Authoritarianism in perspective

1
Authoritarianism in perspective

• We tend to look at dirty wars (or periods of
  massive human rights abuse) as historical
  aberrations, deviations from the norm
• Much scholarly research questions these
  dichotomies

2
Authoritarianism in perspective

• Greg Grandin, The Last Colonial Massacre (2004)
• The authoritarian period in Latin America should
  be understood as a counterrevolution that
  reversed the democratic gains of mid-century
• Why did dictatorships happen? To reverse the
  gains made by popular masses in first wave of
  democracy
• Latin American democracies of mid-century
  included extensive provisions for social rights
  todays Latin American democracies are modeled on
  individual rights
• This vision of history grounded in continuous
  battles over resources and power

3
Why does this argument matter?

• US intervention in 20th century Latin America
  typically explained by containment doctrine of
  Cold War
• -Reactive, defensive posture against Soviet
  expansion
• This limits our understanding because makes
  period appear unique obscures continuities

4
The Soviet threat?

• Everyone agrees security threat was vastly
  overstated
• Was overstating the threat an innocent mistake?
• Divergence between internal record and publicly
  stated policy (Soviet containment)
• internal record suggests concerns triggered by
  domestic policy in countries
• Twofold preoccupation
• 1) US economic interests threatened by domestic
  policies, and
• 2) US hegemony threatened if socialist policies
  succeeded

5
Motivations for intervention

• Ronald Reagan on Central America
• My fellow Americans, the question is not
  whether we want peace in Central America. The
  question is Will we meet a growing danger from
  the Soviets, East Germans, Bulgarians, North
  Koreans, Cubans, and PLO camped on our doorstep
  a danger which already is disrupting peace in
  Central America and will soon imperil our own
  security? One thing alone unites these enemies
  of democracy hatred for America and Americas
  values.
• (March 8, 1986 presidential address)

6
Motivations for intervention

• President Nixon on Chile
• US main concern "is the prospect that he
  Allende can consolidate himself and the picture
  projected to the world will be his success...If
  we let the potential leaders in South America
  think they can move like Chile and have it both
  ways, we will be in trouble.
• (Nov, 6, 1970 memo of Nixons remarks at
  NSC meeting on Chile)
• Divergence between publicly stated aims and
  internal discussions suggests that the 'Soviet
  expansionism' rationale was not the only or main
  motivator, though it was the main way issue was
  publicly discussed

7
William Robinson, Promoting Polyarchy

• US fundamental interest in Latin America is and
  has always been protecting its position of power
• Policies have shifted, but not purpose of
  policies
• During Cold War, Communist threat was not the
  driving force behind US foreign policy
• Motive for US interventions protect budding
  system of international capitalism under US
  domination

8
William Robinson, Promoting Polyarchy

• In early post WW2 years, democracy itself not of
  much interest to USAgt US propped up
  dictatorships as way of ensuring stability for
  capital
• 1970sgt crisis in many dictatorships system no
  longer stable
• 1980sgtUS turned to democracy promotion as
  cornerstone of foreign policy
• Policies justified in different language, but
  purposes unchanged

9
William Robinson, Promoting Polyarchy

• democracy promotion is a hegemonic project of
  global capitalist elite
• Gramsci when dominant class achieves hegemony,
  subordinate classes consent to own domination
  because buy into value system, ideology
• Therefore, ideas matter they either support the
  system or challenge it
• Ideological buy-in is a part of control