Make Latin American Leftists Great Again

Rafael Correa says he thinks a Donald Trump victory would give a boost to Latin American leftists seeking office.

In an interview with the Ecuadorian Broadcasting Association, the left-wing Correa said a Trump government would be beneficial for Latin America as his divisive politics would prompt a leftist reaction in the region, similar to the backlash to right-wing excess that boosted progressive social movements in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela. 

Correa said a Trump presidency would be like the tenure of former U.S. President George W. Bush, who with his "primitive" politics alienated much of the world. 

"I think it would be very bad for the U.S.," Correa said of a possible President Trump. "However, since Latin America is quite independent from the U.S., I think we may even see an increase in the progressive trend here. That would be a major positive of a Trump victory."

In an interview with the Ecuadorian Broadcasting Association, the left-wing Correa said a Trump government would be beneficial for Latin America as his divisive politics would prompt a leftist reaction in the region, similar to the backlash to right-wing excess that boosted progressive social movements in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela.

Correa said a Trump presidency would be like the tenure of former U.S. President George W. Bush, who with his "primitive" politics alienated much of the world.

"I think it would be very bad for the U.S.," Correa said of a possible President Trump. "However, since Latin America is quite independent from the U.S., I think we may even see an increase in the progressive trend here. That would be a major positive of a Trump victory."

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Interesting point, but oddly enough for a leftist president it doesn't take Latin American agency enough into account. In the 2000s, Latin Americans reacted against what they saw as the incompetence of conservative governments. They voted because of that, not because of George W. Bush. Currently, Latin American are reacting against leftist governments in a similar way, and that won't change because of who sits in the White House.

Bush didn't change voters, but he did unite Latin America against him, with Hugo Chávez leading the way. So even close U.S. allies like Colombia embraced UNASUR. I would argue that a Trump victory would give a major boost to those regional organizations that exclude the United States. Even someone like Mauricio Macri, who actually knows Trump, would find it politically advantageous to embrace Latin American solidarity in the face of insults.