1.
Countries of Latin America
ARGENTINA BUENOS AIRES
BOLIVIA LA PAZ
BRAZIL BRASILIA
CHILE SANTIAGO
COLOMBIA BOGOTA
COSTA RICA SAN JOSE
CUBA HAVANA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SANTO DOMINGO
ECUADOR QUITO
EL SALVADOR SAN SALVADOR
GUATEMALA CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA
HAITI PORT- AU-PRINCE
HONDURAS TEEGUCIGALPA
MEXICO CIUDAD DE MEXICO
NICARAGUA MANAGUA
PANAMA CIUDAD DE PANAMA
PARAGUAY ASUNCION
PERU LIMA
URUGUAY MONTEVIDEO
VENEZUELA CARACAS
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2. Presidents of Latin America
ARGENTINA MAURICEO MACRI
BOLIVIA EVO MORALES ( 2006- 2014 )
BRAZIL MICHEL TEMER
CHILE MICHELLE BACHELET ( 2014- 2018)
COLOMBIA JUAN MANUEL SANTOS ( 2010- 2016 )
COSTA RICA LUIS GUILLERMO SOLIS ( 2014- 2018 )
CUBA RAUL CASTRO ( 2006/8- 2013; 2013- 2018
)
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DANILO MEDINA ( 2012- 2016 )
ECUADOR RAFAEL COREEA ( 2006-2013; 2013-
2017 )
EL SALVADOR SALVADOR SANCEZ CEREN ( 2014-
2019 )
GUATEMALA JIMMY MORALES
HAITI MICHEL MARTELLY ( 2011- 2016 )
HONDURAS JUAN ORLANDO HERNANDEZ ( 2013-
2017 )
MEXICO ENRIQUE PENA NIETO ( 2012- 2018 )
REPRESENT PRI.
NICARAGUA DANIEL ORTEGA ( 2007- 2019 )
PANAMA JUAN CARLOS VARELA
PERU OLLANTA HUMALA ( 2011- 2016 )
PARAGUAY HORACIO CARTES ( 2013 - 2018 )
URUGUAY TABARE VAZQUEZ
VENEZUELA NICOLAS MADURO ( 2013 2019 )
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3. INDEPENDENTE IN AMERICA LATINA ( 1804 1903 )
HAITI 1804
CHILE
MEXICO 1810
COLOMBIA
PARAGUAY 1811
VENEZUELA 1811
ARGENTINA 1816
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS
NICARAGUA
1821
COSTA RICA
SALVADOR
PERU
ECUADOR 1822
BRAZIL
BOLIVIA 1825
URUGUAY
DOMINICAN 1844
REPUBLIC
CUBA 1902
PANAMA 1903
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4. CELE MAI IMPORTATE ORGANIZATII REGIONALE LATINO-AMERICANE (
SUNT 10 IN TOTAL )
a) ALBA- the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America was established in
2004.The aims are for social, political, and economic integration in Latin America and
the Caribbean. ALBA, which means dawn in Spanish, was conceived by Venezuelan
President Hugo Chvez and was created by Venezuela and Cuba as an alternative to the
U.S.-led Free Trade Area of the Americas . Countries : cuba, venezuela, bolivia,
nicaragua, honduras, dominican republic.
b) CAN (1996) bolivia, colombia, ecuador, peru, venezuela.
c) MERCOSUR- Common Market of the South , South American regional economic
organization. It was created in 1991 by the Treaty of Asuncin, which was signed by the heads
of state of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Several other countries were later admitted
as associate members, and in 2006 the presidents of the four member countries approved full
membership for Venezuela, though its final ascent was blocked for years by the Paraguayan
congress. Mercosur is headquartered in Montevideo, Uruguay.
d) NAFTA (1994) -The North American Free Trade Agreement. The NAFTA accorde
envisioned the creation of a three-nation partnership( including Canada, Mexico, US). It opened
Mexico to US investments in various ways. It stimulates US exports. NAFTA TREATY
contained chapters about investment, competition, telecommunications and financial services.it
made explicit provision for environmental protection.
e) UNASUR - Union of South American Nations- South American organization created in
2008 to propel regional integration on issues including democracy, education, energy,
environment, infrastructure, and security and to eliminate social inequality and exclusion. It was
inspired by and modeled after the European Union. The member countries : MERCOSUR and CAN
with Chile, Guyana, and Suriname.
