Author: ELIZABETH GONZALEZ

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Research project 4: Latin America in the media

Bolivia and Indigenous Rights

An article titled “Bitter political fight in Bolivia is paralyzing the government as unrest boils over economic crisis” covered by AP News, an American company, and goes into detail about the political and economic unrest within Bolivia as the South American country struggles to maintain its once-stable economy, with a financial crisis at hand; workers marched 60 miles demanding the US capital to lower prices as they have soap and currency reserves run scarce. Bolivia is also a huge exporter of lithium and natural gas, meaning scarcity for US dollars and making it difficult to stabilize the economy. This uprising began due to the political drama that emerged as there was a battle for leadership between Luis Acre and Evo Morales. Protesters were trying to fight back for Morales, as he was then the first indigenous president. Union workers and indigenous communities saw opportunity and representation from Morales, but were afraid to see the opposite within Acres. After the pandemic, the Acres brought a lack of success to the country, and many supporters from Cochabamba want Morales to “save” Bolivia. 

This goes into some of the context behind Bolivia’s history with the privatization of their gas and foreign control over their natural resources. During the water wars in 2000 in Bolivia, many protests occurred in Cochabamba in response to the privatization of their water as they wanted to protect their water. The fight over water rights shows the indigenous people of Bolivia have been fighting to keep their resources from becoming profit opportunities. While these decisions are a step into modernization in a fast-changing world, it also creates a problem for indigenous peoples who want others to respect their rights to their land and territory. This is seen in a secondary source called “Sub-Central of Indigenous Peoples: Mojeños-Yuracaré-Chimane of the Indigenous Territory.” TIPNIS was a project that was proposed to build a road to link Beni and Cochabamba and sparked the conversation of the rights of indigenous peoples due to environmental degradation. Many laws were passed to protect the rights of indigenous communities and symbolize steps towards respecting their territory. We also see how colonizers wanted to transform indigenous people and their environment to be more “civil” because the indigenous lives differed with their traditions and customs (335). Towards the end of the document, we see a list of ways that the indigenous peoples of Bolivia stand their ground as a community to fight against marginalization over their territory (337).

 All in all, the article highlights the indigenous majority within Bolivia and that despite economic and political failures under Morales’s administration in the past, he created a balance between indigenous corners and modernization. The political rivalry itself affects political representation and disproportionately affects these communities economically.

Works Cited

Sub-Central of Indigenous Peoples: Mojeños-Yuracaré-Chimane of the Indigenous Territory Isiboro Sécure National Park (TIPNIS), “Resolution No. 00014/2009,” in Latin America since Independence: A History with Primary Sources, 3rd ed., ed. Alexander Dawson (Routledge, 2022), p. (335, 337).

Valdez, Carlos, and Isabel Debre. “Bitter political fight in Bolivia is paralyzing the government as unrest boils over economic crisis | AP News.” AP News, 23 June 2024, apnews.com/article/bolivia-morales-arce-political-economic-crisis-d38051e051a2e6473a18133e4a9c6120.

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Research project 3: Latin America in the Cold War

The Cold War in Argentina “Conversation with Argentine Intelligence Source”

https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB416/docs/800407dos.pdf

Starting in 1945, the Cold War occurred post-World War II with conflicts between the Soviet Union and the United States. The Cold War began in 1945 with confrontations between the Soviet Union and the United States. These conflicts involved military, political, and ideological rivalry, impacting countries globally, specifically Latin America. Many Latin American countries experienced harsh authoritarian bureaucracies and military technocracies to prevent the spread of leftist ideologies. More specifically, in Argentina, there was a lot of political turmoil between the leftist and right-wing beliefs. During the 1970’s, Operation Condor came into effect, a campaign coordinated by military dictatorships to suppress leftist believers. The military dictatorship in Argentina enacted the Dirty War as they believed that the city was the issue as the “enemy is within.” Ultimately, politics were the real threats to society and committed crimes and brutal interrogation tactics such as abductions, torture, and disappearances.

