Politics & Democracy

The politics in Latin America in the twentieth century revolved largely around the struggle to attain democracy. Authoritarian rule was common and an important influence on the region during this period as was the United States. Currently, most countries are democratic, and issues of elections and party ideology have become salient.

The following sources cover these topics: (1) dictatorship & democracy; and (2) US intervention.

Dictatorship & Democracy
   Mexico
   costa rica
      • Un costarricense llamado don Pepe
        • Four-part documentary on Costa Rica (in Spanish), on José Figueres Ferrer, President of Costa Rica in 1948-1949, 1953-1958 and 1970-1974. See Part 1 here; Part 2 here; Part 3 here; and Part 4 here.
      • Oscar Arias: Without a Shot Fired
        • Biographic movie on Oscar Arias, President of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and 2006 to 2010, and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. Available for rent here.
   el salvador
   guatemala
      • A Coup in Guatemala: Made In America
        • Documentary on Guatemala, and the CIA-backed coup against democratically-elected president Jacobo Árbenz in 1954
      •  The Houses Are Full of Smoke: Guatelama
        • Documentary on Guatemala and U.S. policy in the 1980s
      • Rigoberta Menchú: Daughter of the Maya
        • Documentary on Guatemala, on Rigoberta Menchú, who was awarded the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize for her work during the civil war in Guatemala. Available for rent here.
      • When the Mountains Tremble
        • Documentary on Guatemala, and the role of the United States in facilitating military rule in Guatemala through the early 1980s. Available for rent here.
  •    honduras
      • La joven revolución hondureña
        • Documentary on Honduras (in Spanish), covering demonstrations of students fighting against the military coup in Honduras in 2009
   nicaragua
  •    panama
  •    cuba
      • Crucible of Empire: The Spanish American War
        • Documentary on the war between the United States and  Spain that began in 1898 and eventually led to U.S. control of Cuba and later resulted in Cuban independence
      • Cuba (1959–1962)
        • Documentary on U.S. intervention in Cuba from the Cuban Revolution through the Cuban Missile Crisis. Part of a series, “Cold War.”
      • Cuba! Africa! Revolution!
        • Two-part documentary on Cuba, and Cuba’s support for African revolutions in the 1960s
      • Cuba: Castro vs the World
        • Documentary on Cuba, and how Cuba has challenged the world for 60 years since its Revolution
      • The Cuba Libre Story
        • Eight-part documentary series on Cuba, covering the entire history of Cuba. Available for rent here.
      • Cuba: The Times are Changing
        • Documentary on Cuba, on economic reforms under President Raúl Castro
      • The Cuban Missile Crisis: At The Brink
        • Documentary on Cuba,  on events during October 1962 that nearly led to nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union
      • Fidel Castro
        • Documentary on Cuba, on Cuban leader Fidel Castro. See Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
  •    dominican republic
      • Abril: La trinchera del honor
        • Documentary on the Dominican Republic (in Spanish with English subtitles), on the military rebellion led by Colonel Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deño in April 1965 and the US military intervention
      • Balaguer: La herencia del tirano
        • Documentary on the Dominican Republic (in Spanish), on the social and political events that occurred in Santo Domingo immediately after the death of Rafael Trujillo in 1961
      • Balaguer: La violencia del poder
        • Documentary on the Dominican Republic (in Spanish), on Joaquín Balaguer and his bloody regime of twelve years (1966-1978)
      • Bosch: Presidente en la frontera imperial
        • Documentary on the Dominican Republic (in Spanish), on the constitutional government led by Juan Bosch in 1963
      • Trujillo: El poder del jefe
        • Three-part documentary on the Dominican Republic (in Spanish with English subtitles), on “El Jefe” Rafael Trujillo, former dictator who dominated politics in the Dominican Republic from 1930 to 1961. Part 1, on the 1916-1937 years, can be found here; Part 2, on the 1938-1951 years, here; Part 3, on the 1952-1961 years, here.
      • Trujillo: Portrait of a Dictator
        • Documentary on the Dominican Republic (in Spanish), on “El Jefe” Rafael Trujillo, former dictator who dominated politics in the Dominican Republic from 1930 to 1961
   argentina
      • Años peronistas
        • Documentary on Argentina (in Spanish), on the governments of Juan Perón from 1946 to 1955. Part of a series, “Historia de un país, Argentina Siglo XX.”
