In the period following “independence” of the former Spanish Empire in the Americas, many of the new nation-states struggled to establish peaceful regimes in the ensuing vacuum of power. What becomes clear is a linear conception of development (in the broad, historical sense) largely defined by Eurocentric (and therefore colonial) ideology. The binary between barbarism and civilization points to the two extremes of this imported historical-determinist trajectory. In turn, the ideal of civilization became dominated by the subsequent royalist-republican binary (along liberal-conservative lines). Through the analysis of the concept of…read more
Posted in Blogs, Week 5 | Tagged with binary, caudillo, caudillos, civilization, historical determinism, populism, post-independence, Urvina
Caudillos Versus the Nation State Throughout past few weeks, we discussed the challenges and the difficulties to identify Latin American objects from politics, demographics, economic and cultural aspects. On this blog post, I would like to discuss the perspectives of … Continue reading →
After this week’s video and readings, what come up most prominently in my head is political turmoil and social unrest. It seems to me that after having acquired their independence, the people of Latin American were directionless. I do not mean that individually they did not know where they wanted to go. Surely, each individual […]
Posted in Blogs, Week 5 | Tagged with caudillos, state, turmoil
This week we’re are discussing the role of Caudillos in the course of post-independence Latin America. I think a good place to start is with this quote from the Dawson text. “ They (caudillos) were figures who entered the vacuum of power left by the collapse of the Spanish colonial state and who offered hope […]
Posted in Blogs, Week 5 | Tagged with Bolívar, Brazil, caudillo, clientelism, independence, Mexico, Nation state, Santa Anna
After this week’s video and readings, what come up most prominently in my head is political turmoil and social unrest. It seems to me that after having acquired their independence, the people of Latin American were directionless. I do not mean that individually they did not know where they wanted to go. Surely, each individual […]
Posted in Blogs, Week 5 | Tagged with caudillos, state, turmoil
What intrigued me from this week’s material was the power of symbols within the political spectrum as well as the commemoration value that they hold. From a modern perspective, the theft of General Santa Anna’s prosthetic leg is a shocking event – and yet because of what that prosthetic leg represented during that period of […]
I found it quite intriguing how initially, there were such different views for the future of Latin America held by opposing parties. on part due to the fragmentation of the homeland and destruction of previous governing ideas. Caudillos had a very narrow, immediate outlook on solutions to their problems with very localized thinking. I don’t necessarily know if id agree with their thinking. Liberals at the time, on the other hand had more abstract ways of thinking. As for the time, institutionalized forms of government weren’t as prominent as they…read more
I found it quite intriguing how initially, there were such different views for the future of Latin America held by opposing parties. on part due to the fragmentation of the homeland and destruction of previous governing ideas. Caudillos had a very narrow, immediate outlook on solutions to their problems with very localized thinking. I don’t necessarily know if id agree with their thinking. Liberals at the time, on the other hand had more abstract ways of thinking. As for the time, institutionalized forms of government weren’t as prominent as they…read more
I have drawn parallels of the fight for independence of these countries to that of Quebec and Canada, and once again this chapter reminds me of such links. Dawson talks about the caudillos and that they are strongmen, charismatic, and leaders who fought for their people. In the case of Santa Anna, and him being …
I have drawn parallels of the fight for independence of these countries to that of Quebec and Canada, and once again this chapter reminds me of such links. Dawson talks about the caudillos and that they are strongmen, charismatic, and leaders who fought for their people. In the case of Santa Anna, and him being …
