THE PARADOXICAL CONTRADICTION OF LATIN AMERICAN PROGRESSIVISM: A REVIEW OF “O MÉDICO E O MONSTRO: UMA LEITURA DO PROGRESSISMO LATINO-AMERICANO E SEUS OPOSTOS”

Abstract

The book O médico e o monstro: uma leitura do progressismo latino-americano e seus opostos, by Fabio Luís Barbosa dos Santos and Daniel Feldmann, analyzes the internal contradictions of Latin American progressivism, particularly after the decline of the so-called “pink tide.” Divided into two parts, it examines both the regional progressive experiences and the rise of Jair Bolsonaro’s government as a paradoxical expression of capitalist logic. Through a critical approach, the authors argue that progressivism, while seeking to contain neoliberal forces, ultimately reinforced them. The review highlights the work’s theoretical originality and its ability to create concepts rooted in Latin American reality, such as “autophagic desocialization” and “accelerationist containment.” It also notes that the authors’ methodological decision to focus on endogenous causes ensures coherence but limits explanatory scope regarding global capitalist dynamics. The book is presented as a significant contribution to understanding the limits and contradictions of Latin American progressivism.