5. WHICH ARE THE SUB-REGIONS OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE
TERRITORIAL SUBDIVISIONS?
a) Sub regions :
Southern Cone ARGENTINA, URUGUAY, PARAGUAY, CHILE
Andean Countries BOLIVIA, ECUADOR, PERU
Caribbean CUBA, HAITI, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Central America GUATEMALA, EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, NICARAGUA,
COSTA RICA, PANAMA.
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6. Civil wars in central America in the 1970s-1980s: countries
-Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador
7. Duvalier dynasty: when and how it ended
Haiti, Franois Duvalier, 1957-1986.
8. Dictatorships:
Countries controlled by dictator are using the army for the control of the population and they
have a secret police.
Venezuela- Juan Vicente Gomez
Peru- Augosto Leguia- 1919-1930 he took power by force. During his regime APRA was
formed.
Cuba- Gerardo Machado.
Brazil- 1964-1980
Paraguay- 1954-1989
Chile- 1915-2006- Augusto Pinochet
Argentina- 1966-1973- Juan Carlos Ongania BUT ALSO IN 1976-1983
Bolivia 1967- 1982 Garcia Meza
Peru 1968-1980- Juan Velasco Alvarez
Ecuador- 1972-1979- Rodriguez Lara
9. UNASUR compared with UE
UNASUR is the equivalent from Latin America of European Union. Practically UNASUR is the image
of European Union. Both of them are focusing on regional integration on issues including democracy,
education, energy, environment, infrastructure, and security and to eliminate social inequality and
exclusion. Same as UE, UNASUR allows the member states to make trade without customs tax.
UNASUR promote, much more then UE, military integration.
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10. Augusto Pinochet (1915-2006) of Chile.
He took control of the nation in 1973 after leading a coup that deposed elected leftist
leader Salvador Allende. Over the course of almost 20 years, he ruled Chile with an iron
fist, ordering the deaths of thosands of suspected leftists and communists.
11. Which are the countries colonised in LATIN AMERICA?
When Europeans reached present-day latin america, they found 3 important civilizations:
-MAYAN- They Mayans occupied the Yucatan Peninsula, Southern Mexico and most of present
day Guatemala
- AZTEC- The Aztecs were situated in the central valley of Mexico
- INCAN- Their Empire stretched for 3000 miles along the Andes, from northern Ecuador
through Peru to Southern Chile, and in to the interior as well.
12. Organization of colonies- Colonial rule and institutions of the SPANISH CROWN:
I. The Council of the Indies, of 1524, recognized the colonies as being part of the Spanish
Crown.
II. Casa de Contractacion, of 1503, dealt with trade and immigration.
III. The colonies of the Spanish Crown were organized on a system of vice royalties, those
were: Nueva Espana, Nueva Granada, Peru, Rio de la Plata. The vice royalties were governed by
vice kings- they had the highest authority in the colony and executive powers. The vice kings
were of Spanish descent and they were coming from Spain.
IV. Vice royalties were organized in provinces: important and minor provinces, which were
led by governors.
V. Audencias were dealing with the administration of justice.
VI. Real Hacienda was dealing with treasury and taxes.
VII. Guerra was dealing with the defense of the territories in the Caribbean and on the coast
and they fought the pirates.
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13. WHO DISOVERED LATIN AMERICA?
Columbus landed on an island in December 1492 and christened Hispaniola.
He discovered BAHAMAS, CUBA and SANTO DOMINGO.
He did several journeys:
- 1492
- 1493 journey of confirmation of his discovery
- 1498- after this 3rd journey he wrote a letter about his discoveries.
14. The independence in LATIN AMERICA:
- Came at the beginning of the 19th century.
- The first was HAITI- 1804 and the last one was PANAMA 1903.
- Mexico won the independence in 1810 and Peru, 1821, was among the last ones who gain
independence.
- The independence was possible because of the conquest of NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
OF PORTUGAL AND SPAIN.
- 1810- Creation of the first JUNTAS in the name of the king Ferdinand the VII on
American Soil.
15. CAUDILLO + EXAMPLE OF A CAUDILLO.
It is a military leader who became important in wars of independence and was able to safeguard
its power ad use it. He had to have CHARISMA. He used the influence of the church and its
personal army. He used PERSONALISMO and the power of his own person.
