Opinion Sur
A short time ago, we were celebrating the turn from the 20th to the 21st century; in a blink of an eye, 2011 has come. In these accelerated years, our countries in the southern hemisphere have managed to slightly adjust the course and we are headed towards the consolidation of a critical inflexion point: from being unstable economies, strongly dependent on wealthy countries, we find ourselves building still imperfect democracies in search of higher levels of independence and sustainability. This time, the journey has better prospects than in the past because, in addition to some favorable winds, we have set sail towards more promising referential utopias. The southern agendas aim at reducing inequality and poverty, strengthening our still young democracies, tackling corruption and organized crime, projecting the present growth towards sustainable development. Some of the first signs are encouraging, the direction seems to be right, although the results are not at all guaranteed: a new generation of major challenges needs to be faced, and shortsighted views and internal divisions jeopardize our efficacy.
Inequality and poverty, among other factors, have generated economic and political instability, less social cohesion, an absurd waste of the huge potential residing in our majority sectors. A concentration-prone growth model does not solve, it actually broadly reproduces, these situations. Those who benefit from the prevailing order are divided between those who seek to preserve, at any cost, the present course and way of functioning, and those who, with a wider vision, have realized that the course is unsustainable and may only be extended to the future at the expense of greater instability and insecurity: in this decade poverty and inequality must essentially be reduced. On the other hand, those who have been hurt by the pro-concentration process, support political initiatives aimed to control public resources and, from there, force changes. If the most recalcitrant sectors from either side happened to impose their views, the forecast would be anticipating gale-force winds as well as social and political traumas of uncertain outcome. If, instead, most sectors were able to converge over inclusive solutions capable of closing gaps and reducing to the greatest possible extent the number of destitute and left behind persons, the transformation would be less traumatic, relatively peaceful and, to a certain extent, more or less planned. Aligning so many and dissimilar, needs, interests and emotions is not easy and, yet, it is in that direction that the best efforts should be oriented and concentrated, if the aspiration is to channel the planet’s full power toward the preservation of the environment, the reduction of antagonisms and the pacification of spirits.
Strengthening young democracies would be an uphill struggle if democracies were incapable of meeting the basic needs of their citizens. The reinforcement of democratic institutions goes hand in hand with solving needs and satisfying long-desired aspirations, as these are a part of their very foundations. A political, yet not economic, democracy becomes fragile and easily manipulated, political party and leadership representation enters a shady zone; stability and democratic governance are threatened. In addition, extremely dangerous spaces are opened for the proliferation of corruption and organized crime, which are perverse alternative ways to access power and resources.
A way of economic functioning that generates wealth in a concentrated manner and then seeks, always partially, to patch difficulties through re-distribution-oriented measures, does not seem to be the best manner of coming out of the present problems. Income re-distribution is something that most probably should be maintained, though as a complementary, not substitute, policy for measures designed to generate wealth and income in a deconcentrated manner; this calls for the convergence of macroeconomic policies, mesoeconomic initiatives, and direct support actions that may favor the productive mobilization of our majority sectors and their access to more promising activities. In this issue of Opinión Sur this crucial aspect that contributes to the construction of a path of sustainable development is addressed. We also join the end of the year festivities by elaborating on a bishop’s reflections about how the celebration of Christmas has been distorted.
At the start of 2011, we wish a good year for everyone; hope we can work so that this may actually happen.
Kind greetings,
The Editors
