Of Solidarity and Other Virtues: Comprehending the Kerala-Latin America Connection

• MUHAMMED SHABEER

  Ambedkar University Delhi

Latin America and Kerala, despite their considerable geographical distance, have developed a distinctive relationship rooted in shared historical experiences, political solidarities, and cultural affinities. While India–Latin America relations have increasingly gained scholarly attention as part of India’s expanding engagement with the Global South, the particular affinity between Kerala and Latin America remains comparatively underexamined in academic scholarship. This paper examines the historical, political, and cultural foundations of the Kerala–Latin America connection and argues that this relationship represents a distinctive form of postcolonial and transnational solidarity within the Global South. It contends that Kerala’s engagement with Latin America cannot be explained solely through diplomatic or economic interaction; rather, it has been shaped by shared experiences of colonialism, the influence of communist and leftist politics, antiimperialist internationalism, protest cultures, and transnational cultural flows. The study adopts a qualitative and interdisciplinary approach, combining historical analysis, political economy, comparative analysis, and cultural studies. The analysis demonstrates that Kerala’s internationalist political culture, strengthened by its communist movement, literacy and print culture, and historical exposure to global political developments, has facilitated a sustained interest in Latin American political struggles and cultural expressions. The paper further identifies parallels in anti-neoliberal struggles, protest movements, and cultural practices across Kerala and Latin America. It concludes that the Kerala–Latin America connection constitutes a Global South solidarity network shaped by shared memories of colonialism, political resistance, cultural identification, and aspirations for a more equitable international order.

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