EXAMPLE OF CAUDILLO:
Martin GUEMEZ= active in the war of independence in Argentina and ruled the northwest
province of Salta from 1815 to 1821.
Chile= Diego Portales
Paraguay= Rodriguez Francia
Mexico= Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana
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16. Mexican political system:
The Mexican constitution was written in 1917 and it guaranteed property, social measures,
regarding the workers and trade unions, anticlericalism, land reform and nationalism. PRI was an
important actor in MEXICO from 1921 until 2001. Under the governance of PRI, Mexico was an
authoritarian state. PRI was defined as being a party state, and did not have an ideological
program that was meant to transform the society and the citizens living in it. It did have
revolutionary ideas.
17. MEXICAN REVOLUTION
According to Skidmore& Smith, Mexican revolution is the first of the worlds great 20s
century revolutions. Started in 1910 and ended in 1920, between Francisco I. MADERO, and
Porfirio DIAZ.
The revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist and agrarians
movements. The revolution changed from a REVOLT to a MULTI-SIDED CIVIL WAR.
18. PRI
PRI was a non-democratic regime. It was a party state system and this defines a totalitarian
system. This existence of one party state is a feature of MEXICO.
PRI did not had an ideology, it was a state controlled system. It was able to control society
because it was able to include into the party all the groups. This strategy of inclusion was
important for the Trade Unions. Zapatist rebellion mobilized the civil society. PRI lost the
control of Mexico City. The government was lost in 1987.
19. Relations between MEXICO and US.
The issue of illegal migration of Mexicans to USA is one of the most relevant for this subject.
Along with the legal migration started an illegal one. 10% of the Mexican population lives
nowadays in US. There is a wall that separates US from Mexico.
The drug traffic is another issue. This was the main problem for the president CALDERON.
He declared war to the drug cartel. Mexico served as the transit point of the cocaine heading
from Colombia toward the US market. Mexico relation to the US was a blessing for Calderons
country.
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20. Relations between USA and LATIN AMERICAN countries:
After the First World War the economic relations between USA and the LA countries were
reinforced. They wanted to create a common industry.
21. The CUBAN political system under RAUL CASTRO (- sau transition between
Fidel and Raul ) :
The transition from FIDEL to RAUL CASTRO started in 2006 and ended in 2008, when RAUL
was elected. Regarding the political system during Rauls presidency, we can say that its a
simple reminder of FIDEL CASTRO, because theres no political change under RAUL, there is
only ECONOMIC CHANGE. Citizens during Rauls period start to have a greater access to
products.
USA have renewed its embargo on Cuba- this shows that Raul is maintaining the same policies
as his brother.
Differences between the brothers are only of METHODOLOGY. Fidel prefers mass mobilization
and direct democracy, while Raul preferred system, structures and the party.
Revolution through mobilization VS Revolution through structure.
22. POPULISM AND NEO-POPULISM
Since the 1930s, populism is an important political phenomenon. Populist strives to obtain the
support of the masses, represented by the lower classes. Populism is seen as an authoritarian
government. Populists create a distinction between the masses and the few, and they present
themselves as the guardians of the masses.
Example of populist leaders: G. VARGAS + JUAN D. PERON.
Populist leaders were protecting the economics and nationality.
Neo-populism is closer to Liberalism. In neo-populism the social base consists of members of
the informal economy VS In populism the social base is represented by the organized working
class.
Neo-populism is represented by the implementation of neoliberal policies VS populism is
defined by a model of important substitution and state interventionism.
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23. VARGAS AND PERON- Populism in classical version
Since the 1930s populism is an important political phenomenon. Populists strive to obtain the
support of the masses, which more often than not are represented by the lower classes. While
many classical populists were not politically democratic, they promoted the inclusion of newly
rising sectors, especially the working class. Peron and Vargas stimulated the formation of trade
unions; extended ample social benefits to workers; and politically mobilized sectors that had
played a marginal role in national life before. While not participating in politics with full
autonomy, these newly included sectors played a decisive role in the fate of populist leaders.
Classical populists benefited the lower-middle and middle deciles in Latin America's steep social
pyramid, not the poorest sectors. In fact, the economic policies pursued by classical populists
may well have hurt the material well-being of many poorer people
24. IDEAS OF SIMON BOLIVAR
BOLIVAR sought to liberate VENEZUELA from the Spanish and hoped that the Spanish
America might become a single nation. In 1816, BOLIVAR achieved numerous victories in
Venezuela against the Spanish. He had alied with Jose Antonio PAEZ, Leader of the
ILANEROS.
