Views from the periphery: futures of neoliberalism in Latin America

The political economy of Latin American countries seems increasingly charac terised by neoliberal approaches. Economic factors at the global and contin ental scale seem to reinforce this trend. This article explores the social bases of neoliberalism not only in terms of the technocratic but also of th e wider social and political base. The connections between neoliberal refor m, people and places are explored through examining the nature of export-or ientated growth, the transformations of labour markers, the social impacts of reform, poverty and the changing social provision of the state. The cont radictions within the neoliberal model are examined before the future of ne oliberalism and the prospects for alternative development strategies and so ciopolitical scenarios are considered. In particular, the arguments from ne ostructuralist contributions are assessed and some of the contrasts between neoliberal and neostructural theories identified.