The source above is called “Conversation with Argentine Intelligence Source.” A regional security officer spoke with a member of Argentine intelligence as they discussed the disappearance of two montoneros between Mexico and Rio de Janeiro. A separate montonero was captured and interrogated, as they revealed that they would meet Horacio Campiglia and Susana Binstok. Other montoneros were captured and interrogated on their plans to prevent threats and chaos. The Argentine intelligence went to great lengths to cover up their operations with false trials and manipulation tactics. It further reveals how the country’s authoritative figures went to all lengths to target Montero guerrillas. Ultimately, the Cold War is shaping Argentine internal actions as their military dictatorship wants to eliminate any threats through state violence, operations, and more to detect suspected leftists.

This relates to a conversation between the secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, and Argentine foreign minister, Admiral Cesar Guzzetti, in 1976. They spoke about Argentina being in a difficult period of political terrorist activities. These activities are causing issues over controlling the people and maintaining order. Kissinger also offered to help Argentina by involving other powerful people to stabilize the country. Some destabilization stems from foreigners or asylum seekers from different countries. This means that as people seek refuge, it also means bringing threats and terrorists. The cause of this oftentimes is anti-imperialist perspectives and other perspectives that go against Western ideals. A solution is carried out as well; to end terrorism and strengthen the country as a whole, everyone must understand the causes of issues that occur within society. 

Additionally, because of the terrorist threats and suspicions amongst the public, Argentinians were kidnapped from the street or even their homes. These people went through brutal torture methods by the military and were oftentimes killed or didn’t live to tell the stories of what they endured. However, some survivors have come forward to recount in testimonies the atrocities they went through and expose the violation of human rights and abuse that occurred. In an account by a survivor, they claimed that they were beaten down, electrocuted, burned, tied up, and so much worse. These torture methods were meant to intimidate and force answers out of people by embedding fear, as these horror stories show the aggressiveness of the military. It’s very dehumanizing to break someone down mentally and physically as the militia has.

The archive and the history of the Cold War in Argentina illustrates how the geopolitical fears intersected with the political crisis that was occurring in Argentina. This brought on brutal campaigns through military dictatorships that abused human rights to get rid of anyone who was seen or perceived to be a national threat. The conversation between Kissinger and Guzzetti reflects the United States’ support for the Argentine dictatorship, even if it means instilling fear and terror in society. The testimonies themselves show the extremes of the Cold War era in Latin America in just one region alone, as domestic fears were weaponized to justify such cruelty in Argentina.

Citation

Department of State, SECRET, “Conversation with Argentine Intelligence Source,” Buenos Aires, memorandum, April 7, 1980, Operation Condor on Trial: Legal Proceedings on Latin American Rendition and Assassination Program Open in Buenos Aires, (Washington, D.C.: The National Security Archive and Chadwyck-HeaIey, 1990), National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 416, posted March 8, 2013.

Memorandum of Conversation between Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Argentine Foreign Minister Admiral Cesar Guzzetti, Secret, 10 June 1976,” in Latin America since Independence: A History with Primary Sources, 3rd ed.,ed. Alexander Dawson, (Routledge, 2022), p. 247-249

National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons, “Never Again,” in The Argentina Reader: History, Culture, Politics, ed. Gabriella Nouzeilles and Graciela Montaldo, (Duke University Press, 2002), p. 442-444

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Research project 2: Images of Latin America in the late 1800s and early 1900s

South America

During the late 19th century

During the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, liberalists believed in free trade and exchange across borders. The Industrial Revolution dominated most political and economic conversations during this period, bringing modernity to the forefront. Finding ways to use resources like railroads and machinery to generate more wealth for nations was part of this economic transformation. Since slavery had been abolished in most countries in the Caribbean and South America, postcolonial challenges included finding ways to obtain resources and create profit in the New World and Europe. Because of the geographical component of countries located in South America, it was difficult to navigate due to mountains, lack of rivers, and citations of mining systems flooding and caving in. Therefore, using the coasts of countries like Costa Rica, Mexico, and Colombia were ways for ships and cargo to be transported from the Americas to the New World. More challenges rose as he led civil wars. Some of these wars occurred due to liberal reformed disapproval of opening the access of exports, like El Gran Rosas. On the other hand, being a caudillo means being an agent of change. With themes of liberalism meant adapting to the modernizing world. More specifically, railroads were introduced into Latin America on flat lands to be able to transport raw materials. The emperor of Brazil also decided to invest in railroads and manufacturing to modernize as well. Some of these included henequen from Mexico, guano in the Chincha Islands, sugarcane, coffee, etc. This also meant that the colonial elites were entering and industrializing Latin America. In certain cases, indigenous leaders would give political rights to Europeans, leading to failed economic and political projects. Engaging in a liberal economy meant a lack of discriminatory practices. Aside from the economic side of neocolonialism, ethnic nationalism meant that members of a nation would identify through their identities, like those from Mexico would be Mexicans, rather than being divided by roots and such. Conforming to the national identity is what gave you rights. The map above shows a lot of history and ideals that occurred during the 1850s to 1900s, including philosophies, economic and political transformations, as well as gerographical components that go into the era of the 19th century . 

