State, Market and Civil Society in the Recent History of Latin America: Failure of the Attempt to Modernize the Region

Abstract

This paper argues that the different modernization projects that have been implemented in the history of Latin America from Colonial times to the present day have failed miserably, mostly because the State-market-civil society relations have been of conflict rather than cooperation. As is known, such projects have sought to achieve the essential objective of Latin American societies reaching levels of development (political, social, economic, human, historical and cultural) similar to those of countries from central capitalism; however, social inequalities, political asymmetries, the huge economic gaps, the high rates of exclusion and the outrageous injustice levels persist, all of which are aspects that have increased in recent decades due to the capitalist restructuring manifested in the advent of neoliberal policies and programs implemented at all costs. In order to develop this matter, this paper is divided into three parts, all referring to the recent history of Latin America: first, the matter of the State is addressed, emphasizing its theoretical and political problems; then, the matter of the market as an expression of the re-founding of the capitalist regime is addressed; finally, the issue of civil society in democratic perspective is developed.