With word that Cuba’s Fidel Castro has stepped down for now, yesterday’s New York Times Opinion column titled What’s Left of the Latin Left seems oh so timely (perhaps even suspiciously so). According to the article the so called left in Latin America is looking more and center. According to the article:

This is hardly what the left used to be in Latin America. In fact, Latin America has never been more centrist and pragmatic. The only voters who have chosen radicals live in perpetually ill-governed nations where the mainstream has failed them.

So does Castro stepping down represent the decline of leftist politics in Latin America? Is Chavez the next Castro or does he lack the historical context to be that?

Via / The New York Times (Registration required)
Image Via / TCS Daily