Socio-Political Upheaval in Chile and Argentina: Socialism, Coups, and the Dirty War

The Alliance for Progress and the Struggle for Latin American Stability

• The Alliance for Progress was a program designed to support economic development, price stability, and democracy in Latin America.
• A visual metaphor mentioned portrays the program as a boat from which individuals are trying to remove water; the implication is that they are attempting to prevent the "boat" from sinking to socialism.
• The program was intended to combat the influence of communism following the fall of Cuba.
• There was a significant effort to remove communist influence from Latin America, as depicted in images labeled "Alliance for Progress."
• Some contemporary views suggest the program was failing or "sinking" rather than succeeding.
• The program involved the United States supporting a "strong national government" while maintaining conservative views on social issues.
• A historical figure identified as JFK (referred to as Jonathan Hetty in the context of student discussion) is associated with the leadership of this era.

President Eduardo Frei and the Nationalization of Copper

• Eduardo Frei sought to expand the role of the national government through several key reforms:
  • Reforming the education system.
  • Implementing land reforms.
  • Nationalizing the copper industry to increase state control.
• Despite these reforms, Frei maintained conservative social stances.

Salvadorian Day and the Chilean Way to Socialism

• Salvadorian Day (Salvador Allende) helped found the Socialist Party in Chile and ran for president three times before winning.
• In $1970$, Salvadorian Day won a slight plurality in the election, leading Congress to confirm his presidency.
• Chile represented a "third path" to socialism:
  • This path was characterized by a democratically elected socialist government.
  • It differed from the violent revolution seen in Cuba or the reform efforts in Guatemala.
• The "Chilean Way to Socialism" included:
  • Extensive education and health reforms.
  • Land reform programs.
  • Nationalization of industries, specifically copper mining.
• Nationalization posed a substantial threat to US business interests, as many US companies were heavily invested in Chilean copper.
• Opponents of the regime included:
  • Landowners, who were upset by land redistribution.
  • Left-wing radicals, who felt the reforms were not aggressive enough.
• Fidel Castro, the leader of Cuba, toured Chile in $1971$, which allowed critics to claim that Chile and Cuba were forming dangerous relations.

The $1973$ Chilean Military Coup

• The United States government did not support the administration of Salvadorian Day and began reducing economic aid to Chile during his presidency.
• Social unrest increased, including a series of labor strikes beginning in October $1972$.
• A major trucking company owners' strike, supported by millions of dollars from the CIA, brought the country to a standstill by halting the shipment of goods.
• On $09/11/1973$, the military, led by General Augusto Pinochet (referred to as Kinochet), staged a coup to overthrow the government.
• The military attempted to negotiate with Salvadorian Day to fly him and his family out of the country, but he refused.
• On the morning of the coup at $09:10$, Salvadorian Day gave a farewell speech to the nation over the radio, choosing to commit suicide rather than resign.

Perspectives on Chile: Class Roleplay and Discussion

• The Military: This right-wing group hated communism and socialism, viewing Salvadorian Day’s government as a threat to national stability.
• The Middle Class and Elites:
  • Feared shortages and worsening inflation.
  • Worried about property taxes being raised to fund social services.
  • Feared "Cubanization" of the country (sliding into a Cuba-style regime).
  • Believed freedom was in danger, specifically regarding government seizure of factories and private property.
  • Generally, elites do not benefit from socialism because their land and wealth are redistributed.
• The Popular Unity Fellowship:
  • A coalition of left-wing political groups and radicals.
  • Aimed to nationalize industries (especially copper) and redistribute land to peasants.
  • Feared that elites and US companies would block their reforms or exploit the nation’s resources.
  • Some members felt Salvadorian Day was too moderate and wanted change to happen faster.

Political Instability and the Return of Juan Peron in Argentina

• Juan Peron, a populist leader supported by the labor movement, was ousted from the presidency in $1965$ and lived in exile for $18$ years.
• Between $1966$ and $1973$, Argentina was ruled by various civilian-military dictatorships and experienced continuous economic instability.
• Juan Peron returned from exile in $1973$ and was re-elected president, with his third wife, Isabelle, serving as Vice President.
• Following Juan Peron’s death from a heart attack, Isabelle became president.
• Her term was marked by worker strikes, government raids on unions, and extreme political instability.
• Under military pressure, she appointed Jorge Rafael Videla (referred to as Videra) as Commander in Chief of the army in $1975$.

The Dirty War and the National Reorganization Process

• In March $1976$, a military junta led by Jorge Rafael Videla overthrew Isabelle Peron.
• This period, lasting until $1983$, is known as the "Dirty War."
• The military suspended Congress and placed all local and state governments under military control.
• The junta called their operations the "National Reorganization Process."
• The "Disappeared" ($Desaparacidos$):
  • Between $10,000$ and $30,000$ people were kidnapped, tortured, and executed.
  • Victims were often students or young adults under the age of $35$.
  • Perpetrators included death squads from the "triple a" (Argentine Anticommunist Alliance), a paramilitary group run by police and armed forces.
  • Many victims were kept in clandestine concentration camps.

Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo

• Formed in April $1977$ by a group of women seeking their "disappeared" children.
• The founder was Esusana de la Forme de Vicente (Azucena Villaflor), who was later detained and disappeared herself in December $1977$.
• Characteristics of the group:
  • Wore white headscarves symbolizing the diapers of their missing children.
  • Gathered every Thursday in the Plaza de Mayo, in front of the President's Palace, for visibility.
  • Walked in pairs to avoid being arrested for illegal assembly.
• The group gained international attention and denounced human rights abuses on a global scale.
• A related group, the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, searched for their missing grandchildren—babies born to mothers in clandestine camps and given to military families (the "Nigel Nigel" phenomenon).

The Falklands War and the Transition to Democracy

• In $1982$, the military government invaded the Falkland Islands (a British territory) to distract from domestic economic turmoil and human rights violations.
• The war lasted only $74$ days and ended in an Argentine surrender in June $1982$.
• The failure of the war significantly contributed to the collapse of the military government.
• Democracy was restored in $1983$ with the election of Raul Afonson (Raúl Alfonsín).
• Afonson passed amnesty laws in $1986$ and $1987$ to pardon military officers; these laws were eventually overthrown by the Supreme Court in $2005$.

Truth Commission Simulation: Discussion of Justice and Responsibility

• Prisoners/Survivors Perspective: Reported being tortured in secret prisons and dealing with long-term trauma and PTSD. They demanded health care benefits and a government apology.
• Mothers Perspective: Demanded the return of their stolen children and the imprisonment of those responsible for snatching them from the womb.
• Military Perspective: Defended their actions as necessary "quality control" to ensure safety against domestic terrorists who bombed buildings and assassinated officials. They argued that giving babies to military families provided "stable homes."
• Final Ruling of Simulation:
  • Mothers should see children only if the child consents.
  • Survivors should receive a written apology and health benefits, but no direct monetary compensation.
  • Military officers should provide an apology and allow contact based on the child's wishes.
• Historical Reality: A $20$-year amnesty law meant many perpetrators initially faced no jail time. Approximately $130$ of the $300$ missing children have been found as of recent years.
• Junta Statistics: The military claimed that between $1969$ and $1979$, there were $21,642$ reported terrorist acts and $25,000$ subversives in the country.