Argentina was the first country that experienced after the Second World War the rising of a regime that was claiming to be on the side of the working classes. It was led by Juan Peron. He gradually distanced himself from any democratic means of governing and was eventually overthrown by a coup d'etat, in 1955. From exile, Peron continued to influence the political scene in his country of origin. The regimes that followed were still unable to provide political stability, although the country was in economic progress. Peron was able to influence and lead the masses and his supporters once more so that he was reelected for the last time in 1793, in order to survive only until 1974 when he died, leaving his wife as his successor.
Brazil is an example of military coup after a successful democratic regime that followed closely the end of the Second World War. The country was governed by a military authoritative regime from 1964 until 1985. During these years, Brazil was confronted with major socio-economic problems, political scandals, conflicts between the landowners and those living in the countryside that did not own any land etc.
Columbia was another country that was often devastated by political conflicts. Fights between the two opposing parties did...
The struggles for power went through, being fueled by assassination on one side or another. Various guerilla groups appeared during the 1960s. The violence increased at a different level when powerful drug cartels literally took over control in different areas off the country. They were also financial sources for the different political players, fueling the political war. A few joined forces with some guerilla groups, becoming armed and dangerous factions fighting for power and control.
The reasons for the political violence in the Latin American countries after the Second World War are diverse. They reflect not only huge social differences, social exclusion, gaps between the majority formed of poor and a handful of oligarchs, but they go deeper in history, on the traces of the first conquistadors. The fate of the Indians that were unfortunate enough to live during the times Cortez and his men set foot on this land was sealed by the sacrifice of millions of innocent natives. Latin America never really recovered after those wounds inflicted by the so called European civilized world. Natives, Creoles, slaves were brought together by the tides of history and thrown into a world that is still trying to find the resources of organizing itself.
