The Bolivian, Cuban, and Chilean revolutions compared

Revolution Cuba, Bolivia, Chile

The Bolivian, Cuban, and Chilean Revolutions Compared and Contrasted

The purpose of this paper is a comparison of the Bolivian Revolution of 1952, the Cuban Revolution of 1959, and the "attempted revolution" of the Allende presidency in Chile in the early 1970s. The research will include an exploration of the militaries involved, the United States involvement in each country and the economy and positions held by the people of each country. The researcher will conclude with an opinion of how things could have been done differently if the researcher were a woman "revolutionary" in one of the countries provided above. The paper begins with a comprehensive overview of the Bolivian Revolution, and then compares and contrasts the revolution in Bolivia with the revolutions in Cuba and Chile.

Overview

The Bolivian, Cuban and Chilean Revolutions were all similar in that they involved Latin American countries and the unorganized overthrow of governments. Bolivia, Cuba and Chile during these revolutions realized revolts from the people, peasants, militias and governments of their country. In all three revolutions, the United States military influenced the outcome to some extent, although it did not succeed in establishing a democratic environment in any of the countries.

The Bolivian Revolution began in 1952, when the government of Bolivia created "universal suffrage" without requiring literacy or property requirements, under Victor Paz Estenssoro's leadership (LatinAmericanStudies.org, 2007). This increased the number of voters in the country substantially; the government under Estenssoro also offered militant control, increasing its hold of the army, and removed many officers that were associated with more conservative leadership, and replaced them. Shortly thereafter, the Agrarian Reform Law which abolished "forced labor" and instead instituted "expropriation and distribution of rural property," distributing lands with "low productivity" (LatinAmericanStudies.org, 2007). The new "revolutionary" government also inspired an increasingly strong militant group of miners, who founded a federation demanding much change and participation in government affairs. The government complied offering some representation in the cabinet.

During this time peasants living in Bolivia also had more rights and granted land, and militias of peasants were now armed with supplies which they did not have before, so they too became very powerful and political in Bolivia. Economic problems however overcame the country resulting from the radical changes occurring during the new regime. Many mines lost production because individuals working them did not have the money or experience to run them properly. Agricultural production also declined, resulting in "anarchy" among countrymen (LatinAmericanStudies.org, 2007).

Inflation and social spending were problems too affecting the economy and the power of money in the country which affected many members of the middle class causing them to join with the opposition (LatinAmericanStudies.org, 2007). By 1957 the United States intervened and provided aid subsidizing as much as 30% of the government, which helped reduce inflation under President Silez Zuazo. Zuazo emphasized experience and skills training, and helped stabilize the country and armed forces. This is not to say conflict did not increase or continue in the country; opposition always existed resulting in feuds and much bloodshed. Peasants fought with other peasants as much as militias fought each other. During all this time the country failed to produce a democratic environment capable of sustaining the people of Bolivia and the economy. Instead the country faced factionalism and dissent, with much corruption weakening the main MNR party, resulting in impractical attempts at reform (LatinAmericanStudies.org, 2007).

Comparison and Contrast

The Cuban Revolution of 1959 resulted in the overthrow of the leader who was a general at the time, Fulgencio Batista (Hugh, 1998). Many people also use the term "revolution" to describe ongoing changes and additions of programs that were social and economic in nature, many of which adopted a Marxist position (Hugh, 1998). The revolution began with an attack of guerillas on the "Moncada Barracks" and although many leaders passed, Fidel Castro and his brother survived although they were later captured. Fidel Castro was resigned to a sentence of 15 years imprisonment on an island while his brother received 13 years (Hugh, 1998). However, there were still many among the general population that supported Castro so they instead had them cast into Mexico, where they gathered together an independent army to overthrow the Batista (Fermoselle, 1987). What is similar between the Bolivian revolution and the Cuban revolution is the fact that many revolutionaries in Cuba and different groups including the militia, miners and peasants in Bolivia were fighting against each other and for different causes. There lacked consistency of purpose which ultimately affected the economy of each land and resulted in lack of a dedicated leader all could approve of.

The Cuban and Bolivian revolutions also had in common many primary figures of authority that, despite their wrongs or rights, were charismatic enough to capture the support of a great number of people. The Cuban military, much like the revolutionaries in Bolivia, were for the most part ineffective. The United States opposed the leadership of the Cuban government however, during the Cuban war, which separates it from the Bolivian revolution where the United States supplied much in the way of assistance and capital in an attempt to assert democracy for all. The United State's influence in both of these wars despite its intensity was ineffectual.

The Chilean "revolution" was much different from the previous in that it was not a formal revolution; at least, many did not consider it so. During the 1970s Salvador Isabelino Allende served as president of the country until he died during a coup d'etat in the year 1973 (Hilton, 1997). The coup resulted from President Allende's "failure" or perceived failure to uphold the constitution when it was requested that he leave office, so the Chilean militia removed him (Hilton, 1997). The United States also intervened in this instant to support the politics and the opposition because they felt the new government under General Pinochet would provide an anti-communist leadership, even though it was dictatorial rather than democratic in nature (Hilton, 1987).