Latin America Revolution and Reaction

7/29/2019 Latin America Revolution and Reaction

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Latin America: Revolution and

Reaction into the 21st Century


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Introduction Latin America (third world-non-

industrialized nations) caught in

struggle between capitalism vs.communism. Starting in 1964 there

were military coups that took over

governments (Brazil 64, Argentina

66, and Peru 68).

In Chili everyone knew there wasgoing to be a coup just not sure

what side was going to do it

(conservatives or liberal). President

Salvador Allende was a socialist

voting in to power, but he believedin reforming and working within the

boundaries of the constitution.

Many liberals felt he wasnt acting

quick enough and wanted a

revolution while conservatives wereagainst all his socialist reforms.

Sept. 11, 1973 a military coup occurred

and General Augusto Pinochet became

the dictator. Thousands died or

disappeared in the decades of repression

that followed.

In 1998 Pinochet was arrested for crimes

against humanity

Latin America was different than other

third world countries because they gained

independence earlier and need

decolonize in terms of the economy.

Industry started to bloom and workers

began organizing and emerged as a

political force. Political pattern emerged

of the pendulum (conservatives

=economic expansion and times ofcrisis=liberal forms). Contrary to

revolutionary talk, Latin American

societies remained pretty much the same.

Changes in education, women, social

services, and industry


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Latin America after WWII

Limitedly involved economy

grew due to war time demands

Cold War helped to stimulaterevolutionary actions in Latin

America

Main aim was to become

economically independent Some countries after the war

were still dominated by

authoritarian reformers. Some

were ousted from power which

led to other military dictatorusing extreme repression

against dissidence (torture and

execution-dirty wars)

Mexico

Porfirio Diaz-1876-1911 dictator

(conservative)

Francisco Madero-ran againstDiaz-imprisoned and released and

revolted. Took power, but didnt

really bring changes so he was

ousted and assassinated in 1913. Victoriano Huerta then tried to

impose Diaz style dictatorship-by

1914 ousted. (Villa and Zapata)

Alvaro Obregon 1920-electedpresident of Mexico and followed

by the presidents from the new

revolutionary elite.

President Lazaro Cardenas (1936-

40) land reforms


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Mexico and the PRI From 1940s-2000 Mexico controlled by the PRI (Party of the

Industrialized Revolution)

By end of 20th century the stability brought by the PRI wasundercut by corruption and lack of social improvement. Too far

from 1910 revolution that kicked out Diaz.

By 1944 armed guerrilla movements in southern provinces

(heavily Indian) began. They called themselves Zapatistas inhonor of Emiliano Zapata (peasant leader from the 1910

revolution). Government responded with repression and

negotiations

1990s Mexico joined NAFTA-North America Free TradeAgreement hoping to spur their economy. Mexico hen became

the 2nd largest trade partner to the US

2000 national election ended PRI-Vicente Fox leader of the

conservative National Action party (PAN) became president

(promised to clean up corruption)


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Zapata Zapatistas

mexfiles.net/2008/12/page/2/
http://mexfiles.net/2008/12/page/2/http://mexfiles.net/2008/12/page/2/


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Radical Option in the 50s

Surge of radicalism after WWII

due to cold war tensions

In Brazil=Vargas and inArgentina=Peron both were

populist authoritarian solution,

but there were other solutions

too. Desire to improve social and

economic conditions

Venezuela and Costa Rica

reform minded democraticparties won elections.

Failures of democracies,

economics, and social reforms

led some to consider radicalsolutions

uatema a

Radical solutions -problems elected Juan

Jose Arevalo president in 1944-spirited

socialism

Land reform and rights to rural and workers-

intense nationalism vs. foreign interest in

country-brought conflict (United Fruit

Company)

Colonel Jacobo Arbenz-elected president in

1951 and began nationalizing program-

transportation, hydroelectric, and unusedlands-Fruit Company opposed b/c they

didnt want to give up their reserve lands!

Called on US for help. US saw Arbenz

nationalization campaign as communist

threat and began restrictions on G.

In 1954 US organized dissident military force

and invaded and toppled Arbenz

government. Pro-American regime and all

reforms haltedpower back in the hands of

few. Continued to see problems socially and

economically that the government failed toanswer.


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Cuban Revolution and Socialism in the Caribbean Remember US helped to free

Cuba of Spanish control.

Afterwards US heavily influencedcountry (imports and exports)

Disparity between growing

middle class and poor in the

countryside

1934-44 Fulgencio Batista ruled

Cuba-promised much reform

(land, nationalization of

resources, full employment) but

never did them-became a

dictator

Fidel Castro-young leftist lawyer

Batista opponent-in 53 launched

unsuccessful attack and jailed

Castro freed and fled to Mexico and

came into contact with Ernesto Che

Guevara-started a small military force

and then moved to Cuba and recruited.By 1958 26th of July Movement-ousted

Batista.

Debated over when Castro decided to

go with communism (before/after).

Once in power passed reforms thatcaused sweeping changes-collectivized

farms, no foreign property.

Relations w/ US cut off and relied more

on Soviets for support

Crisis-US sponsored invasion and CubanMissile Crisis

After fall of USSR, Cuba continued to

socialist economic policy and became

increasingly isolation like China and

North Korea.


