21
LATIN AMERICA REVOLUTION & REACTION INTO THE 21 ST CENTURY

LATIN AMERICA REVOLUTION & REACTION INTO THE 21 ST CENTURY

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

LATIN AMERICA

REVOLUTION

& REACTION

INTO THE 21ST CENTURY

INTRODUCTION

• The arrest in 1998 in London of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet raised questions about whether Latin America needed to seek justice of the abuses of the 20th century or move ahead.

• Latin American countries in the 20th century have been part of the developing world, though their Western political and social structures as well as recent achievements set them apart from Asia and Africa.

• Since 1945, Latin America has dealt with struggles over economic development, social justice, and the rise of new social groups. Despite broad shifts in politics and the economy, the region remained remarkably unchanged.

LATIN AMERICA: 1914 – 1940s

• Latin America Changes• World War I: Led to upsurge in exports, development of industries• 1920s – 1940s: Depression and war hurt local economies

• US initiates Good Neighbor Policy to try to improve US-Latin relations• Organization of American States formed to support region’s neutrality in early war• Some sympathy for fascists in Argentina, Brazil; some states entered World War II

• Mexico After the Revolution• Liberal constitution of 1917 guaranteed land and liberty to Mexico • Land redistributed to peasants, nationalization of oil • Conservative governments dominated by Institutional Revolutionary Party

• ABC Powers• Three nations emerged as major players: Brazil, Chile, Argentina• Their economies were very solidly export oriented• Economic Development fueled social progress within these states• Brazil joined the Allies in World War I but other two stayed neutral

• Patterns of economic dependence in Latin America • Need to reorient economies from export to internal development

• Much of Latin America exported raw minerals, food stuffs, oil to Western World• Need to develop domestic industry, consumer industries rather than import

• Raul Prebisch, Argentine economist, crafted theory of "economic dependency" • Developed nations controlled world economy at expense of undeveloped ones • Developing nations needed to protect domestic industries

ARGENTINA & CHILE

• Argentina• 1916 - 1930

• In 1916 Radicals won presidency but Conservatives controlled Parliament

• Radicals sought to expand electorate, democracy, benefit middle class

• Reforms favored labor, industry, commerce, students

• Stayed neutral in World War I

• Problem was the rise of anarchist, communist and fascist organizations

• The Infamous 1930s• Had 4th highest per capita GDP in 1928 but Depression crippled Argentinan foreign trade

• Military staged a coup in 1930 bringing with it electoral fraud, corruption, persecutions

• Clashes between fascists, socialists/communists, unions and management became common

• Military Coup of 1943 by junior officers to avoid joining Allies in war

• Chile• Parliamentary republic dominated until 1925: Congress overshadowed President

• Quarrel-prone system that merely distributed spoils

• Clung to its laissez-faire policy while national problems mounted

• A reform movement began to clamor for social reform, democratization

• Military staged coup to avoid more radical reforms• Began to appoint presidents but many massacres and clashes with leftists, unions occured• Gradually enacted reforms and returned power to the elected representatives in 1932

• 1932 – 1973 Presidential System of Civil Governments returned

LATIN AMERICA: FROM THE 1940s

• The 1940s• Substantial political demand for reform in much of Latin America

• Democratic governments carried out reforms in Venezuela, Costa Rica• Others turned to models of Marxist revolution• Political democratization, economic development, social reforms failed

• More radical solutions to ongoing problems were sought• Governments that moved too swiftly met by resistance from the military• Fascism seemed a blend of social reform, industry, army, nationalism• Brazil and Argentina were the best examples

• Argentina 1943 – 1953• Military coup by colonels produced a ruling junta in 1943

• Junior Officers not enthusiastic about elite support of Allies in World War II• Junior Officers were more pro-German, proto-fascists

• Junta came to be dominated by Juan Peron, who became president in 1946• Censored press but expanded participation in unions, spending on social problems• Followed isolationist foreign policy and attempted limit others economic influence• Influential wife Evita helped him become the darling of the shirtless workers

• Brazil 1930 – 1954• Old Republic dominated by wealthy landed elite, export industries lasted until 1930• Military Coup in 1930 installed Vargas as president• Vargas ruled as dictator, elected president, dictator again and then senator• Continued industrial and agricultural growth with development of Amazon• Tried to blend concern for workers with owners into a populism, corporatism

PresidentVargas

IndustrialGrowth

“Order and Progress”

