The New Mole

Paths of the Latin American Left

Author Emir Sader
The New Mole is a major new analysis of recent developments in Latin American politics by one of the continent’s leading political thinkers. Emir Sader explains the resurgence of radicalism in terms of the region’s history and explores its theoretical underpinning. The book is unusual in combining succinct judgments with broad chronological and geographical sweep—covering a period running from the early twentieth century to the present and detailing the political interplay between nations.

Sader points to areas where Latin America offers new insights to the world—on indigenous questions, for example—and areas where political thought lags behind practice, as in Venezuela. He also examines the process of regional integration under way in Latin America, which stands out because it is occurring independently of Washington. Looking at the role of political and ideological struggles in defining the continent’s trajectory, Sader concludes with an optimistic affirmation of agency that is all the more convincing for its sobriety.
“Emir crosses turbulent seas and neither runs aground nor loses his way. In these pages he speaks of the forces which, in Latin America and beyond, are struggling to create another possible world—traveling against winds and storms and, at times, against all the evidence. This book travels, like its subject, and invites us to follow a journey that leads to other journeys, the infinite navigation in which searching and finding are two names for the same human adventure.”—Eduardo Galeano

“Sader emphasizes that, whatever their contradictions and limitations, the new and radical Bolivarian processes have become a point of reference for debates on alternatives to neoliberalism, not only in Latin America but on an international scale. For all those who do not see neoliberalism or the capitalist system as the “end of history,” the only future for Latin America and the world, this book will be of the greatest interest.”—Michael Löwy, New Left Review

“[Latin America’s] one radical thinker of continental vision.”—London Review of Books
Emir Sader is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of São Paolo and Director of the Latin American Social Science Research Council (CLACSO).

About

The New Mole is a major new analysis of recent developments in Latin American politics by one of the continent’s leading political thinkers. Emir Sader explains the resurgence of radicalism in terms of the region’s history and explores its theoretical underpinning. The book is unusual in combining succinct judgments with broad chronological and geographical sweep—covering a period running from the early twentieth century to the present and detailing the political interplay between nations.

Sader points to areas where Latin America offers new insights to the world—on indigenous questions, for example—and areas where political thought lags behind practice, as in Venezuela. He also examines the process of regional integration under way in Latin America, which stands out because it is occurring independently of Washington. Looking at the role of political and ideological struggles in defining the continent’s trajectory, Sader concludes with an optimistic affirmation of agency that is all the more convincing for its sobriety.

Reviews

“Emir crosses turbulent seas and neither runs aground nor loses his way. In these pages he speaks of the forces which, in Latin America and beyond, are struggling to create another possible world—traveling against winds and storms and, at times, against all the evidence. This book travels, like its subject, and invites us to follow a journey that leads to other journeys, the infinite navigation in which searching and finding are two names for the same human adventure.”—Eduardo Galeano

“Sader emphasizes that, whatever their contradictions and limitations, the new and radical Bolivarian processes have become a point of reference for debates on alternatives to neoliberalism, not only in Latin America but on an international scale. For all those who do not see neoliberalism or the capitalist system as the “end of history,” the only future for Latin America and the world, this book will be of the greatest interest.”—Michael Löwy, New Left Review

“[Latin America’s] one radical thinker of continental vision.”—London Review of Books

Author

Emir Sader is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of São Paolo and Director of the Latin American Social Science Research Council (CLACSO).