Leftist writers who harshly condemn progressive Latin American governments with the "extractivism" argument overstate their case

Progressive governments in Latin America are making a comeback and winning elections in Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras, and Chile. Some on the left have harshly criticized the governments ranging from Chávez to Lula, the Kirchners, Evo Morales and Rafael Correa. In some cases these writers place the progressive governments in the same category as conservative and right-wing ones and even claim that they followed neoliberal policies. The bottom line, according to these writers, is that the progressives continued to rely on extractivist industries and global exports of primary commodities. This view is simplistic, fails to place the predicaments these governments faced in the larger context of U.S. hostility and aggression, and glosses over positive achievements. I put forward this latter position in my edited “Latin Amiecan Extractivism” book reviewed below. 

https://www.e-ir.info/2021/06/04/review-latin-american-extractivism/?fbclid=IwAR08U-Zl9feZ1OfyuvFWFP2JUBMkrfXtNjbVtt0b5lGi2kTVnQyzWjopQZ0