Revolution

Major Revolutionary Movements “Revolution” goal: – Transformation of oppressive societal structures Most causes of revolution include: – State weakness, elite conflicts, popular unrest – population growth, unemployment, loss of welfare Most movements in Latin America aspire to transformation but fail to achieve this goal. Three periods: – Independence – elite “revolution” – Influence of Fidel ( to Sandinista defeat) – Individuals – new social movements (indigenous)

South American Movements Argentina – Monteros/Ejercito Revolucionario del Pueblo (ERP) Bolivia – Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario ( ) – 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 Venezuela – Bolivarian Revolution 1999-present

Caribbean and Central American Movements Cuba – 26 th of July Movement 1959-Present El Salvador – Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), Guatemala – Mexico – Mexican Revolution 1910 – Chiapas, Zapatistas – Ejercito Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, 1 January 1994 Nicaragua – Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN),

Cuba: Revolution & Repercussions 1959 Havana falls (Batista flees) – January 7, U.S. recognizes new government. – February, Castro installed as president – April 15-26, Trip to U.S., dubbed “Operation Truth” – May 17, Signing of Agrarian Reform Act, expropriating farm lands, including his family’s (nationalization of 75% of arable land) Nationalization of private property. – May 8, Establishment of formal diplomatic relations with U.S.S.R. – July 5, Nationalization of U.S. companies and properties in Cuba – September 17, Nationalization of all U.S. banks in Cuba 1961, Separation, conflict, emergence of key foreign policy goal. – January, U.S. (outgoing Eisenhower administration) severs diplomatic ties; bars travel without government approval, authorizes CIA training of exile army – goal to remove Castro. – September U.S. Foreign Assistance Act authorizes trade embargo. – April, Bay of Pigs invasion (Kennedy administration).

Nicaragua 1961 FSLN formed (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Naciónal) Guerrilla army with goal of removing Dictator Anastasio Somoza. Philosophy: – Revolutionary action; role of the subjective; ideology to motivate masses. Chronology: – Early defeats by National Guard; improved organization; accepted Christians (liberation theology); silent accumulation of forces culminating in 1974 action; benefitted by Somoza greed in 1972 earthquake response – FSLN becomes a product of groups of interests: Prolonged People’s War (Maoist); Proletarian tendency (urban/student); Terceristas (Insurrectionist) – alliance strategy – mobilize a broad based coalition to defeat Somoza Final offensive March to July Daniel Ortega elected president

Colombia La Violencia Power sharing agreement to end conflict. Emergence of multiple “revolutionary” groups – 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 19 th Movement)

FARC 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 National Liberation Army 1965: Marxist insurgent group, formed by urban intellectuals inspired by Castro and Guevara. Primary opposition to FARC Leader Felipe Torres.

AUC 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.

Peru Sendero Luminoso

New Social Movements CONAIE, Pachakutik, Ecuador Zapatista, Chiapas, Mexico Cocaleros Federation, Bolivia MST, Brasil Madres de la Plaza de Mayo, Argentina

Chiapas – Zapatista National Liberation Front Chiapas January 1 st 1994 movement seizes four towns in Chiapas – Land – Democratization – Indigenous rights – Repeal of NAFTANAFTA Two different Mexicos – Those moving ahead – Those left behind

Article 27 and Chiapas 1917 constitution, Article 27 placed significantlimitations on property ownership by foreigners,the Catholic Church and declared nationalownership of the country's natural resources In its original form, Article 27 also granted thegovernment broad powers to expropriate privateproperty in the public interest and toredistribute land. Amended in 1992

Article 27 and the Ejido Created the Ejido – agricultural land grant – approach to breaking up large landholdings –latifundios – post revolution. Ejido functions: – government issued land to users, (peasants), forcultivation. – access to land guaranteed by the state but notownership – temporary but in perpetuity “title” as long as theland is cultivated.

Article 27 amended provides for the leasing and sale of ejido property: –...The law... shall regulate the rights of every ejido member in relation to his parcel of ejido property by establishing the procedures by which they may form partnerships among themselves, with the State, or with third parties, and for the granting of the use of their properties... as well as establish the requirements and procedures by which the ejidos may grant its members ownership to their parcel of ejido property. ejido property may now be sold, the ejido has the right to determine how its property is parceled off and made available for sale.

Chiapas Unresolved sociopolitical conflict Sporadic clashes since 1994 over unresolved land claims Fox promised to renew dialogue with Zapatista Rebels As president he has withdrawn significant military presence from the region August 2001 peace accords ratified but may be amended in future