It appears likely New York City will elect a democratic socialist as its next mayor. Some say this would amount to the greatest victory for the US Left in its history. What could a democratic socialist mayor accomplish? What obstacles would have to be overcome? How might this unfold? This panel will sketch some possible answers to these questions by examining the rich recent history of democratic socialism in Latin America. Panelists will discuss the lessons New York’s next mayor might take from four of the most exciting and important recent cases of democratic socialist and left governance in Latin American cities and beyond: Porto Alegre, Brazil, Mexico City under AMLO and Morena, Torres, Venezuela, and Ecuador under Rafael Correa. What did leaders in these cases accomplish through strategies combining struggles within and beyond the state? What were the most significant successes? What are the limitations of these cases? And what can these cases tell us about the limits and possibilities for democratic socialism in New York City?
Panelists:
Edwin Ackerman, Syracuse University
Gianpaolo Baiocchi, New York University
Gabriel Hetland, University at Albany, SUNY
Thea Riofrancos, Providence College
Moderator: Christy Thornton, New York University