined to not do so well.

Interestingly, the very same forces that are whipping these economies are nipping at the heels of the American lifestyle. The image of Marx’s “running dogs of capitalism” clearing a path for the carriages of the “captains of industry” through the streets of squalor in 19th century London is so apropos. But there is one distinct departure from that picture, the dogs have gotten loose. What we didn’t know was that they didn’t have names, and we have no way to call them back. To compound the problem, we laid off the dog catchers too.

So as this year’s iteration of the program winds down, the experience is one that has been practically and intellectually challenging for the faculty, staff and students alike. Each has been confronted with a problem set that is in flux and demands the ability to think on one’s feet to be able to make sense of the complexities that a mega-city such as Lima presents. There is much to like about this place--its people, the food, the immigrant history, the beauty. I haven’t liked the hotel’s coffee as much so I am going to get a café Americano at Starbuck’s, the Italian café does not open until 7. It’s only 6:00AM!

Dr. Benjamin Alvarado: BA International Relations, MA International Policy Studies, Ph. D. Political Science