      • Argentina’s Day of Loyalty
        • Articles providing brief descriptions on the Peronist party and its legacy in Argentina
      • Argentina’s Dirty War
        • Documentary on Argentina, on military rule during 1976-1983 and their use of torture methods at the ESMA concentration camp
      • Auge y caída del Yrigoyenismo
        • Documentary on Argentina (in Spanish), on the country’s experience with democracy, from 1916 to 1930s. Part of a series, “Historia de un país, Argentina Siglo XX.”
      • La dictadura. Del golpe a Malvinas
        • Documentary on Argentina (in Spanish), on military rule during 1976-1983. Part of a series, “Historia de un país, Argentina Siglo XX.”
      • De Frondizi a Onganía
        • Documentary on Argentina (in Spanish), on the country’s political history from President Frondizi (1958-1962) to dictator Onganía (1966-1970). Part of a series, ” Historia de un país, Argentina Siglo XX.”
      • The Hour of Furnaces
      • Las Madres: The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo
        • Documentary on Argentina (in Spanish and English with English subtitles ), on the political actions of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a group of Argentine women seeking to find the “disappeared” during the Dirty War (1976-1983). Available for rent here.
      • Our Disappeared / Nuestros Desaparecidos
        • Documentary on Argentina, on military rule during 1976-1983 and the drama of the disappeared
      • Perón: Regreso y derrumbe
        • Documentary on Argentina (in Spanish), on Juan Perón’s third term as president (1973-1974) and the dictatorship of Onganía (1966-1970). Part of a series, “Historia de un país, Argentina Siglo XX.”
      • La política de la democracia
        • Documentary on Argentina (in Spanish), on the democratic governments from Alfonsín (1983-1989) to De La Rua (1999-2001). Part of a series, ” Historia de un país, Argentina Siglo XX.”
      • La república conservadora, 1890-1916
        • Documentary on Argentina (in Spanish), on the country’s oligarchic regimes from 1890 to 1916. Part of a series, “Historia de un país, Argentina Siglo XX.”
      • La república perdida
        • Two-part documentary on Argentina (in Spanish), on military coups and the 1976-1983 military regime
      • El retorno conservador. La decada del ’30
        • Documentary on Argentina (in Spanish), on the country’s political history during the 1930s. Part of a series, “Historia de un país, Argentina Siglo XX.”
   Bolivia
      • Guerra del Chaco Boquerón (1932)
        • Documentary on Bolivia (in Spanish), on the 1932-1935 Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay. Part of a series, “Bolivia Siglo XX.”
      • La guerra del Chaco Villamontes (1933-1935)
        • Documentary on Bolivia (in Spanish), on the 1932-1935 Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay. Part of a series, “Bolivia Siglo XX.”
      • 1952: La revolución
        • Documentary on Bolivia (in Spanish), on the 1952 revolution led by the MNR (Revolutionary Nationalist Movement). Part of a series, “Bolivia Siglo XX.”
      • 1982: La conquista de la democracia
        • Documentary on Bolivia (in Spanish), on the return to democracy in 1982. Part of a series, “Bolivia Siglo XX.”
      • 1982-1989 Siles y Paz. Dos destinos contrapuestos
        • Documentary on Bolivia (in Spanish), on the democratic governments from 1982 to 1989. Part of a series, “Bolivia Siglo XX.”
      • Banzer: Las paradojas de la historia
        • Documentary on Bolivia (in Spanish), on Hugo Banzer, military dictator of Bolivia from 1971 to 1978 and then democratically-elected president in 1997 to 2001. Part of a series, “Bolivia Siglo XX.”
      • Cocalero
        • Documentary on Bolivia (in Spanish with English subtitles), on the rise of Evo Morales
      • Paz Estensoro: La política, el arte de lo posible
        • Documentary on Bolivia (in Spanish), on Víctor Paz Estensoro, leaders of the 1952 revolution and four times president of Bolivia. Part of a series, “Bolivia Siglo XX.”
      • Tata Barrientos
        • Documentary on Bolivia (in Spanish), on General René Barrientos Ortuño, leader of the 1964 coup against Paz Estenssoro, and president of Bolivia from 1964 to 1966 and from 1966 to 1969. Part of a series, “Bolivia Siglo XX.”
   Brazil
      • Os anos JK: Uma Trajetória Política
        • Documentary on Brazil (in Portuguese), on democratic President Juscelino Kubitschek (1956-1961)
      • Beyond Elections: Redefining Democracy in the Americas 
        • Documentary examining various institutions in Latin America in an effort to define and understand democracy in the region; it includes a discussion of participatory budgeting in Brazil .
      • Brazil: Beef, Bibles and Bullets
        • Documentary on Brazil, on far-right President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022). Available for rent here.
