Russia in America’s “backyard”

Chavez and Medvedev have a chat

Russia is in the middle of a concerted effort to strengthen ties wth Latin American countries, particularly Venezuela and its close allies in the “Bolivarian revolution”. It seems as though Russia has been waiting to present one of the most visible challenges in years to American influence in the region.However, it may not be the best time to do so.

Only a few months ago, with oil prices high, Russia was flush with cash and planning a variety of measures, including helping Venezuela build a nuclear reactor and strengthening military ties with Cuba, a former cold war ally of the Soviets.

But here is where we sit now:

1.Oil prices have plunged and the soaring revenues are gone

2.Latin Americans are much less wary of President-Elect Barack Obama than they have been of George Bush for the last 8 years. Obama has raised hopes throughout Latin America of a new era of improved relations with the United States.

What is interesting here is that Obama is going to be sworn in as president at a time in which democracy has suffered some serious setbacks in some Latin American countries and at a time in which Russia is, once again, trying to be a balancing power in the region and is courting increased partnerships with countries like Venezuela, Nicaragua and to some extent, Brazil (among others). Obama’s approach towards Latin America needs to be strategic and should forge further economic ties with the folks in the south, while always keeping the promotion of the essential elements of democracy in mind (something already agreed to in the OAS charter).

Things to consider:

Two Russian long-range strategic nuclear bombers landed in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, for the first time in September. Mr Chavez described their visit as a “warning” to the United States.

Igor Dygalo, the Russian Navy spokesman, said that the joint manoeuvres would begin on December 1. The Peter the Great carries 20 nuclear cruise missiles and up to 500 surface-to-air missiles.

Latin America was the focus of intense ideological competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Venezuela has signed deals to buy Russian arms worth more than $4 billion since 2005.

Something to think about my friends.

“Chinese Democracy” banned in China

Who would have thought that Axl Rose would be in the headlines again?

Ok, so this article is not about democracy per se, but I think there may be a closely related story here. According to the Wall Street Journal, an official at the Chinese Ministry of Culture reportedly sent word that record distributors shouldn’t bother stocking the album, stating that any title with the word democracy is “not going to work”.

If you were wondering why the name of the recent Guns n’ Roses album, here you go: the title track from the album includes lyrics with references to Falun Gong, a meditation practice banned in China, and the line “if your Great Wall rocks blame yourself,”which has been interpreted as a critique of the Chinese government’s authoritarian rule.

I dont know if the album is any good or if the Chinese people are actually missing out on anything, but they should at least have the opportunity to choose.