Week 12- Our Brand is Crisis

The film Our Brand is Crisis follows members of the political consulting company GCS who travel to Bolivia. They have been hired by the presidential candidate Gonzalo “Goni” Sanchez de Lozada. Throughout the film, these consultants employ a series of manipulating tactics in an attempt to get Goni reelected to the presidency. When the consultants come in Goni is significantly behind, and the process to try to bring his numbers up is expressed. Through focus groups and polls they test slogans, responses to policies Goni supports, and general responses to his campaign. The business of campaigning is depicted as a cut-throat meticulous dance to connivence the public that Goni is a better candidate than the others. The backdrop of this election takes place in Bolivia, a country at an extreme crossroads in its history. The political and economic instability there has caused people to be pushed to the edge, and they are desperately trying to cling to any representation of hope. The political consultants, including James Carville, Tad Devine and Stanley Greenberg use this to their advantage and portray Goni as someone they can put their trust in. On election day, Goni wins the presidency with only 21 percent of the popular vote. Once in office, Goni is informed his honeymoon stage will be extremely brief, and the people begin demanding change immediately. In Bolivia’s history, they have been a poor country and have become increasingly more so. “Increasing poverty, stagnant or falling real wages, and a further and steady widening of the distribution of income in virtually every nation has also become the omnipresent and largely ignored social context of the neoliberal era.” (Cypher 47). The major problems facing Bolivia have brought it to a crucial place where change is necessary. One of the main complaints by the people expressed in the film is lack of jobs, and is something they are not willing to let go. During the beginning of Goni’s second term as president, it became clear that the necessary changes were not happening. People started to take to the streets and riots became a normal occurrence. In October 2003 Goni resigned, and Carlos Mesa took his place. The film depicts the manipulating ways of the consultants, as they attempt to get a very unpopular man elected to the Presidency for the second time, and once he was elected nothing positive was done. The political instability continued after Goni, Carlos Mesa remained president until 2005, followed by Eduardo Rodriguez who was president for a year, and finally Evo Morales was elected in 2006. Evo Morales was the force behind many of the revolts and riots, and it was obvious the support the people had for him. 

In Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins he describes his job and duties working for a company called MAIN. “ I was to justify huge international loans that would funnel money back to MAIN and other U.S. companies (Such as Bechtel, Halliburton, Stone & Webster, and Brown & Root) through massive engineering and construction projects. Second I would work to bankrupt the countries that received those loans (after they had paid MAIN and the other U.S. contractors, of course) so that they would be forever beholden to their creditors, and so they would present easy targets when we needed favors, including military bases, UN votes, or access to oil and other natural resources” (Perkins 18). This shows the problems that exist with South American countries from an external view. The problems that face countries like Bolivia exist somewhat outside their control. Companies like MAIN keep these South American companies in debt and therefore they stay poor, and the cycle continues. The film Our Band is Crisis and the reading definitely show themes that represent the poverty and problems facing these South American countries. 

Week 11- La viren de los sicaro

The film La Virgen de los Sicaro tells the story of Fernando a Colombian author who comes back to Medellin after a long absence. He is a very unhappy person, he feels he has lived all the life he can stand. However, he meets a young gay named Alexis whom he develops a relationship with. The context of this relationship is the violent atmosphere caused by the drug cartel warfare occurring in Colombia. Colombian society seems to be in shambles and Fernando provides memories from a different time. Colombia had a rich history in the drug trafficking, and it has caused major societal problems throughout the twentieth century. From 1946-1957 there was a time period called La Violencia. This was a time of civil conflict in the Colombian countryside between supporters of the Colombian Liberal party and the Colombian Conservative Party. The conflict led to guerrilla units being formed, and a period of intense violence in Columbia. La Violencia was a mix of “official terror, partisan sectarianism, an scorched earth policy that resulted from the crisis of the coffee republic, the weakness of the central state, and the contest over property rights”, according to Forrest Hylton’s Evil hour in Colombia (Hylton 39). 

