Venezuela, Alba, and the Limits of Postneoliberal Regionalism in - Latin America and the Caribbea

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the implementation, functioning, and impact of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), cornerstone of Venezuelan foreign policy and standard-bearer of "postneoliberal" regionalism during the "Left Turn" in Latin America and the Caribbean (1998-2016). It reveals that cooperation via ALBA's regionalised social missions, state multinationals, development bank, People's Trade Agreement, SUCRE virtual currency, and Petrocaribe soft-loan scheme has often been hampered by complexity and conflict between the national political economies of Ecuador, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and especially Venezuela. Shared commitments to endogenous development, autonomy within mutlipolarity, and novel sources of legitimacy are undermined by serious deficiencies in control and accountability, which stem largely from the defining influence of Venezuela's dysfunctional economy and governance. This dual dependency on Venezuela leaves the future of ALBA hanging in the balance.

List of contents

1. Approaching Venezuela, ALBA, and Postneoliberalism.- 2. Getting to Grips with ALBA's Brand Governance.- 3. The National Roots of ALBA.- 4. The People's Trade Agreement (TCP).- 5. The Unified Regional Compensation System (SUCRE).- 6. Petrocaribe.- 7. Venezuela, ALBA, and the Limits of Postneoliberal Regionalism.

About the author

Asa K. Cusack (Latin America and Caribbean Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK) received his PhD in Latin American and Caribbean political economy from the University of Sheffield, UK, and has held research positions at University College London and the Institute of Latin American Studies.

Summary

Enriches understanding of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) in South America, discussing its function and impact
Includes case studies that illustrate the difficulties which ALBA projects have faced
Highlights the uncertain future of ALBA

Product details

• Authors: Asa Cusack, Asa K Cusack, Asa K. Cusack
• Publisher: Palgrave UK
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 07.08.2017
• EAN: 9781349950027
• ISBN: 978-1-349-95002-7
• Series: Studies of the Americas; Springer Palgrave Macmillan; Studies of the Americas
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Comparative and international political science; Amerika, B, Politik und Staat, Political Science, Entwicklungsstudien, Regional Development, Social Change, Politics & government, auseinandersetzen, Political Science and International Studies, Economic development, Regionalism, Development Studies, Development and Social Change, Latin America—Politics and government, South & Central America (including Mexico), Latin America, Latin American Politics, Development Theory, American Politics