The neoliberal economic model has died: Cockcroft:

He affirms that the Puebla-Panama Plan shall be defeated through resistance movements.

He states that the United States aims for multinational corporations to take control of the natural resources of the region.

La Jornada
March 10, 2002
By Renato Davalos

Historically opposed to the neoliberal model, James Cockcroft an American living in Amsterdam, who has published approximately 30 books, several pertaining to the poverty of Mexico, specified that the Puebla-Panama Plan could be the "final blow" against the indigenous communities if we prove that "we are not capable of defeating these intentions with resistance movements".

A traveling professor throughout US and European universities, Cockcroft defined the global economy: it is based on low levels of production, large amounts of drug trafficking and money laundering. The gold and silver that reigned in the 16th century has been exchanged for drugs.

He added that the neo-liberal model "is dead" and what will follow in the future is a "radical change".

What so you foresee for the future of the Mexican Zapatista movement?

"This is about a movement that was essential for the exchange of power in Mexico but that today finds itself threatened by paramilitaries and death squads. The Zapatista uprising was the key element leading to the defeat of the PRI in the year 2000, by which in turn cleared the path to all the social and democratic movements and reinforced the demands that originate from the change".

How would you sum up the first year of the Fox government?

"After a disappointing year of broken promises it has been confirmed that Fox heads a government of business men for business men, completely willing to surrender to the desires of Washington and multinational corporations. Like his last name, he's a fox, but he's in the chicken coup".

Author of Spanish American Report where he revealed the Cuban Bay of Pigs plan 8 months before the event, Cockcroft's most recent book is La Esperanza de Mexico (Mexico's Hope). His doctorate is in Latin American Studies with a thesis on The Precursors to the Mexican Revolutions.

Struggles of popular resistance

What is behind the Puebla-Panama Plan?

"It's about a plan that will be defeated by the people's struggle of resistance in Oaxaca and Guerrero just as it was in Guatemala and the rest of Central America. It is an integral part of the Area de Libre Comercio de las Americas (ALCA) project with it's military component established by the Columbia plan and yet another military faction defined by the proposal for cooperation by the Mexican Military with that of Canada's and the United States to be controlled by the US".

He added, "The plan violates Mexican sovereignty as well as those of other nations. Economically it represents intent to convert the entire zone into one big maquiladora sustained by cheap labor. The intention is to destroy the indigenous communities, who would be once again subject to abuse, as has happened on so many previous occasions in history".

"The thinking in the US is that multinational corporations could take control of the natural resources of the entire region. Nonetheless, the struggles of resistance which we set in motion are defined by the anti-globalization struggles, like the one which will take place in Monterrey". "Since the 50's I have dedicated my life to the promotion of social justice and the struggle for human rights in the United States and in other countries".

Will the resistance movements be enough to halt a project backed by this much military and economic power?

"No resistance movement in of itself can assure the defeat of the plan or any other type of injustice because there will always be objective economic conditions which will influence in any type of mobilization".

"The global economy is in a complete crisis. It is reported that the US is now recuperating from the recession of the Bush administration, this being one of histories greatest lies since it was never acknowledged that there was a period of economic slowdown".

"Everyone knows that this economy is based on minimal production, heavy drug trafficking and money laundering by way of the huge US banks. This economy, a la casino style, can not continue to exist".

"There is such an abundance of poverty and resistance that more and more people, as in Argentina, are protesting in the streets, in their neighborhoods and in many other places. Of course we can defeat these treaties or at the very list significantly reduce their impact."

What do you foresee for the future of the neo-liberal economic model?

"It's already dead. Within what is a series of events, the definitive blow can be seen in today's Argentina. There is almost a revolutionary process completely unfolding in all the regions of Argentina with public assemblies, pot banging and shouts demanding for "all to get out"".

What follows then?

"A radical change, because the entire world is beginning to realize that the neo-liberal model is simply the cruelest part of a system that needs to end. It is the only solution. There isn't a formula or a model to replace the system but there are many alternatives well developed not only in Argentina but also by the supporters of the two large anti-globalization gatherings. There are plans to create a participatory economy without leaders that would only need to obey what the common man mandates. In the resistance movements there is a sentiment to maintain pluralism without any particular model".

His written works also refer to racism in the United States and the imperial characteristics linked to its history.

Don't you think that it is utopian to think of a new model in the face of the interests of multinational corporations or the drug trade? Isn't your vision excessively idealistic?

"I don't have the slightest idea. We have seen it in several countries in the last 25 years with communities fighting against more powerful militaries...triumph stemming from disobedience".

"Even Mexico woke up with the Zapatista movement. When a community wakes up, there will be change".

"It was thought that the PRI would never be removed from power. The new president is all the worse when it comes to applying the same political economy, but I believe that there is now an opportunity for the people to mobilize".

Militarization in the united states

In which direction is the United States going?

"It is going towards militarization of it's society and of the world and with a third war already declared against a list of countries in the name of the war against terrorism. It does not matter that it's a government that was not democratically elected and that it came to power by means of a coup against the government stemming from the court system with only a small majority of judges. It is the same government of the "secrete wars", which at their discretion, hides or publicizes information."

"Even though many people in the United States are now rejecting these lies and they realize that the government is violating the right of free speech, the right to criticize the president and many civil liberties".

Do you see any change in the US establishment?

"The solidarity of the establishment can not last because there are too many incongruities within it. The people have started to protest the thousands dead in Afghanistan, bombings in Serbia and in Panama. We are faced with the disintegration of the model. This is why the new movements look for a participatory and democratic system".

How will drug trafficking evolve in the economic juncture?

"Drug traffickers are the power in many nations. Countries like Mexico or the United States are semi-drug states, representatives of the interests of the large banks".

Could insurgency movements like the one in Mexico become bogged down with time, as has happened in Colombia?

"No, to the contrary. With each passing day, we see non-violent social movements that emerge with greater strength in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Mexico. Our solidarity, for example, is with the guerrillas in Colombia not for reasons of violence but rather to declare ourselves, by way of actions and movements, defenders of the people against the national oligarchies".

He concluded with, "In our own countries we are taking actions against neo-liberalism, and because of that, each day the global movement, dedicated to defending all people on this planet, becomes stronger".

Translated from Spanish by Camila Crespo on March 26, 2002.