A World to Win is a new podcast from Grace Blakeley bringing you a weekly dose of socialist news, theory and action with guests from around the world. In the second episode of A World to Win, Grace talks to former foreign minister of Ecuador Guillaume Long about the impact of Covid-19 in the country, the rise and fall of the Correa government and the growth of ‘neoliberal authoritarianism’ in Latin America.

Long discusses the “huge cuts” imposed in recent years by Ecuador’s Moreno administration, an austerity plan which has seen public investment in the health sector halved and 10 percent of public health workers laid off with the support of the IMF.

He also explains the campaign of ‘lawfare,’ which has sought to criminalise Rafael Correa and prevent him from returning to office, and the systematic retaliation from Western governments to Ecuador’s progressive economic and environmental policies under Correa’s government.

Thanks to our producer, Conor Gillies, and our graphic designer, Kevin Zweerink, for their hard work on this episode. Remember, you can support the show by signing up as a patron.