2. LEGACIES AND CENTRAL AMERICAN CONTEXTS What schools and the media teach as the only possible way of remembering the past simply passes on the voices that repeat the boring litany of power’s self-sacralization. Exoneration requires unremembering. There are successful countries and people and there are failed countries and people because the efficient deserve rewards and the useless deserve punishment... Broken memory leads us to believe that wealth is innocent of poverty…(Galeano, 34: 2000)

Objectives of the Class Acquire a background of the region’s social and political histories To understand that today’s Central American social and political realities are connected to a historical, social and political context: colonialism, exploitation, oppression and resistance To look with critical eyes at the ways in which Central American social and cultural realities are perceived, discussed and portrayed by North American governments and audiences

Background of the region’s social and political histories First encounter: Europeans and Indigenous populations of Central America Upsetting of ecological and demographic balance--brutal tactics--ejidos Imperialist dimension: constant foreign intervention,

“The enduring allure of the region derives from its unique geographical position. Spain...Britain and the United States have all come to appreciate its strategic importance for both North and South America (Leiken, 1990).

Background of the region’s social and political histories Central American Independence: 1821 Disintegration of the nation: political rivalry between conservatives and liberals The adventures of William Walker: 1850’s Zelaya and the “Monroe Doctrine”

The interconnectedness between historical events and today’s Central American social and political contexts Status quo: Authoritarian military governments Allegiance to the Catholic church Economic and military dependency on the USA

The interconnectedness between historical events and today’s Central American social and political contexts Peasants become farm workers: expropriation of land, low salaries, high poverty, high infant mortality, low literacy Pressure for agrarian reform: revolution: Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua (1960’s to1990’s)

The Sandinista Revolution: By means of a national coalition Addressing social problems: agrarian problem, health and education issues Civil war: East/West conflict The sandinistas are defeated in a general election: 1990

Revolution fails: some factors National coalition fails: different political ideologies The business class opposition gains momentum: Contra attacks(surrogate army financed by the USA government) increase and economic blockade is strengthened

People become unease about the revolution Resources spent on military defense: erodes credibility, food shortages Military draft: more death Represents an opportunity for the opposition: Violeta Chamorro comes to power: 1990 The gains of the revolution start to be dismantled

Causes of today’s poverty in Central America “poverty is created by the exploitation of the many by the few” System of dependency

Images from Central America

To look with critical eyes at the ways in which Central American social and cultural realities are perceived, discussed and portrayed by North American governments and audiences Film One: Considering today’s readings, what is wrong with the narrative of the National Geographic film about Central America? Film Two: What are the main points raised by the film “Only the News that Fits” with respect to North American representations of Central America’s social, economic and political realities?