MEXICO’S POLITICAL PATHS IN THE 20TH CENTURY

• Mexico After the Revolution• Revolutionary fervor absorbed by the ruling elite but reforms selective• President was limited to a six year term: constant tension between factions of the elite

• Previous president Calles monopolized power even after presidency • Created National Revolutionary Party so he could control nation, elections• This was the predecessor to the Institutionalized Revolutionary Party (PRI)• Calles flirted with fascism and became increasingly anti-reform, anti-leftist

• Rise of Cardenas • Originally selected to be president but Cardenas became more popular, powerful• Removed Calles people from influence, power• Enacted sweeping reforms• Nationalized the oil industry largely owned by the USA• Gave land to the Indians, poor farmers

• The Institutionalized Revolutionary Party (PRI)• Pattern for Politics until 1995

• Allied the Mexican state to moneyed interests: exceedingly corrupt• Allied wealthy industrialists with rising urban middle class interests• Moved the PRI to the right – stole much of PAN’s political ideology• Wooed foreign capital – negotiated a massive loan from the United States• Accelerated industrialization at expense of poor, rural interests, Indians, workers• Unprecedented patronage for governmental jobs including bribes, favoritism• Manipulated vying political interests

• Free-trade agreement with the United States brought mixed results.

THE MEXICAN MIRACLE

• First 4 decades of PRI• Dubbed the "Mexican Miracle“

• Period of economic growth • Substitution of imports and low inflation• Growth spurred by national development plans

• Followed the 5 Year Plans of the Soviet Union

• Provided for major investment on infrastructure.

• From 1940 to 1970 GDP increased six-fold • Population only doubled • The peso-dollar parity was maintained.

• Mexico went from a largely rural economy to an industrial society

• Oil production surged• PEMEX: Mexico nationalized oil industry in 1938• World War II and 1970s Oil Crisis benefited Mexico• Production and export fueled growth• Allowed government to support social programs, infrastructure

THE END OF

HEGEMONY• The PRI Loses Its Monopoly On Power

• Accused many times of blatant fraud• In 1980s the PRI lost the first state governorship• The event that marked the beginning of the party's loss of hegemony

• Troubles Begin• Mexico faced an economic crisis due to oil glut, debts• Public demonstrations in Mexico City • Constant military presence after Zapatista rebellion in Chiapas• Political and electoral reforms that reduced the PRI's hold on power.

• 1988 election• Strongly disputed and arguably lost by the government party• IFE (Instituto Federal Electoral – Federal Electoral Institute) created in the early 1990s• Run by ordinary citizens, overseeing that elections are conducted legally and fairly

• President Vicente Fox Quesada• Popular discontent allowed the National Action Party (PAN) Vicente Fox Quesada to win in 2000• Did not win a majority in the Chambers of Congress• This election ended 71 years of PRI hegemony of the presidency

• President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa• Felipe Calderón Hinojosa also a member of the conservative National Action Party (PAN)• Many people in Mexico claim that he actually did not win the election• Obrador, candidate of Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) claimed he won

• He appointed himself as “legitimate president" • Currently traveling all over the country along with his own cabinet• Uses resources from the taxes from all Mexicans to supervise actions of Calderón

THE UNITED STATES AND LATIN AMERICA

• The “American Empire”• Until the 1890s, the Monroe Doctrine was maintained more by British interest than US power• US threatened to intervene in Mexico against the French in 1867

• The United States remained the greatest external force in Latin America• After 1898, US annexed Puerto Rico, turned Cuba into a protectorate• In 1904, staged Panamanian revolution in order to build canal across the Isthmus

• American Interventions: More than 30 before 1933• The US invested heavily, loaned billions in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean• The USA intervened whenever it believed its interests to be threatened – often called Dollar Diplomacy• In Central America, investment by U.S. corporations was so high that intervention was common• Anyone attempt to nationalize resources, opposed intervention branded Communists or bandits• In Nicaragua Augusto Sandino led resistance to U.S. influence until his assassination in 1934• Intervention often followed by establishment of puppet governments referred to as Banana Republics• American intervention helped to spread nationalist movements in Central America

• 1930s Changes• United States introduced the Good Neighbor Policy, worked with Latin America on common interests• Formed Organization of American States as an alliance to resist Nazi aggression in World War II

• 1960s Changes• Intervention was renewed after World War II on the pretext of containing communism. • U.S. programs provided economic aid as means of raising standards of living, combating radicals

• In the 1970s and 1980s• U.S. intervention was somewhat less flagrant• President Carter signed a treaty returning the Panama Canal zone to Panama• Presidents Reagan, Bush pursued more aggressive policies in Latin America to contain communism

THE US IMAGE IN LATIN AMERICA

GUATEMALA: REFORMAND U.S.

