Collegiate Times

Former Virginia Tech political science professor Chris Clement spoke on campus last night about democracy in Latin America in a presentation called “Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia: The ‘Axis of Evil’ in ‘Our Backyard?’”

The lecture, attended by a diverse audience of students, faculty and the Blacksburg community, took the stance that the United States government has been working to create consolidated democratic governments in Latin America for its’ own economic and security gains.

“Conformity among democracies is paramount to U.S. government,” Clement said.
Clement used examples of the problem of narco-trafficking leading to increased violence, over-militarizing the region and enacting economic measures that have made people in Latin America poorer than before to implement his point.

“They (Latin America) are merely an extension of U.S. policy,” he said.
Clement traced some of these example back to the time of the Cold War, and spoke of U.S. policy during that time and how it has changed in recent times.

Clement also pointed out that U.S. media has helped to escalate these viewpoints of how consolidated Democratic government would benefit them. Using terms such as “axis of evil” and “our backyard” are a hallmark of U.S. thinking about Latin America, who is the subject of constant intervention to protect U.S. interests, Clement said.

Clement wants his audience to realize some of the issues that face U.S. relations with Latin America.

“U.S. relations with Latin America are not going well and that it is up to us to change it,” said Clement. “We should celebrate and embrace Latin America rather than see it as a danger.”

Clement’s contract with Virginia Tech was terminated last April and was controversial among students and other professors due to questions about racism and diversity on Tech’s campus.

An e-mail dated April 17, 2006 where Clement spoke of his dismissal, he stated he “didn't wish to leave VT this way but political science has left me little choice. I have made and take with me many valuable friends here but hope I never have to set foot on this campus again.”

Clement held what was publicly understood as his final lecture on campus last year on April 27 discussing race and its place in the political science department.

Clement said that he returned to campus to visit the last group of students that he taught during his tenure at Tech and to see them before they graduate. This will probably be the last time Clement visits, but he is also open to any invitations to return and speak, he said.

Clement now teaches at Pomona College in California in the department of politics.