LATIN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONS

This research paper discusses and analyzes the theories of Timothy Wickham-Crowley concerning the reasons why the Cuban and Nicaraguan revolutions succeeded and the El Salvadorian and Guatemala revolutions failed. Wickham-Crowley compares the multiple factors involved in these revolutions. In doing so, he builds upon the theories of Walter Goldfrank and Eric Wolf but emphasizes more than they do multi-causal relationships and lays more stress than Wolf does on the importance of the international environment and the strengths and weaknesses of existing regimes in dealing with such revolutions.

All four revolutions relied on substantial support from elements of the rural peasant population. Wickham-Crowley traces the different patterns of peasant support and concludes that support was a requirement for a successful guerrilla movement. He says that "revolutions came to power in Latin America from 1956 to 1990 only when a rural-based guerrilla movement secured strong peasant in the countryside and achieved substantial levels of military strength" (320). He cautions, however, that "popular support alone was not enough to carry them to victory" (322). Peasant support, especially food and logistical support, was essential in guaranteeing the survival of the revolutionaries, especially in the early stages of their struggle, and in offsetting the superior force levels, weapons and financial advantages of the regimes in power. Wickham-Crow

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ly favorable toward the 26th of July Movement, and the executive branch seemed incapable of supporting strongly enough either the Batista regime or possible middle-ground alternatives to Castro. In the critical months leading up to Batista's departure, U.S. arms aid to him was cut off. Wickham-Crowley says that "extensive gun-running from the U.S." was a key factor in Castro's military successes (87). The administration of Jimmy Carter reached a similar conclusion and severed relations with Somoza, thus enhancing the international reputation of the Sandinistas and improving their chances militarily. The rebels were also aided by actions taken by the governments of Venezuela and Costa Rica to ostracize the Somoza regime. The example of the successful Castro revolution and arms aid from Cuba inspired and aided all Latin American revolutionaries after 1959, especially in Central America. The United States had repeatedly intervened before to prop up oligarchic regimes in Cuba and Nicaragua, and, when their proxies there could no longer command such support, they lost prestige. The United States gave substantial military support in the form of weapons, money and training to the armed forces in Guatemala and El Salvador, much of whic

Category: Foreign - L