Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

This paper analyzes some of the main regional economic and social changes that happened in South America after the end of the cold war. In particular, the neoliberal policies of privatization, cuts in social spending and foreign investment left countries with high levels of unemployment, inflation, and rising inequality. The aim of this paper is to describe the current changes in Latin America from the “pink wave” with progressive governments mainly in Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay, to profound cultural shifts towards conservative and neoliberal economic, political and social agendas in the region. In particular, this paper analyzes some of the reasons the middle-class and elite from Bolivia turned to Evangelism to take out MAS political party out of the Congress and Senate after the coup d’état.