This period of time resembled the one expressed in the film in terms of violence. According to Ricardo Vargas, author of State, Esprit Mafioso, and Armed Conflict in Colombia, the worst part of this Violencia was the polarization of the entire countryside, where civilians were considered on one side or the other. There was no in between, and therefore everyone was a target. In the film, Alexis is eager to kill anyone who crosses his path, and everyone is a target as well.(Vargas 125) This characteristic of an energetic target-seeking youth is also represented by Wilmar later in the film. The drug trafficking is not explicitly seen in the film, however the repercussions of it are. The “hit-men” involved in the industry have constant enemies, and therefore the business is a part of everyone’s lives. 

While the film seems to deal with those inside the industry, there is another side of the issue. The opinion of the Colombian people is not explicitly covered by the film, however Ricardo Vargas provides an explanation of the values Colombia people have. Most Colombians condemn the drug traffic. However, he says that when a trafficker tries to legitimize himself, he is accepted as long as he attempts to show support to those appearing to promote “order”. This public appearance is purely for economic gain. As long as the traffickers keep the local government on their side they will not face repercussions. “The large profits generated by the global trade in drugs have contributed to a new regional economic dynamic, creating employment and income without the need for government-directed development” (Vargas 126). The film, La Virgen de los Sicaro is a testimony to the effects the drug cartel has on the youth of Colombian society, and indirectly on the older generation, even through unconventional methods. 

cocaine cowboys

week 10 blog

The cocaine industry in the United States began in the 1970s, and was a result of the drug trafficking that had begun involving marijuana. In the beginning cocaine was not brought into the United States in large quantity, however it quickly gained popularity and the trafficking of cocaine grew to extreme rates. The cocaine came from Latin America, and specifically Columbia. There was a specific path that the cocaine followed after being produced in these Columbian farms. For those producing the cocaine, it was just a way to make a living and represented a very different value than it did for those selling and buying it. The cocaine was transported to Cuba after production, and Cuba seemed to be the intermediate between Columbia and the United States. From there the cocaine was smuggled into the United States around Miami. People in this industry soon realized the increased monetary value from cutting out Cuba, and getting involved in the transportation aspect of cocaine. During this time the restrictions on drug smuggling were extremely relaxed, and it took years before the government and police force were able to become an actual threat to the drug trade. The film, Cocaine Cowboys, depicts the transformation the cocaine industry had during the 1970s and 1980s. In the early years of cocaine importation into their was little violence, and money was flowing everywhere in Miami. Miami banks had excess cash of up to 600 million dollars, and it became increasingly obvious this was due to the drug trade. Jon Roberts makes the comment in the film, “everyone had their price, with few exceptions”. Throughout the latter part of the 1970s the United States saw an increase in violence in Miami directly revolved to the drug industry. It has corrupted and further weakened local governments, judiciaries, and police forces and rends the social fabric” (Coletta 126). The role that Griselda Blanco played in the drug business significantly increased the violence in Miami. She was nicknamed the “Miami Godmother” and was a significant power figure and violent homicidal maniac for this industry, and was feared by many in the industry. When she was arrested, estimates were that she had killed around two hundred people. The drug industry in Miami was  major part of the economy and activity that occurred in Miami throughout later part of this century. There were more people involved than could have been imagined. It was an international business that involved many Latin American countries especially Columbia and Cuba. However this business was not limited to these countries. the Panamanian leader manuel Noriega collaborated with Columbian drug traffickers. In an article published in the New York Times, reporter Seymore Hersh said of Noriega, “is extensively involved in illicit money laundering and drug activities”. This was an international business, however when the U.S. government began to really crack down on the traffic within its borders. As the cocaine business began to be shut down, the economy was hit extremely hard and banks, night clubs, jewelry shops, and many other merchandise stores were forced to close. While the drug traffic had repercussions on the economy, it also put Miami on the map in many ways, which allowed its economy to be revitalized after the cocaine industry was shut down.