Latin American Political and Economic Movements: Populism, Development, and US Influence

Latin America Since Independence; Conniff

Post independence movements that focused on creating export economies from the 1880s to 1930s. Increased foreign investment that shaped dependency theory going forward. ISI: Import Substitution Industrialization -- Tariffs and trade measures promoting domestic development urged on by the ECLA (Post WWII). 1980s rise of neoliberalism and conservative economic policies to resolve debt brought on by liberal spending

Populism and Developmentalism; Wolfe

Connection between Mass Politics and developmental policies like ISI. Urban working groups (Unions), leaders like Peron connected deeply with workers

Peronism and Cardenistas (Not a reading)

Peron: creation of authoritarian populism (40s-50s), larger understanding of citizenship--poor workers were included in the political process for the first time, conflict with elites

cardenas: implementation of socialist policies, education, and stronger central political institutions (1934-40), switched back to a more conservative mexico post-cardenas

Anti Communist Bananas; Moulton

Impact of corporate US interests on foreign policy in LA, Post WWII Guatemalan left wing government was viewed differently in the US: shift from socialist-->communist, UFCO lobbying led to the overthrow of Arbenz in 54 because UFCO represented free market enterprise which combatted communism

Mapping the Metaphor of the Good Neighbor: Spellacy

Image of an idealized white, middle class neighborhood, creation of the idea of LA as a sort of warehouse for US goods and simplification of relations, formed dynamics of exploitation in terms of resources but also tourism/gender superiority/economic domination

Cuban Revolution (Not a reading)

7/26/53 attack on Moncada started it, Castro releases letter from prison, takes control of Cuba 1959, massive redistributive measures, complete state control, Castro and Guevara were ultimately unable to completely escape the hold of the free market and sugar industry, breakdown of US-Cuban Relations

Central America's Forgotten History; Chomsky

1954 US overthrow of Guatemalan Government that led to formation of left wing rebellions and Guerrilla groups, intense military responses; In Nicaragua, Sandinista rebellion, US funded Contras fought back leading to 30,000 dead; In El Salvador rigged elections and complete control by elites led to FMLN coup, suppressed with US support as a way to set an example

Chicago Boys Documentary

UChicago and prominent US economists spread neoliberal economic ideology to Chile which was used to help resolve their economic situation, Unhappiness with Allende's socialist policies, Pinochet coup made plan easier to implement because of willingness to use military enforcement, extremely harsh enforcement that reduced inflation but created 32% unemployment

Lexicon of Terror; Feiltlowitz

Poor management of economy in Argentina by Isabela Peron led to right wing military coup that was broadly accepted by the people, death squads and mass imprisonment used to keep order, embracing of far right in Latin America

Populism in Latin America; De La Torre

3 waves of populism: Classical (Peron, Vargas, redistribution, workers rights, ISI-like policies), Neoliberal (Menem, Pinochet, decentralizing government, economic freedom=personal freedom for the people), Pink Tide (Chavez, Morales, radical left, participatory democracy, centralization of government); Populism is defined by the fight between masses and elites, but elites switched between being defined as the economic elite and governing elite

Left Leaders and Right Leaders (Not a reading)

Sheinbaum and AMLO: Mexico, major austerity measures, continuation of pink tide populism, fear of "authoritarian regression" due to overwhelming support; Petro: Colombia, failed peace negotiations with gangs, failed to create meaningful redistribution; Milei: Argentina, extreme libertarian, cost-cutting, neoliberal policies, attempts to reduce debt; Bukele: El Salvador, Mano Dura, extremely popular, right wing, Bitcoin neoliberal policies, decentralization of everything but the military