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Fidel Castro 1959history.sandiego.edu/gen/

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http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2008/02/large_ca

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Search for Reform/ Military Option

Nationalistic, pro-capital military

government built authoritative

regimes that served interests ofUS. However, in spite of

revolutionary changes little

actual economic and social

changes occurred.

In Mexico-PRI seemed to be out

of touch

Church provided guidance-

Christian Democratic parties

(Liberation and Catholic theologymixed with Marxism)

Violence against clergy and nuns

who spoke out for social reform.

Church also helped overthrow

the Paraguayan dictator in 1988.

Out of the Barracks

Soldiers had always been involved in

Latin American politics, but as

revolutions started many soldiersstarted to see themselves as the true

representatives of the people and not

political parties

Military officers felt they were best

equipped to handle problems of

society b/c of their training even if it

meant ending the democratic process

Brazil-military w/ US support overthrew

elected president after he promisedsweeping social reforms (66 in

Argentina (dirty war) and 68 in Chile)

Military controlled president and

handed down reforms (repression)


10/17

New Democratic Trends

Redemocratization

By 1980s soldiers returned

to barracks because theyrealized they werent more

successful than civilian gov.

and end of cold war so less

threat of interference. In

80s elections restored

democratic rule in Brazil

and Argentina.

Not easy process-guerrilla

groups, military, and US

Faced big problems: debt,

inflation, drug cartels

threatened powers of

governments

US and Latin America

Despite FDRs Good Neighbor Policy

(stopping direct intervention) after WWII

the US was on a mission to containcommunism and spread capitalism.

US interfered when economic interests of

private companies like the United Fruit

Company (Guat.). They also interfered

when politically when they felt anotherform of gov. was best.

Grounds for US intervention were

economic, political, strategic, and

ideological. Direct intervention usually was

followed by the establishment of friendly

governments (conservative and often

dictatorships). These governments became

known as banana republics (reference to

dependency of new gov., their tropical

exports, and corruption).


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US and Latin America In Nicaragua, Augusto Sandino

led a resistance movement

against occupying troops untilassassinated by US trained

Nicaraguan National Guard in

1934. Sandino became a

hero-someone willing to stand

up against tyranny. Became

the figurehead of the

Sandinista party that led a

socialist revolution in the

1980s in Nicaragua.

More foreign intervention,

especially US, led to increased

nationalistic reactions-not to

help the poor to help the

US also thought that by economically

developing regions in LA that social and

economic success would come, but didnthappen b/c the elites were the one

benefiting.

Policy changes:

Carter-influence on civil liberties and ceded

Panama CanalReagan and Bush- led US back to strategic,

economic, and defense considerations-

direct interventions. 1990 US toppled an

authoritarian gov. in Panama and promoted

drug smuggling-replaced with cooperativeregime to US and backed w/ US troops.

By 2000 same concerns but now also drug

and terrorist concerns. Aid to Latin America

mostly pledged to military purposes.

(Mexico)


12/17

http://www.answers

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c-sar-sandino

Augusto Sandino

news.bbc.co.uk/.../html/nn1page1.stm clickto find out info on recent elections

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Womens Slow Change Slow to change concepts

dealing with women. In his

culture women wereconsidered inferior

Women were paid less and

couldnt participate in LA in

politics Ecuador was the first to give the

right to vote to women in 1929

Brazil and Cuba in 1932-most

place not until the 40s or 50s Many revolutionary groups

were worried that female votes

were be too conservative

(because of their typically

strong affiliation to Church).

Manyrevolutionary groups were

worried that female votes were be

too conservative (because of their

typically strong affiliation to Church).

While some conservative regimes

gave women the right to vote banking

on them creating a larger conservative

body and stopping political change(Dominican Republic)

Ability to vote didnt guarantee real

political rights-running for offices and

equal pay. Caused some to join

anarchist/ social/ labor organizations.

By mid 90s women were closer to

Western cultures. Women made up

9% of legislators in LA-higher than any

other region in the world.


14/17

Movement of People 18th century there was much

migration to Latin America

19th century there was muchinternal migrations:

movement from rural to urban

areas and movements to

different LA countries seekingbetter opportunities-seeking

strong economies

20th century much migration

to US-US had a strong

economy and better

opportunities as well as LA

experienced huge population

growth and there werent

enough jobs for people.

After WWII US and Mexico set up

migration programs to get Mexican

workers to US to work for very littlein pretty bad conditions

Also political refugees-Cuban

middle class fleeing after Castro

took power.

Rates of urban growth have slowed

in LA, but extreme poor

neighborhoods and shantytowns

(favelas)still exist.

Industrial workers never united

with migrate worker to form

political organization= power to

change. Industrial workers made

labor organization linked to gov.


15/17


16/17

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Global Connections In 21st century LA continues to search for economic growth,

social justice, and political stability

Society there largely remained un-revolutionary meaningmost peoples lives havent changed all that much.

LA still most advanced part of the developing world compared

to Africa and Asia

New challenges in globalized world: distribution of wealth(1/3 of population still lives in poverty), distribution of

opportunities (north Mexico benefited from US trade while

southern Mexico has gotten poorer), integration into the

world economy threatens culture (Indian culture), movementtowards leftist politics, cultural issues (acceptance of

Halloween and Christmas), spread of new religious ideas

(Protestantism -10% of LA)

Documents

Latin America Revolution and Reaction