Comments on: “U.S. Reaps What It Sows in Bolivia” http://www.coha.org/us-reaps-what-it-sows-in-bolivia-op-ed-publication/ COHA is an NGO specialized in monitoring Latin American and Canadian Relations for more than 30 years... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:22:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: rlambie http://www.coha.org/us-reaps-what-it-sows-in-bolivia-op-ed-publication/comment-page-1/#comment-27094 rlambie Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:58:31 +0000 http://www.coha.org/?p=1586#comment-27094 While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed in this article, I want to challenge the statements in your introductory paragraph "the recent diplomatic crisis among the U.S., Bolivia and Venezuela, directly springs from the Bush administration’s Iraq-driven neglect of the region." This statement is an admission of US hegemony in this region. It assumes that without US involvement, Bolivia was bound to go down this road. Sovereignty means that a state will take its own course toward development, based on ITS needs, not through the interference of foreign powers in its development. I think persons in the developed world continue to make the mistake that without their influence developing nations cannot survive. This is a false assertion that continues to underlie all that is considered in the context of development. Let us release this paradigm, and begin to act out this new shift, both in writing, and in policy. While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed in this article, I want to challenge the statements in your introductory paragraph “the recent diplomatic crisis among the U.S., Bolivia and Venezuela, directly springs from the Bush administration’s Iraq-driven neglect of the region.” This statement is an admission of US hegemony in this region. It assumes that without US involvement, Bolivia was bound to go down this road.

Sovereignty means that a state will take its own course toward development, based on ITS needs, not through the interference of foreign powers in its development. I think persons in the developed world continue to make the mistake that without their influence developing nations cannot survive. This is a false assertion that continues to underlie all that is considered in the context of development.

Let us release this paradigm, and begin to act out this new shift, both in writing, and in policy.

]]> By: landolphe http://www.coha.org/us-reaps-what-it-sows-in-bolivia-op-ed-publication/comment-page-1/#comment-27090 landolphe Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:52:57 +0000 http://www.coha.org/?p=1586#comment-27090 Historically, only when the US perceives it has interests at stake in Latin America, are diplomatic courtesies observed. At all other times, Latin American domestic politics are largely ignored. Because in 2008 Bolivia is viewed as being of little importance to the US, Pres Morales is "easily" ignored. Of course, the US should re-engage with Bolivia and the region in general, but I find little cause for optimism. Historically, only when the US perceives it has interests at stake in Latin America, are diplomatic courtesies observed. At all other times, Latin American domestic politics are largely ignored. Because in 2008 Bolivia is viewed as being of little importance to the US, Pres Morales is “easily” ignored. Of course, the US should re-engage with Bolivia and the region in general, but I find little cause for optimism.

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