The rise and fall of the Pink Tide

Starting in 1998, a number of presidential elections in Latin America gave rise to left and center-left governments. This was a striking occurrence for several reasons: throughout the region’s history, revolutionary governments had mostly come to power through armed struggle; and this wave of electoral victories by progressive political figures came after at least a decade during which the right had claimed an “end of ideology” (i.e. of the legitimacy of a leftist alternative). These electoral results were largely a reaction against the social impact of the policies of the conservative governments of the 1980s and 1990s. There have been quite substantial differences in the nature of the distinct “Pink Tide” ¹ governments. They have ranged from governments with more radical agendas and political styles – including Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador, to those that are more moderate in their programs and discourse – including Brazil (under Lula), Argentina (under the Kirchners), Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Uruguay. The depth of these differences will be discussed below.