Background: Authoritarian Rule and the Push for Change
- During the 1970s and early 1980s, much of Latin America was ruled by military dictatorships, which justified their control as protection against communism during the Cold War.
- Regimes in countries like Argentina and Chile used repression, censorship, and human rights violations to maintain power.
- Economic decline, debt crises, and international criticism gradually eroded the legitimacy of these regimes.
- The late 1980s saw a wave of democratization across Latin America, influenced by both internal pressure(citizen protests, unions, Church movements) and external factors (U.S. policy shifts, global economic institutions, and human rights advocacy).
Definition
Authoritarianism
- Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the consolidation of power in a single leader or small group, limited political pluralism, repression of dissent, and little to no accountability to the public.
Case study
Argentina’s Transition to Democracy (1983)
- Argentina suffered under a brutal military dictatorship (1976–1983) known for the “Dirty War”, during which thousands of political opponents disappeared.
- The regime’s defeat in the Falklands War (1982) against Britain destroyed its credibility and triggered mass public protests.
- Civil society, human rights groups like the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, and a weakened military paved the way for free elections.
- In 1983, Raúl Alfonsín of the Radical Civic Union (UCR) became president, marking a return to democracy.
- Alfonsín initiated trials for human rights abuses, restored civil liberties, and began rebuilding democratic institutions.
- Economic instability and military unrest remained challenges, but Argentina’s democracy endured.
Definition
Civil society
- Organizations and groups outside government that work to represent citizens’ interests (e.g., unions, churches, NGOs).
Chile’s Transition to Democracy (1990)
- Chile was ruled by General Augusto Pinochet, who seized power in a 1973 coup that overthrew socialist president Salvador Allende.
- Pinochet’s military regime combined political repression with free-market reforms guided by the “Chicago Boys,” which improved growth but deepened inequality.
- By the late 1980s, growing domestic opposition, Church activism, and pressure from Western democracies weakened the regime.
- In 1990, Patricio Aylwin, a moderate Christian Democrat, took office as Chile’s first democratic leader in 17 years.
- Pinochet retained influence as head of the army until 1998, but democracy gradually strengthened.
Definition
Plebiscite
- A direct vote by citizens on an important public issue, such as leadership or constitutional change.
Internal and External Factors in Democratization
- Internal Factors
- Growing economic crises and loss of legitimacy of military governments.
- Middle-class activism, student protests, and human rights movements demanding justice and elections.
- The Catholic Church played a moderating role, promoting peace and reconciliation.
- External Factors
- Decline of the Cold War reduced U.S. support for anti-communist dictatorships.
- Pressure from international organizations (OAS, UN) and human rights groups pushed for reform.
- Global financial institutions (IMF, World Bank) demanded economic liberalization and political stability as conditions for loans.
Common Mistake
- Treating democratization as a single event. It was a gradual process shaped by both political and social change.
- Ignoring the role of the Catholic Church and civil society, which were key internal forces for reform.
- Assuming democracy meant immediate stability. Both Argentina and Chile still faced economic and social inequality.
Exam technique
- Use two-country comparisons (like Argentina and Chile) to show understanding of regional diversity.
- Distinguish internal vs. external causes clearly in your essay.
- Mention specific leaders, dates, and events (Falklands War, 1988 plebiscite) to strengthen analysis.
Theory of Knowledge
- Power and Justice: Can true democracy exist without accountability for past human rights violations?
- Knowledge and Truth: How do nations rebuild trust after censorship and propaganda?
- Globalization: How does international pressure influence domestic political reform?
Self review
- To what extent did internal factors play a greater role than external ones in the democratization of Latin America?
- Compare and contrast the processes of democratization in two Latin American countries.
- Assess the significance of economic and human rights issues in ending military rule in Latin America.