INTERVENTION

• The first nation to attempt more radical reforms was Guatemala• In 1944, President Juan José Arevalo instituted a new constitution

• Initiated land reform• Instituted civil rights for laborers• To fund reforms, education system, Arevalo imposed an income tax

• Attempted to nationalize economic resources • Brought Arevalo's government into conflict with the United Fruit Co. • This American corporation owned most bananas, fruit areas of region• Program of nationalization continued under Arbenz, elected in 1951

• American Intervention• Arbenz’s program becomes more radical• The United States imposed economic and diplomatic sanctions• In 1954, a CIA-assisted military coup unseated Arbenz• Pro-American military revoked many of reforms• A guerrilla movement emerged in Guatemala.

Diego Rivera Paints the Overthrow of Arbenz

THE CUBAN REVOLUTION

• The 1940s and 1950s • Since 1906 Platt Amendment, Cuba was largely a US protectorate• Cuba was economically more advanced than Guatemala • Dependent on an export economy closely tied to the markets of the United States• Differences between wealthy urban, impoverished rural economy provoked political dissent

• Fulgencio Batista • Had ruled Cuba between 1934 and 1944• He had proposed reforms, including a democratic constitution• When he returned to power in 1952, he was less interested in reform than in maintaining power

• Fidel Castro• Young idealistic leader of opposition to Batista• In 1953, a rebellion under Fidel Castro failed• When released from prison, Castro fled to Mexico, where he reorganized resistance to Batista• In 1956, Castro and his supporters invaded Cuba• After two years of guerrilla resistance, they successfully ousted the Batista government

• Socialist Cuba• Castro proclaimed a Marxist state complete with centralized economic planning• All economic resources were nationalized• When the US severed ties in 1961, Cuba became increasingly dependent on the USSR• US financed invasion failed at Bay of Pigs causing Cuba to turn to USSR for military aid• US blockaded island to get Soviet missiles removed• Social reforms under Castro were extensive but often at the expense of individual liberties• Attempts to move beyond an export economy dependent on sugar have failed• Some other Latin American nations chose to model revolutions on the Cuban example

THE SEARCH FOR REFORM AND THE MILITARY OPTION

• Revolutions often left underlying social, economic problems unchanged• In the decades of the 1950s and 1960s

• Military governments became prevalent in Latin America• Search for political stability led to single-party rule (Mexico)• Rise of Christian Democratic parties (Chile and Venezuela)• Increasing roles for the Roman Catholic Church

• Active intervention of the Church in the search for social justice• Some priests blended theology, Marxism to create “liberation theology”

• Army officers believed they could best resolve problems of political instability• Concerned about the Cuban revolution, the military seized control of governments

• Military coups, often with compliance of the United States, overthrew governments • Brazil (1964), Argentina (1966), Chile (1973), Uruguay (1973), and Peru (1968)

• Military Governments• Supposed to be above political partisanship, produce economic stability• Often consisted of presidencies assisted by organized bureaucracies• Were often brutally repressive: people disappeared, were tortured and murdered• Sought to crush labor movements, develop new industry, promote building of infrastructure• Social problems were scarcely addressed• All military regimes were nationalistic

• Argentina: The Falkland War in 1982• To distract population from internal problems, repression, Argentina seized Falkland Islands• UK responded, defeating the Argentinian invasion which led to the fall of the dictatorship

THE NEW DEMOCRATIC

TREND

• In the 1980s• Military began to restore civilian governments in the 1980s• In Peru

• Corruption led to the removal of President Fujimoro and rise of leftist opposition• Maoist Inca guerrillas called the Shining Path continued to oppose democratization

• In Nicaragua• 1990 elections produced a democratic government under Violeta Chamorro• But the revolutionary Sandinista party continued to exist

• In Panama• President Carter had returned the Canal to Panama but US would protect it• General Noriega cooperated with the Colombian Drug Cartels as its banker • The US intervened to end the military rule of Manuel Noriega in Panama

• In Chile• The military intended to return democracy after a period of transition• A plebiscite did not go the way Pinochet had wanted – the populace refused him a second term• Chile eased its way back to democracy over a ten year period as all parties cooperated• Transition may have been helped by Pope John Paul II’s criticism of Chile as a dictatorship

