Transcript Revolution and Change in Latin America

Revolution in Latin America
Conflict, Chaos and Cocaine in
Colombia
Major Revolutionary Movements
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“Revolution” goal:
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Transformation of oppressive societal structures
Most movements in Latin America aspire to
transformation but fail to achieve this goal.
Three periods:
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Independence – elite “revolution”
Influence of Fidel (1959-90 to Sandinista defeat)
Individuals – new social movements (indigenous)
South American Movements
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Argentina
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Monteros/Ejercito Revolucionario del Pueblo (ERP)
Bolivia
 Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (1952-1964)
 Túpac Amaru (1780 sporadic – throughout Andes)
Colombia (1964-Present)
 Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarios de Colombia
 Ejército de Liberación Nacional
 Quintín Lame
 Auto-defensas Unidas de Colombia
 M-19
 Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores
Peru
 Sendero Luminoso (1980)
 Hugo Blanco
Uruguay
 Tupamaros
Caribbean and Central American
Movements
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Cuba
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El Salvador
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Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), 19801992.
Mexico
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26th of July Movement 1959-Present
Mexican Revolution 1910
Chiapas, Zapatistas – Ejercito Zapatista de Liberación
Nacional, 1 January 1994
Nicaragua
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Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), 1979-1990
Colombia
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La Violencia 1948-1958.
Power sharing agreement to end conflict.
Emergence of multiple “revolutionary” groups
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FARC (Revolutionary Army of Colombia 1964)
ELN (National Liberation Army 1964)
AUC (United Self Defense Forces of Colombia)
EPL (Popular Liberation Army 1965)
M-19 (April 19th Movement)
Colombian Politics
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Two party system
 Liberals and Conservatives
 Organized to prevent legal dissent.
 1956 National Front
Belisario Betancur
 1983 peace talks.
 FARC forms Patriotic Union (political branch)
 Congressional defection – 1986 government crackdown
Mid-1990s
 Two front war: Cocaine cartel and FARC.
 Defeat of cartel = financial opportunity for FARC.
 Government use of paramilitary de-legitimizing.
Alvaro Uribe
 Hardline new president of Colombia
 Bush administration 2007-2008 budget proposes increased
funding while all other Latin American countries will be cut.
FARC
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Roots in repressed coffee labor movement.
Coffee laborers supported by Colombian Communist Party.
Assassination of Jorge Gaitán, Cuban revolution inspiration
moves movement beyond self-defense to “revolution”.
Retains nominal support of Marxist goals today.
Governed by a general secretariat led by longtime leader Manuel
Marulanda (a.k.a. “Tirofijo”/Sureshot).
Organized along military lines and includes several units that
operate mostly in key urban areas such as Bogotá (present in
60% of municipal areas 2005).
Funded with coca “taxes” – demise of Escobar 1993
ELN
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National Liberation Army
1965: Marxist insurgent group, formed by
urban intellectuals inspired by Castro and
Guevara.
Primary opposition to FARC
Leader Felipe Torres.
AUC
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United Self-Defense Forces/Group of Colombia (AUC)
formed in 1997 to protect economic interests and combat
FARC and ELN insurgents.
Supported by economic elites, drug traffickers, and local
communities lacking effective government security and
claims its primary objective is to protect its sponsors from
insurgents.
Frequently aided by Colombian military (clandestine)
Leader Carlos Castano, negotiating to demobilize.