This paper examines the wave of political violence that swept Latin American countries during the second half of the twentieth century. It surveys the key economic and social conditions — including inequality, oligarchic power, and inflation — that created fertile ground for instability. The paper traces specific national cases, including Cuba's revolution under Fidel Castro, Argentina's Peronist era, Brazil's military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985, and Colombia's protracted conflict involving rival parties, guerrilla groups, and drug cartels. It concludes by placing this violence in a deeper historical context rooted in colonialism and the exploitation of indigenous populations.
During the second half of the twentieth century, the Latin American countries were shaken by numerous violent acts in their political life. There were revolutions, coups d'état, civil wars, terrorism, and other forms of violence that affected the lives of Latin Americans from the end of the Second World War onward. Social inequity, economic power concentrated in the hands of a few oligarchs, a thirst for power, and widespread corruption all caused deep distress in the societies of the region.
The rising of the masses against their suppressors was one result of these factors. Nationalism and ethnic differences were two additional causes of political violence. The Latin American countries experienced virtually every form of political violence known in human history: domestic conflicts, interstate conflicts, guerrilla warfare, and state-sponsored repression.
While the first decade after the Second World War brought improvement to the industries of many Latin American countries, the following decade — especially after the Korean War ended — produced a serious imbalance in the import-export relationship. This demonstrated that relying on the export of raw goods was no longer viable in the context of the world economy. Countries across the continent began to struggle with inflation and high levels of national debt. Social instability was compounded by political instability, giving rise to numerous sources of conflict.
Dictators were overthrown by opportunist leaders who rapidly grew in influence over entire nations. In some extreme cases, such as Nicaragua, a single family controlled the whole state by means of armed forces. Popular uprisings were inevitable in such circumstances. The Sandinista guerrilla forces ultimately succeeded in overthrowing the regime composed almost exclusively of those loyal to the Somoza family.
In countries like Peru and Ecuador, shaky economies opened the way for authoritarian military forces to intervene and seize power on the grounds that free economic trade had to be replaced by a tightly controlled economy more suited to national interests. Some parts of Mexico, Colombia, and Peru were confronted with rural unrest, while terrorism was rising in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.
The revolution in Cuba and Fidel Castro's seizure of power was followed by a series of movements in other countries across Latin America. Castro saw his opportunity to make his mark on world history by entering the Cold War on the side of the Soviet Union, and his example inspired revolutionary actors throughout the region.
Brazil and Argentina closely followed Cuba's trajectory. Authoritarian regimes formed by military forces gradually replaced civilian governments. Civil wars, dictatorships, and interstate conflicts contributed their share of political violence to an already volatile regional scene.
"Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia examined individually"
"Armed factions escalate violence across multiple nations"
"Colonial legacy shapes ongoing political dysfunction"
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.