Revolution in Latin America

1. Revolution in Latin America Conflict, Chaos and Cocaine in Colombia

2. Major Revolutionary Movements • “Revolution” goal: • Transformation of oppressive societal structures • Most movements in Latin America aspire to transformation but fail to achieve this goal. • Three periods: • Independence – elite “revolution” • Influence of Fidel (1959-90 to Sandinista defeat) • Individuals – new social movements (indigenous)

3. South American Movements • Argentina • 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

4. Caribbean and Central American Movements • Cuba • 26th of July Movement 1959-Present • El Salvador • Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), 1980-1992. • Mexico • Mexican Revolution 1910 • Chiapas, Zapatistas – Ejercito Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, 1 January 1994 • Nicaragua • Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), 1979-1990

5. Colombia • La Violencia 1948-1958. • 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 19th Movement)

6. Colombian Politics • 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.

7. 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

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

9. 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.