The central theme of this book is the relationship between the labor movement and politics. Written by an Argentine labor expert at the Instituto Latinoamericano de Investigaciones Sociales (the Latin American arm of the social democratic Friedrich-Ebert Foundation of West Germany), the work is intended for union leaders. In it the author argues for a Latin American labor movement grounded in individual countries but attuned to continental issues. This movement must be class based, Third World-oriented, and socialist in order to succeed. It should be willing to forge temporary alliances with other classes and class factions and to take into account each area’s level of development as well as divergent social and economic formations. In the Andean nations, for example, ethnic questions must be included within agrarian issues; for Puerto Rico, colonialism is a leading agenda item.
The book’s first section presents a view of Latin America’s historical evolution. It develops the thesis that the labor movement is by nature political. Revolutionary movements, in turn, need to be nationalist and populist, as were the 26th of July Movement in Cuba and the Nicaraguan FSLN. Another section treats the 1969-75 Argentine crisis in Gramscian terms, looking at the progression from Caesarism to the restoration of the old order. It emphasizes the failure of the Peronist left and labor movement to grasp the historical lessons of Argentine political reality.
The final, and probably most useful, section examines the three competing trade union internationals in Latin America: the ORIT, the CPUSTAL, and the CLAT. The author surveys the main ideological positions of each and weighs their relative strengths and weaknesses. He sees a growing tension within ORIT between social-democratic forces and traditional elements close to the AFL-CIO. He concludes that unless ORIT moves away from North American influence, it will lose whatever following and prestige it has now. The Communist-inspired CPUSTAL, a force in only a handful of nations, suffers from too close a connection with orthodox Communist parties and from systematic persecution. Finally, the small Christian Democratic CLAT’s pro-Catholic and procapitalist stands have led it to support antiworker governments and sometimes to come under right-wing Catholic influence. Nevertheless, a few progressive and revolutionary elements belong to the organization. Godio speculates that like-minded forces within ORIT and CLAT could work together for common goals.
As a whole, this is an interesting, insightful, and generally informative series of essays. Those studying current politics and labor questions will enjoy reading them.