• Economic stability in Latin America continued to be a major problem• Foreign debt: countries borrowed heavily to finance reforms• High (hyper) inflation• Low standards of living• Increasing levels of criminal activity often associated with the Drug Trade• Despite problems, democratization of political systems continued in the 1990s

SOCIETIES IN SEARCH OF

CHANGE: WOMEN

• Social conditions and problems • Changed only slowly, but reforms did occur • Population distribution, growing urbanization• Problems relating to ethnicity, gender continue to exist

• Slow Change in Women's Roles • Gender equality was a goal more than a reality in Latin America

• In most nations, women did not receive the right to vote until the 1940s and 1950s• Males excluded women from political life• Feared their associations with organized religion would make them conservative

• In response• Women formed organizations and suffrage associations that slowly resulted in enfranchisement• Once admitted to political parties, women found that they were excluded from real influence• Only in Argentina, Chile, and Nicaragua did women play critical roles

• Just before World War I women began to enter the industrial labor force• They worked for lower wages than their male counterparts• Women tended to join anarchist, socialist, other labor groups as part of the unskilled labor force• In service sectors, some market economies, women have risen to positions of prominence• More significant economic roles did not imply greater social status

• By 1990s• Position of women in Latin America was closer to the West than other areas of world• Women especially mothers and wives were prominent in anti-military demonstrations• More women in elected offices including presidencies than any region except Scandinavia• Chile and Nicaragua have had women presidents

SOCIETIES IN SEARCH OF CHANGE: MIGRATION

• After 1950• Population of Latin America rapidly outstripped that of North America• Internal migration from countryside to cities

• Countryside offered little or no work, little hope for advancement• Only available jobs in cities

• Primate Cities• One city dominates nation, has an enormous portion of national population• Buenos Aires, Bogota, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Montevideo, Caracas, Lima• By the 1980s, about one half of the population was urbanized• Urban economies have been unable to absorb the influx from countryside• Massive slums• Competition between urban workers, rural migrants created tensions

• Immigration • Lack of job opportunities in countries, political repression led to immigration• Migration from Mexico, Central America to the United States is often illegal• Similar to movement of workers from Mediterranean, Africa to W. Europe• Has led to strained relations between US and region

IMMIGRATION MEANS MONEY

• Jobs for illegal immigrants from Latin America working in the US are a source of money for local economies

• Any curtailment of cash from the USA would hurt local economies.

MAPPING LATIN AMERICAN DEMOGRAPHY

CULTURAL REFLECTIONS OF DISPAIR AND HOPE

• Latin America’s Changing Religious Scene• Region remains predominantly Catholic

• Largest Catholic region in the world• About 1/3 of all Catholics in the world are in Latin America

• Rise of Pentecostal Christianity• Catholic clergy often associated with ruling hierarchy• Catholicism often very traditional, favored traditional approaches• Many urban professionals educated in US attracted to Pentecostalism• Guatemala and Brazil have seen a massive switch to Protestantism

• The Disparities between rich and poor• The elite in Latin America own an enormous portion of most nations’ wealth• Elite interests, culture dominates countries out of all proportion to numbers, elections

• Regional Cultures with admixtures of African and Indian cultures• Avoid the term Hispanic – it is an American politically correct term only• Dominate elite culture is urban, educated, largely Caucasian or Mestizo• African, Indian cultures marginalized except perhaps for Brazil

• Latin America has produced many world-famous authors, poets, and artists• Indigenous cultures, plight of poor are common themes in art and literature• Repelled by failure of reform, continuation of social and economic problems

• Authors of the 1960s turned away from reality to the fantastic and the absurd• Contemporary authors are quite realistic, modern in their portrayals• Gabriel Garcia Marguez: Colombian Nobel Laureate, used style we call Magical Realism• Isabel Allende: Chilean writer discusses women’s issues also using Magical Realism

LORENZ CURVEA Graphic Representation of Wealth Distribution: The closer the number to one means a small percentage of the populace owns a great deal of the wealth

THE DRUG TRADE

• Drug Production• Major Fields: Colombia, Bolivia• Refined: Colombia, Bolivia, Peru

• The Issue• A cash crop for poor Indians• Very little else as income available

• The Cartels and Politics• Colombia has fought trade bitterly• Bolivia often cooperates with dealers• Peruvian, Colombian guerillas benefit• Mexico wracked by civil violence• Venezuela, Cuba involved with traffic

• Reality• Production in South America• Now controlled by Mexican cartels• Many states launder money, help

• US Intervention in Region• Often tied to fighting drug trade• One reason US tolerates generals