A Latin American Optimist

Today's OpinionJournal has an inspirational interview with Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa about the state of Latin American politics. In an era when Hugo Chavez, the Castro brothers, and other left-leaning fascists seem to be retaking power in that region, Vargas Llosa's words are encouraging:

Mr. Vargas Llosa explains that he was propelled into politics when then-president Alan García [of Peru], at the time a socialist and a populist, attempted to nationalize the banks. Today he is running the country again, but "now, the same Alan García is the champion of capitalism in Peru!" Mr. Vargas Llosa laughs merrily. "It's funny, no?"

He is relatively upbeat about Latin America today: "I'm not as pessimistic as others who believe that Latin America has returned to the time of populism, leftism." The region has its problems, to be sure, one major one coming from Caracas in the form of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. But according to Mr. Vargas Llosa, perhaps what is most remarkable is what Mr. Chávez has not been able to do.

"We have a big problem with Chávez," Mr. Vargas Llosa admits. "He's a demagogue and a 19th century socialist. He is a destabilizing force for democracy in Latin America, but what he thought would be so easy hasn't been so easy. There has been a lot of resistance."

Take a look at the full interview -- it's worth a read.