An examination of the authoritarian strain in Latin American political culture might begin with a brief look at the Spanish conquistadores who carved out the great Spanish Empire in the Americas. CortTs, Pizarro, Balboa, and Coronado, although independent and autonomous entrepreneurs financed by themselves and by individual investors, were soldiers first. Their mentality and temperament may have somehow planted the seeds, figuratively or literally, for what was yet to come in the New World.
What came were the political leaders of the 19th century: Sim=n Bolfvar, JosT de San Martfn, and Francisco de Miranda --
all soldiers first and "liberators" of their countries later.
Argentina-born San Martfn served with Spanish armies in both Europe and Africa, returned to join the Argentine independence movement of 1812. Later, with General Bernardo O'Higgins, he
ended Spanish rule in Chile. O'Higgins became "Liberator" of Chile, San Martfn soon became "Protector" of Peru.
The Venezuelan-born Miranda, who served the French in the American Revolution and later commanded French Revolutionary armies in the Netherlands, was briefly dictator of Venezuela. Sim=n Bolfvar, also a native Venezuelan soldier, had served under Miranda. In 1817, he routed the Spaniards in Venezuela and took full control of the country as "Dictator." That same year, working with General Francisco de Paula Santander, Bolfvar formed the Republic of Columbia (comprising what is today Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador) and served as president. He went on to end Spanish control of Peru and helped establish the Republic of Bolivia (then Republica Bolivar). In 1828, Bolfvar resigned his presidency, and two years later died, his brave multination merger falling apart.
Political rule in the soon re-established Republic of Venezuela was by simple strength of arms. The capital city, Caracas, changed hands often as warring caudillos (regional strongmen) battled...