The Continuing Struggle for Democracy in Latin America by Howard J. Wiarda

Author:Howard J. Wiarda [Wiarda, Howard J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Political Science, General
ISBN: 9781000315646
Google: FiCeDwAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2019-06-18T00:00:00+00:00

The Democratic Left

In any study of the political elite of Latin America, prominent attention must be given to the relatively small number of leaders who initiated, sparked, and maintained the struggle for democracy against strong opposition. There are many examples throughout much of Latin America (mainly aprista-type parties, led by men such as Haya de la Torre of Peru, Juan Bosch of the Dominican Republic, and José Figueres of Costa Rica), but one of the most noteworthy is the "generation of '28" of Venezuela. Much of the ideology and patterns of political thought in contemporary Venezuela derive from the protest of this group against the dictator Juan Vicente Gómez. Among the leaders of the "generation of '28" was Rómulo Betancourt, who played a critical role in the formation of the precursor party of Acción Democrática and later served as Venezuela's president. The willingness of Betancourt and others to join with the armed forces to overthrow the government in 1945 and again in 1958 suggests a more complex character of the democratic left than might be commonly assumed. Taylor comments:

As it has existed in Latin America, the democratic left has preferred due process wherever possible, not only because this attributes value to transactional politics rather than to the massing of arms, but also because it gives credibility to a commitment to benevolence. The democratic left has not been weak or non-ideological. In general it has been nationalist, comparatively institutional, and relatively subtle. It has not always succeeded when it has had its first opportunity in national power, and in some countries it never has had a chance at power at all. When generally it has been staffed by men of good will, it also has had its scoundrels.27

The willingness of the elite of the democratic left to resort to force may be seen in a number of instances, including José Figueres' volunteer army against the Republicano government in Costa Rica, the Apristas in Peru, and others. Despite such occasional tactics, however, the leaders of the democratic left have played what is probably an indispensable role in political development in Latin America. Comparing Colombia and Venezuela, Taylor concludes that "the essential difference between the two countries appears to have been the presence (or lack) of a leadership committed to the establishment of a democratic left regime."28 He goes on to say, "In a society in which the participation 'crisis' is virtually impossible of resolution, since purely democratic processes normally are regarded as conferring the opportunity for license rather than of selfrestraint, it appears that the essential critical variable is intent by leadership."29

Until the elite of the democratic left make an unequivocal and permanent commitment of their intent to participate and govern democratically, democratic governments stand on shaky ground. Yet, of all the political leadership in Latin America, the leaders of the democratic left parties come closer to being consistent advocates and defenders of democratic government. Where they have resorted to violence, it has been after the most extreme provocation and against the most tyrannical regimes.

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