Left-wing organizations in Latin America and the reasons for the resilience of the São Paulo Forum

Abstract

This article analyzes the performance of left-wing political parties and movements in Latin America and discusses the distinctive characteristics and factors and re- asons for the resilience of the São Paulo Forum, an internationalist organization of Latin American and Caribbean left-wing political parties. Whilst they make it unique, these characteristics also explain its existence for 33 years and its life expec- tancy. The five reasons that give identity to the São Paulo Forum and support it as a resilient historical experience were developed during the article’s topics. We used a methodology that began with the collection of documents and other data origi- nating from the resolutions and minutes of its meetings, working group meetings, commissions and missions to various countries. Subsequently, we carried out an exercise of systematizing experiences, and we tried to synthesize the causes that, in our view, have been decisive for the relevance and permanence of the works of the São Paulo Forum, without pretending that they are considered as the only causes or that they configure an analysis ultimate point. On the contrary, the work is a continuation of others already developed and aims to be a starting point, not an end point, to diagnoses and evaluations on the subject.