rose up against the multinational corporations that controlled the water services. They defeated the government of Hugo Banzer—the former Bolivian dictator—and expelled the privatised companies. On 19-20 December 2001 Argentinean workers staged a revolt in Buenos Aires against poverty and repression and overthrew the government of president Fernando de la Rua.

In April 2002 the most right wing sectors of the Venezuelan ruling class and armed forces carried out a coup against Hugo Chavez, supported by US. But they were defeated when hundreds of thousands of people from the poorest neighbourhoods in Caracas descended on the city centre to protest.

In January 2003 the third World Social Forum in Porto Alegre called on people to mobilise against the war and the free trade agreements. Throughout Latin America thousands of peopledemonstrated on 15 February.

In April of the same year, hundreds of thousands of workers, peasants and activists marched against the WTO in the Mexican city of Cancun. Revolts exploded in Bolivia in October against the energy corporations that export Bolivian gas. Peasants and miners advanced towards La Paz, overthrowing the government of Sanchez de Lozada.

Between 2002 and 2004 the electoral processes partially reflected pressure coming from below. Wide sectors of the local ruling classes of Latin America lost power as right wing parties suffered big defeats.

Lucio Gutierrez won the Ecuadorian presidency by presenting himself as a progressive military leader who supported the indigenous rising. Nestor Kirchner won the Argentinean election by rejecting the IMF’s policies. Lula da Silva won the Brazilian presidency as a steel worker and leader