WORKS CITED:

“Geography of South America.” Tulane University Libraries, uploaded by The Latin American Library, library.search.tulane.edu/discovery/delivery/01TUL_INST:Tulane/12433174960006326.

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Research project 1: Visualizing Latin American independence

Revenge taken by the Black Army for the Cruelties practiced on them by the French

The artwork that I chose is titled “Revenge Taken by the Black Army for the Cruelties Practiced in Them by the French.” The artwork depicts black soldiers hanging a French colonialist soldier at the gallows. In the background, other black soldiers are preparing to kill another French soldier. This is about the Haitian rebellion in Saint-Domingue during the late 18th century from the bloody conflicts between the natives and the French. The French Revolution in Saint-Domingue was a huge catalyst for the talk of independence, freedom, and the meaning of liberty and power for people of color. Racial ideologies obscured this concept, suggesting that an enslaved individual couldn’t lead a genuine life. In France, their political government was ultimately falling apart in 1789. In the lectures, it was said that the corrupt government led to many French intellectual discussions on liberty and freedom, which in many ways was translated into the colonies. This was done through sailors traveling and transferring the information, like a huge game of telephone. The enslaved heard of such talk about liberty and realized how this was a huge opportunity to further destabilize the French by revolting. Even free people of color in France were being denied their rights by the colonial government, further leading to revolts. 

In August of 1791, the rebellion began, where the enslaved joined together in self-liberation, burning plantations, killing their masters, and finding ways to fight against the brutal colonial power. This goes into the conversation of slaves doing the “unthinkable.” Slaves were rendered “incompetent” and incapable of having the “mental capacity” to understand that slavery was humanely wrong and that they shouldn’t be controlled by colonial powers after all. The slaves were intelligent, some of whom knew very well how to read and write. This was rooted in racial bias, discrimination, and prejudice that was rooted in slavery that convinced Europeans to believe that black people were inferior. The French in this case believed that it was impossible for the slaves to revolt, so when they did, they were in shock that their colony was now revolting against them, a colony that they depended on to stabilize their economy (slave society). This was a radical step into the Haitian revolution as slaves led revolts across multiple plantations, escaped, and formed armies to fight back in bloody battles against the French. This turned extremely violent and brutal, but it was powerful to see how the very first country in the Caribbean gained their independence and fought back to claim their rights back. 

Speaking of Black soldiers, Toussaint L’ Overture was a strong leader in the Haitian revolution who led the enslaved people into victory against the French colonizers with his military expertise and dedication to requip a strong black army to overcome adversity. He was an inspiration for black soldiers to show no fear and combat for justice. 

All in all, the Haitians achieved independence in 1804 from the French and set the bar high for other colonies in the Caribbean for self-liberation and taking power back from the Europeans. This also goes to show the potential and power that the enslaved have had all along; they were just brainwashed into thinking they were inferior and incapable. 

WORKS CITED

Fick, Carolyn E. “The French Revolution in Saint Domingue: A Triumph or a Failure?” in A Turbulent Time: The French Revolution and The Greater Caribbean,

Editors: David B. Gaspar and David P. Geggus, 51-75. Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2003.

Revenge taken by the Black Army for the Cruelties practiced on them by the French https://jcb.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/detail/JCB~1~1~576~230088:Revenge-taken-by-the-Black-Army-for?sort=image_date%2Csubject_groups&qvq=q:haiti;sort:image_date%2Csubject_groups;lc:JCBMAPS~3~3,JCB~3~3,JCBMAPS~2~2,JCBBOOKS~1~1,JCBMAPS~1~1,JCB~1~1&mi=11&trs=2244