1. Military Dictatorships in Latin America
Brazil, Chile and Argentina
Why and how did these dictatorships come to power?
What were the consequences of these dictatorships?

2. Socio-economic problems in Latin America
Adult illiteracy
Low GDP per Capita
Land ownership
High urban rents
Unemployment and underemployment
Lack of economic development
Lack of economic diversity
The role of the Catholic Church
Income inequality
Racial divides

3. Different Types of Government in Latin America: self-serving despots
Fulgencio Batista
Rafael Trujilo

4. Different Types of Government in Latin America: elected left-wingers
Salvador Allende
Jacobo Arbenz

5. Different Types of Government in Latin America: populists
Getulio Vargas
Juan Peron

6. Evaluation of the effectiveness of despots, left-wingers and populists
Despots were unquestionably loyal to the USA but catered to a tiny elite and increasingly ‘eccentric’; this rendered them ineffective and were ultimately abandoned by the US
Left-wingers were vehemently opposed by conservative social and economic elites (supported by the US); their election often polarized local populations and eventually became the victims of military coup d’etats
Populists, although they managing to unify different strands of society for long periods, were often targeted by extremists on both sides and of spectrum and were riddled with corruption. Ultimately, they could not maintain their support base.

7. Why did so many Latin American countries resort to military dictatorships in the 1960’s and ’70’s?
Fear of radical reform
Increasing instability
Desire to remain pro-US

8. Brazil in 1964 Had been ruled by Joao Goulart since 1961
He was an elected left-winger who replaced moderate conservative Janio Quandros
Social and economic elites feared Goulart would initiate radical land reform (he had already reached out to communist states like Cuba, China and the USSR)
Brazilian society was already very polarized in a way that was very common in Latin America at this time
Peasant leagues (ligas), trade unionists and students were particularly vocal in demanding reform

9. Chile in 1973 Salvador Allende was elected by a slim majority in 1970
Immediately, he was opposed by economic and social elites who feared radical land and economic reform
The CIA covertly organized truck driver strikes which caused huge food shortages and inflation, paralyzing the country
Copper companies and multinationals cut back on production adding further stress on the economy
Students and intellectuals pressed for reforms while some peasants and workers took control of land and factories without government authorization, enacting reforms from below

10. Argentina in 1976
Juan Peron returned from exile in 1973 and led the Peronistas into power but refused to unite the different factions within the movement
In fact he began to side with far-right/fascist side of the Peronist movement, whose disintegration foreshadowed national instability
Upon his death in 1974, his wife Isabel took power but was essentially a puppet for the right wing of the party
Prior to her removal by the military in 1976, her government was characterized by guerrilla warfare between far-right paramilitary death squads and marxist rebels

11. How did the military seize power in Brazil, Argentina and Chile?
All removed civilian rulers by coup d’etat
The military rulers who replaced them were different from military officers of the past- they studied the social and economic conditions of their countries
Many officers from across the region attended the same military training facilities (Inter-American Military System) run by OAS, including the School of the Americas
Brazil’s move to absolute dictatorship was gradual, while Chile’s and Argentina’s were immediate

12. What were the effects of these dictatorships?
Abandonment of Import-Substitution Industrialization (ISI) policies and embracement of Milton Friedman’s supply side economics (Minimal government regulation, low taxes, less government spending)
Suppression of civil liberties and democracy
Government-sponsored terrorism to remove dissent- kidnappings, murders, detainment and torture

13. Government repression
Brazil: 200 killed, 10,000 forced into exile and 50,000 detained and tortured
Chile: 3,200 killed, 80,000 detained and 30,000 tortured
Argentina: 30,000 ‘disappeared’ as part of the ‘Dirty War’

14. Economic Legacy
There were economic recoveries in Brazil and Chile but these recoveries were unequal
The results in Argentina were more mixed: the sudden exposure of foreign competition to Argentine industry (for so long protected by government subsidies and protectionism by ISI) reduced growth
All three governments reduced wages, social spending, taxation and government regulation, making their countries more attractive to foreign investment
The results of their economic policies has been increased economic inequality, exacerbating age-old socio-economic issues common to the region

15. How did these countries return to civilian rule?
Argentina: Human rights abuses exposed by the Madres de Plaza de Mayo. Together with stagflation by the end of the 1970’s, this grassroots protest movement encouraged further resistance. The invasion of the Malvinas in 1982 was an attempt to garner nationalist support but a quick defeat to the UK created further financial problems and led to the collapse of military rule by 1983
Brazil: Military rulers recognized economic failures and promised ‘distensão’- a gradual return to civilian by 1985
Chile: The end of the Cold War saw a withdrawal of US support and pressure for free elections, which Pinochet lost, in 1989