      • Era Vargas: 1930-1935
        • Three-part documentary on Brazil (in Portuguese), on Getúlio Vargas, the dominant political figure in Brazil during the 1930s and 1940s. (1) Part 1, “1930: Time of Revolution,” can be found here. (2) Part 2, “1932: The Civil War,” here.  (3) Part 3, “1935: The Assault on Power,” here.
      • A História do Brasil
        • Long (3 hours and 20 minutes) documentary on Brazil (in Portuguese), by historian Bóris Fausto; it covers the entire history of Brazil.
      •  Jango
        • Documentary on Brazil (in Portuguese), on democratic President João Goulart (1961-1964)
      • Getúlio Vargas
        • Documentary on Brazil (in Portuguese), on Getúlio Vargas, the dominant political figure in Brazil during the 1930s and 1940s
      • The Edge of Democracy
        •  Documentary on Brazil, that explores the social and political polarization during the  presidencies of PT leaders in Brazil in the 2000s-2010s. Available for rent here.
      • Participatory Budgeting
        • Research article assessing participatory budgeting in Latin America; it included case studies on Brazil and Ecuador
      • What Happened to Brazil?
   CHILE
      • 1900-2000. Nuestro siglo
      • The Battle of Chile
        • Three-part documentary on Chile (in Spanish) that chronicles the political tensions in Chile in 1973 and the military coup against the democratically-elected government of President Salvador Allende (1970-1973)
      • Chile: Defeat of a Dictator
        • Documentary on Chile, on the electoral defeat of dictator Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) and the end of military rule in 1990. Part of a series, “A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict.”
      • Condor
        • Documentary (in Spanish and Portuguese), on Operation Condor, a plan by right-wing South American dictatorships to suppress leftist activism in the 1970s. The documentary addresses events in Chile as well as in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
      • In Women’s Hands: The Changing Roles of Women
        • Documentary on Chile, on military rule under dictator Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) and the end of military rule in the late 1980s, with a focus on the role of women. Part of the series, “Americas.”
   colombia
      • El bogotazo: La historia de una ilusión
        • Documentary on Colombia (in Spanish), on the 1948 assassination of Jorge Gaitán and the bogotazo
      • Cincuenta años de monte
        • Documentary on Colombia (in Spanish with English subtitles), on the FARC guerrillas through the late 1990s
      • Colombia in Crisis
        • Documentary on Colombia, on the guerrilla warfare, the drug trade, and government abuses during the second half of the twentieth century
      • Colombia: The Long Road to Peace
        • Documentary on Colombia, on the 2016 peace agreement between the government and the FARC, and the difficult process of implementing the agreement
      • La negociación
        • Documentary on Colombia (in Spanish), on the negotiations between the government and the FARC guerrilla group that led to a peace accord in 2016
      • Plan Colombia: Cashing In on the Drug War Failure
        • Documentary on Colombia, about the Colombian Drug war and U.S. efforts to make an impact on the trafficking to America
      • Protagonistas: Historia política contemporánea de Colombia, 1930-1970
        • Documentary on Colombia (in Spanish), on the political history of Colombia from 1930 to 1970. It is divided into two parts: (1) Part 1. Del fin de la hegemonía conservadora a la violencia (1930-1950), which can be found here  and here; and (2) Part 2. De la violencia política al fin del Frente Nacional (1950-1974), which can be viewed here and here.
   ecuador
      • Ecuador en el Siglo XX
        • Two-part documentary on Ecuador (in Spanish), that provides an overview of politics in the twentieth century: (1) 1900 a 1950; and (2) 1951 a 1999.
      • La muerte de Jaime Roldós
        • Documentary on Ecuador (in Spanish), on Jaime Roldós, democratic president of Ecuador in 1979-1981
      • Velasco: Retrato de un monarca andino
        • Documentary on Ecuador (in Spanish), on José María Velasco Ibarra, five times president of Ecuador and considered the most influential political figure of Ecuador in the twentieth century. The two parts of this documentary can be viewed here: Part 1 and Part 2.
   URUGUAY
      • El Pepe: A Supreme Life
        • Documentary on Uruguay (in Spanish with English subtitles), on “El Pepe” José Mujica, guerrilla leader of the Tupamaros and later democratic president of Uruguay during 2010-2015. Available for rent here.
      • Tupamaros
        • Documentary on Uruguay (in Spanish), on the Tupamaro guerrilla organization active in Uruguay in the 1960s and 1970s
   Venezuela
US Intervention
University of Southern California