Utopia Unarmed: The Latin American Left After the Cold WarWith the collapse of Soviet communism, the Latin American left, whether in or out of power, faces challenges that will inevitably affect the United States' involvement in the region. In this searching and insightful analysis, the Mexican political scientist Jorge Castaneda shows why hostility and misunderstanding between the left and the United States have endured since the 1920s, and why we have never fully understood or adequately dealt with the vast region to the south. In the past, Soviet-oriented Communist parties throughout the hemisphere have blamed every evil on the United States. But not once, claims Castaneda, has the Latin left proved capable of solving its dilemma of how to carry out revolution or lasting reforms without incurring the wrath of Washington. Castaneda examines the strengths and weaknesses of Fidel Castro, Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, the Peronists, Lula and the PT in Brazil, the Sandinistas, the Shining Path, and other representatives of the left. Rich in incident and revealing anecdotes and portraits, Utopia Unarmed describes the clashing interests, distrust, and insensitivity that have mailed the conflict between the two continents, and that in their repetitive nature would seem comical were it not for their tragic outcomes. Finally, the book outlines the dramatic changes that are taking place today in Latin America which are likely to produce a modern, mature, and truly imaginative relationship with the United States that has been absent in the past. |
Contents
Nationbuilding and the Origins | 9 |
The Cuban Crucible | 51 |
The Second Coming | 90 |
Copyright | |
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Allende alliance Argentina armed struggle authoritarian base communities became Brazil Brazilian Buenos Aires Cárdenas Carlos Castro CEBS Central Chile Chilean Church civil society Colombia Communist Party constituency country's coup Cuba Cuban Revolution decade democracy democratic economic elections electoral elite emerged Europe FMLN force foreign grass roots groups Guatemala Havana hemisphere human rights Ibid ideological important industrial intellectuals interview issue José labor Latin Amer Latin America Latin American left leaders leadership left-wing left's Managua Manuel Piñeiro mass ment Mexican Mexico City middle class military Montoneros municipal nationalist Nicaragua organizations participation Paulo peasant percent Perón Peru Piñeiro policies political poor popular population populist problem radical reform reformist regimes region Régis Debray revolutionary role Salvador Salvadorean Sandinistas São Paulo sectors Sendero seventies Shining Path social social-democratic Soviet Union stance tion traditional transformation United urban vote