Bolivar established firm control of Venezuela by early 1819. In 1821, Bolivar attempted to create
a new state of GRAN COLOMBIA, uniting VENEZUELA, NUEVA GRENADA, ECUADOR,
but he gained little support and in 1830 both Venezuela and Ecuador withdrew from Gran
Colombia.
He said that the only solution for VENEZUELA WAS A REPUBLIC. He supported the idea of a
CONFEDERATION, not a federation.
25. CONFLICTS OF THE 19TH CENTURY or WARS BETWEEN 1870-1880-1000
DAYSS WAR:
a) The war of the Pacific was a South American conflict that took place from 1879 -
1884, in which the forces of CHILE fought against a defensive alliance of BOLIVIA
and PERU.
b) The war of the Triple Alliance was fought from 1864 1870, between PARAGUAY
and allied countries of ARGENTINA, BRAZIL and URUGUYAY. It caused more deaths
than any other South American war and particularly devastated Paraguay.
c) The Thousand Days war was a CIVIL WAR fought in COLOMBIA between 1899
1902.
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The basic conflict behind the war was the conflict between LIBERALS AND
CONSERVATIVES, so it was an IDEOLOGICAL WAR.
100. 000 Colombians had died.
The fundamental issues the conservatives favored a strong central government, limited
Voting rights, and strong links between church and state.
On the other hand, the liberals favored stronger regional governments, universal voting
rights and division between church and state.
26. Stroessner regime:
Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, was a Paraguayan military officer and dictator from 1954 to
1989. His regime is notable for its length, surpassed in the 20th century only by that of
FIDEL CASTRO of Cuba (1959- 2008). He was able to maintain his regime because he
declared that he was anti-communist and received support from the US. A very strong cult of
personality was developed compared to that of Ceausescu. The Colorado party established a
regime that is closer to the communist ones; they were allied with the armed forces as a
dominating element of the regime. The stronato is still important in Paraguay. Its
comparable with the Castro regime in Cuba.
27. There are 3 phases of development in Latin America in 19th century:
1820-1850 characterized by a political model called the conversative republic. Its the first
republic dominated by the caudillos
1850- 1870 period of transition. A new political model that crystallized around 1870.
1870- 1900 an oligarchic republic.
28. 3 economical organizations in the 19th century:
1) A first group of countries in the southern cone agricultural products: cereals, meat.
Infrastructure was built in order to exploit this type of products.
2) A second kind of countries were those that produced tropical products ( coffee, sugar<
tabacco, bananas) developed in a system of plantations. Only the plantation was
profitable, the rest wasnt.
3) A third type of countries: minerals, metals. Mexico, Bolivia (silver), Chile, Peru.
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29. The importance of truth commission:
It is organized after a traumatic experience, after a dictatorship. In raport are included the
motives that led to the crisis. A presentation of the map of the repression and it presents the truth
that is unknown. The report includes those that participated at the process.
The first commission was organized in BRAZIL - 1979- 1985 ( PROYECTO BRAZIL
NUNCA MASS ), by the catholic church. Reports- include a part that talks about retributions to
victims that survived and families of those that died. aimed to reestablish rights.
30. National security doctrine
Its the ideology which stood at the basis of military action of those who inspired military
dictatorships. Characterized: left wing opposition, promotion of western christian values as faith
in GOD. They blamed the left movements for the moral downfall of society, they wanted to
transform society. Also they had repressive actions.
31. THE SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA, URUGUAY, PARAGUAY, CHILE.
32. Andean countries:
They were part of the INCA EMPIRE. They were part of the viceroyalty of Peru.
33. Presidentialism In L.A. compared to presidentialism in USA.
Latin American presidents have devised countless means of partially circumventing
legislative vetoes and countering immobilism. Their constitutional authority in legislating
, appointing officials, and enacting emergency measures generally exceeds that of U.S.
presidents. Scholars called attention to the dominance of presidents in the political
systems of most Latin American countries and contrasted this tendency with a balance of
powers in the United States. A system of checks and balance was described in the
constitutions of Latin American states, but it was not fully applied. Many constitutions of
the Latin American states enabled the presidents to veto specified items of proposed
legislation, in contrast with the U.S. Constitution, which allowed presidents to veto only
entire bills. Decree laws enabled Latin American presidents to legislate, a power not held
by U.S. presidents. Latin American presidents generally had greater control over the
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budget than U.S. presidents. They also often had broader powers than U.S. presidents in
making appointments.
