Iberoamerica 2023 №2

This issue comprises four blocks. The first of them examines current problems of the economy and finance. The article by Anastasia S. Zakhartsova analyzes the economic thought of Latin America compared with the approaches of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Given that this international organization uses the system of conditionality, which means that borrowing governments agree to a set of certain economic policies in exchange for the IMF loans, the IMF principles resulte quite different from priorities sustained in the framework of Latin American thought. Alla Y. Borzova, Elizaveta A. Solodukhina and Dju Orlindo show areas of cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Brazil to achieve food security in Latin America and highlight the intensification of efforts of both parts in this direction. Anton O. Ovcharov's article analyzes the mechanisms of financial contagion in Spain during crisis time, and points out that, due to close financial and commercial partnership between Spain and Latin America, the contagion didn`t drub too hard the bulk of Spanish economy. Segundo Elías Yancha Tuasa tries to consider the advantages and disadvantages of the Ecuadorian economy, which uses the US dollar as its national currency, and argues that dollarization is still far from sustained growth for the country.

The second block is devoted to modern political institutions and processes in the region. In the article by Zbigniew W. Iwanowski, in the context of the economic, social, and political situation, the conflicts and consensus between the Legislative and Executive Powers and the position of the Judiciary in conflict resolution are analyzed. Special attention is paid to the causes of the governance crisis and possible mechanisms to overcome tensions between the branches of power. Jaime Andrés Wilches Tinjacá, Hugo Fernando Guerrero Sierra and Mauricio Hernández Pérez show the role of referendums and plebiscites as one of the mechanisms of direct democracy. The results based on a large database confirm that although these mechanisms have contributed to the vindication of rights, in contexts of autocratic regimes and populist governments, their use in favor of personal or sectarian interests is detrimental to democracy and trust in institutions.

In the third block, dedicated to Latin America's relations with the main actors of the world politics, Ilya A. Sokov examines the rivalries between the United States and China in the region and comes to the conclusion that the competition between the US and PRCh is of irreversible nature, both in Latin American region and on a global scale. Vasily B. Kashin also dedicates his article to the reasons and goals of the Chinese presence in Latin America. This researcher believes that the Chinese strategy is aimed at building an extensive network of bilateral agreements, with particular emphasis on new free trade zones agreements. In the future, the political aspects of cooperation will become increasingly important.

The editors of the magazine continue to acquaint readers with new books published in Russia. In the fourth block of this issue, there are reviews by Violetta M. Tayar of the monograph "Europe in the World in Crisis" and by Elena V. Astakhova of the collective study "Iberoamerica: the Role of Culture in Formation and Evolution of National Identity".

IBEROAMÉRICA

2023, num.2 (April–June)

Content

ECONOMY AND FINANCES

Anastasia Zakhartsova. Latin American Economic Thought and Approaches of the International Monetary Fund

Alla Y. Borzova, Elizaveta A. Solodukhina, Dju Orlindo. FAO and Brazil: Cooperation in Ensuring Food Security in Latin America

Anton O. Ovcharov. Financial Contagion in Spain During Crisis Times: Features and Assessments

Segundo Elías Yancha Tuasa. Ecuador: Effects of Dollarization on the Country's Economy

POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROCESSES

Zbigniew W. Iwanowski. Conflicts and Consensus between the Branches of Government in Latin America

Jaime Andrés Wilches Tinjacá, Hugo Fernando Guerrero Sierra, Mauricio Hernández Pérez. Referendums and Plebiscites: Direct Democracy as Mechanism to Legitimize a Representation in Crisis

LATIN AMERICA AND SUBJECTS OF WORLD POLITICS