Culture wars ramp up in Latin America as governments lurch to the right
Right-wing governments across the region are cutting cultural budgets and recasting the arts around conservative values
As the influence of US President Donald Trump expands across Latin America, a growing number of nations are electing right-wing governments. Brazil may be next, with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro competing in a presidential runoff on October 25. The cultural ministries in these governments reflect their political trajectories, often invoking terms like "austerity," "efficiency," "values," and "culture war."
Pablo Stefanoni, an Argentine historian, observes that US interference and support for right-wing candidates are becoming more apparent, alongside the resurgence of the Monroe Doctrine, which positions Latin America as the US backyard. This strategy aims to realign geopolitically and push China further away, despite the challenges posed by China's economic role.
Culture has suffered as a result of these political shifts. In Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz, a center-right president, has cut the number of ministries from 14 to 12, relegating culture to a vice-ministry under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This change has sparked criticism from the Articulados Culturales, a coalition of cultural organizations that denounce the "complete exclusion of culture" from the new state structure and emphasize that the arts are not mere ornaments.
Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, took office amidst a 7.4-magnitude earthquake, introducing a culture minister who vowed to wage a culture war. She posted a Bible quote on social media, emphasizing her faith's role in her leadership principles. In Argentina, Javier Milei, who aligns his "anti-woke" agenda with Trump's second administration, has defended inequality and criticized social justice initiatives.
His administration has reduced the federal ministry of culture to a secretariat, causing budget cuts across various cultural institutions. Chile's culture ministry lost 9.8% of its budget after a 3% government-wide spending reduction, resulting in the cancellation of a significant art exhibition and the dismissal of its director.
Peru's new administration, led by Keiko Fujimori, has reignited debates over historical memory, particularly in relation to the LUM museum.
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