Latin America's Democratic Crusade: The Transnational Struggle against Dictatorship, 1920s-1960s

This transnational history challenges the Cold War paradigm by emphasizing the decades-long struggle of Latin American reformers to defeat authoritarianism. It argues that the struggle was not between capitalism and communism but between democracy and dictatorship, with reformers declaring that no civilian government was safe until the cancer of dictatorship was excised from the hemisphere. Dictators retaliated, often with deadly results, exporting strategies to guarantee their political survival. The book also highlights the political convulsions and aftershocks of the Cold War, which are still felt today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 736 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2023
Publisher: Yale University Press

This transnational history delves into the profound struggle of Latin American reformers, who have dedicated decades to defeating authoritarianism. By challenging the conventional Cold War paradigm, it offers a fresh perspective on the region's political evolution. Scholars have often portrayed the Cold War as a clash between left and right, with the Global South being either willingly or unwittingly used as pawns by Washington and Moscow. However, this book proposes a different narrative. Allen Wells argues that the primary conflict during this era was not between capitalism and communism, as was commonly believed, but rather between democracy and dictatorship.

The fight against authoritarianism took on a multifaceted nature, encompassing political, ideological, and cultural dimensions. Reformers, driven by the conviction that despots posed an existential threat, declared that no civilian government could be considered safe until the cancer of dictatorship was eradicated from the hemisphere. Dictators, in response, retaliated with deadly force, employing strategies honed at home to ensure their political survival. This transnational history also incorporates a belated Cold War, which unfolded alongside the struggle against authoritarianism. The Cold War brought with it political convulsions and aftershocks that continue to resonate today.

By centering the narrative on the experiences and perspectives of Latin American reformers, this transnational history provides a more comprehensive understanding of the region's political development. It challenges the notion that the Cold War was solely a conflict between superpowers and highlights the important role played by ordinary citizens and grassroots movements in shaping the course of history. This book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of power, resistance, and change in Latin America and beyond, contributing to a deeper appreciation of the ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights.

Weight: 1224g
Dimension: 167 x 243 x 47 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300264401