34. Cuban revolution: - 1959
35. When CASTRO declared himself a socialist? 1961
36. Types of GUERRILLAS:
URBAN Uruguay, Argentina, Chile.
RURAL Central America, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia.
37. Operation Condor
It was a secret intelligence and operations system created in the 1970s through which the
South American military regimes coordinated intelligence information and seized, tortured,
and executed political opponents in combined cross- border operations.
Condors key members were: ARGENTINA, CHILE, URUGUAY, PARAGUAY,
BOLIVIA, and BRAZIL, later joined by ECUADOR and PERU.
38. State terrorism
State terrorism designed the high degree of repression. The internal enemy was
Communism. The military dictatorships took governments and ruled for themselves. The
ideological support was called the doctrine of national security development both in the
SCHOOL OF AMERICANS but also from the Superior school of war established in
1949 in Brazil.
39. Transition to democracy
It began in ECUADOR and it ended in PARAGUAY and CHILE. In 1989 all countries of
South America had democracies. Truth commissions are part of the process of
democratization.
The process of Transition is different from Central America to South America. In South
America the transition to democracy was represented by a process of negotiation between the
military and the elites. In Central America, guerilla movements fought military governments
and were able to implement democracy and peace only with the help of international
supervision.
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After the transition, there were still problems, in the sense that, citizens obtained what they
didnt expect from democracy. They realize that politicians are corrupt this is called
democratic disenchantment
40. Countries occupied by US ( there are 5 countries )
CUBA, HAITI, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, NICARAGUA, PANAMA.
41. The TRIANGLE OF VIOLENCE + actors of it.
- Guerilla movements, drug traffic and paramilitary operations.
Triangular conflicts among drug cartels, guerillas, and paramilitaries inflicted frightful levels
of violence on Colombian society.
Urban and rural guerillas: Bogota (urban)
FARC (rural)
Drug cartel: MEDELIN
Paramilitary organizations: MAS and ACCU
42. What is new left and who inspired it? Nu stiu
43. Alliance of progress:
- Initiated by US president, John F. Kennedy in 1961 aimed to establish economic
cooperation between North and South America. It was signed at an inter-American
conference at PUNTA DEL ESTE, Uruguay, 1961.
44. Alberto FUJIMORI and Salvador ALLENDE:
FUJIMORI served as president of Peru from 1990- 2000. He has been credited with
uprooting terrorism in Peru and restoring macroeconomic stability, through his methods
have drawn charges of authoritarian and human rights violations.
ALLENDE established a Marxist regime in Chile. He adopted the policy of
nationalization of industries and collectivization.
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45. FALKLAND WAR.
Between ARGENTINA and UK. Started in 1982 with the Argentine invasion and
occupation of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and ended with the Argentine
surrender on 14th June 1982. The conflict was the result of a protracted diplomatic
confrontation regarding the sovereignty of the islands
46. Chavez
He was elected for the first time in December 1998. He used the image of Bolivar in order to
legitimize his power and to connect himself to Bolivar heritage.
47. Military
In some countries a new type of actor appears and becomes political actives: Peru, Brazil,
and Argentina.
The military became involved in politics. There are several ways in which the military
intervene in politics:
- Golpe de Estado;
- Pronunciamento ;
- Cartelazo;
- Machetismo.
48. Somoza Dinasty
Was an influential political dynasty who ruled Nicaragua as a hereditary dictatorship.
43 years, they were the power behind the other presidents of the time through their control of
the National Guard.
49. Why is Uruguay different in Latin America?
Social democracy, lack of indigenous population, stable democracy in the last 15 years.
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50. Puncto Fijo Pact
- Was a formal arrangement arrived at between representatives of Venezuelas 3 main
political parties in 1958 :
a) Accion Democratica
b) COPEI
c) Union Republicana Democratica
For the acceptance of the 1958 presidential elections and the preservation of the rising
democratic regime.
51. Peronism
- Was characterized by national sovereignty, protectionism, social justice personified by
Eva Peron.
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